Tisha B'Av and Ahavat Chinam

I was walking down the main street of a mixed neighborhood in Israel yesterday when I saw a family had set up a table with some cups, bottles of water, lemonade and sweets. The mother and her children were offering free drinks to the passersby irregardless of religious persuasion. It was an example of Ahavat Chinam that will remain an indelible part of my memory for years to come.