17th of Tamuz – Reversing the Downward Spiral of Insecurity

The 17th of Tamuz is a Jewish day of fasting. This is a fast day that gives us the strength to identify our shortcomings and fix them.

Historically, the “celebration” of the Golden Calf occurred on this day. A statue of a calf was created out of gold and myriads of people danced and celebrated with it.

The reason this is so perplexing is that the Children of Israel had witnessed open miracles such as the splitting of the Red Sea and the plagues in Egypt and the giving of the Torah yet, they still weren’t quite secure in their beliefs yet — hence the golden calf.

By taking a step back, it’s possible to be understanding of what the Children of Israel were going through at the time. After having witnessed miracles and experienced intense levels of spirituality, they may have missed having those feelings. And, according to Jewish oral tradition, they certainly missed the security that comes with having a figurehead, Moses, who had always been around and had now, seemingly, disappeared up the mountain. When life gets difficult we naturally crave the good feelings we once had and long for stability and security.

Which is what the Golden Calf was all about. Insecurity.

When the Children of Israel weren’t getting what they wanted, when they wanted it, from G-d, they became impatient and channeled their frustration and insecurity into a materialistic festival. They created a golden calf and danced and celebrated the temporary thrill. How fun it must have been to have an immediate feeling of resolution to their problems. Like a drug.

So they found a way to feel better without having to wait for it, which is something we’ve all done before. And what is really the big deal with that, anyway? They didn’t seem to be hurting anyone, just having a good time.

But there was more to it than that.

They weren’t just blowing off some steam – they were setting a new trajectory. Their insecurity had caused them (i.e., given them an excuse) to undermine their relationship with G-d and the moral and ethical foundations of Jewish culture.

When Jews fast on the 17th of Tamuz we step back from the frenzy of life by temporarily numbing the body’s power to override our better judgment. More than that, it helps us take stock of ourselves and see the damage we’re doing, and have done, without our fragile egos getting in the way. And once we’ve come that far, we can resolve to make specific changes, to reset the trajectory confidently, without fear, without confusion, and without insecurity.

Insecurity in a relationship, whether it be interpersonal or with G-d, can signify the beginning of a downward spiral. If the one who feels insecure uses their insecurity as an excuse to cheapen the sanctity of the relationship, all parties involved get hurt. The 17th of Tamuz is about lifting ourselves up and out of our insecure ways of thinking to reverse the downward spiral.