Editing Jewish diaspora (section)

==Mystical explanation==
Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov (Bnei Yissaschar, Chodesh Kislev, 2:25) explains that each exile was characterized by a different negative aspect:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/1693257/jewish/Lessons-from-the-Dreidel.htm |title=Lessons from the Dreidel |publisher=Chabad.org}}</ref>

# The [[Babylonian exile]] was characterized by physical suffering and oppression. The Babylonians were lopsided towards the [[Sefirah]] of [[Gevurah]], strength and bodily might.
# The [[Persia]]n exile was one of emotional temptation. The Persians were hedonists who declared that the purpose of life is to pursue indulgence and lusts—"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die." They were lopsided towards the quality of [[Chesed]], attraction and kindness (albeit to the self).
# [[Hellenistic civilization]] was highly cultured and sophisticated. Although the Greeks had a strong sense of aesthetics, they were highly pompous, and they viewed aesthetics as an end in itself. They were excessively attached to the quality of [[Tiferet]], beauty. This was also related to an appreciation of the intellect's transcendence over the body, which reveals the beauty of the spirit.
# The exile of [[Edom]] began with [[Ancient Rome|Rome]], whose culture lacked any clearly defined philosophy. Rather, it adopted the philosophies of all the preceding cultures, causing Roman culture to be in a constant flux. Although the Roman Empire has fallen, the Jews are still in the exile of Edom, and indeed, one can find this phenomenon of ever-changing trends dominating modern [[Western culture|western society]]. The Romans and the various nations who inherited their rule (e.g., the [[Holy Roman Empire]], the [[Europe]]ans, the [[United States|Americans]]) are lopsided towards [[Malchut]], sovereignty, the lowest Sefirah, which can be received from any of the others, and can act as a medium for them.

The Jewish fast day of [[Tisha B'Av]] commemorates the destruction of the [[First Temple|First]] and [[Second Temple|Second]] Temples in [[Jerusalem]] and the subsequent [[exile]] of the Jews from the [[Land of Israel]]. The Jewish tradition maintains that the Roman exile would be the last, and that after the people of Israel returned to their land, they would never be exiled again. This statement is based on the verse: "(You paying for) Your sin is over daughter of [[Zion]], he will not exile you (any)more" ["{{lang|he|תם עוונך בת ציון, לא יוסף להגלותך}}"].<ref>[[Tanakh]], [[Book of Lamentations|Lamentations]] 4:22</ref>