I have a question for those people fasting the Tisha B’Av fast who are not observant of much else in our many hued and multi tasked religion – why are you fasting?
I have many friends for whom Judaism is is more of an ethnicity than a way of life – and that’s fine. I love being religious, I love celebrating my freedom to practise religion daily. I love all the bells and whistles (and food) that goes along with it. That’s me. Plenty of room for all of us in this world so long as we are tolerant.
But explain to me why THIS fast more than others is observed by those whose lives are not defined by religion on a continuous basis. What makes this fast important to you?
(Disclaimer: perhaps I should have used the term Differently Observant instead of Non-Observant – sorry if I offended anyone.)