Jews working against Jewish interests: The theme of the Three Weeks period

The current Three Weeks period of semi-mourning for the destruction of the Holy Temples in the ancient Promised Land seem to commemorate ancient history. But their message is as contemporary as today’s headlines.

First, some background:

According to the Talmud (Tractate Gittin 55-56), at the time of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, a wealthy man who was hosting a party sent his servant to deliver an invitation to a friend named Kamtza. By mistake, the servant invited a man named bar Kamtza, who the wealthy man despised. Bar Kamtza accepted the invitation.

The wealthy man, enraged, ordered bar K...