TISHA B'AV
saturday night, august 2 - sunday, August 3

Join on zoom for the reading of the Book of Lamentations (in Hebrew known as Eicha)
with our master Torah reader, Mark Schonfeld. 

Zoom Meeting ID:
Passcode:

Click Here for the ext of Eicha in both Hebrew and English

The fast begins Saturday, August 2 at 8:02 PM* and concludes on Sunday, August 13 at 8:33 PM.
* Shabbat ends at 8:50 PM

 Wishing you an easy & meaningful fast!

 THE THREE WEEKS AND TISHA B'AV:

The 9th of the Hebrew month of Av, known on the Jewish calendar as Tisha B'Av, is the climax of the saddest period in our history, known as The Three Weeks. The Three Weeks is an annual mourning period that falls in the summer. During this time, we mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple and the beginning of our still-ongoing exile.

The period begins on the 17th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz, a fast day that marks the breach of the walls of Jerusalem by the Romans in 69 CE. It reaches its zenith and concludes with the fast of the 9th of Av, the date on which both Holy Temples were set aflame.

This is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar and also marks the occurrence of other tragedies throughout our nation’s history—such as the Spanish Expulsion in 1492.

Tisha B'Av – 9 Av begins at sunset of the previous evening, when we gather to read the Book of Lamentations—Eicha in Hebrew. In addition to fasting, it is customary to abstain from other physical comforts: washing, applying lotions or creams, wearing leather shoes, and engaging in marital relations. Until midday, we sit on the floor or on low stools as a sign of mourning.

But there is more to the Three Weeks than fasting and lamentation. Our sages teach that those who mourn the destruction of Jerusalem will merit seeing it rebuilt with the coming of the Final Redemption. May that day come soon, when all the mournful dates on our calendar will be transformed into days of great joy and celebration.