The Source of Hope
Jul 21, 2012 By Mychal Springer | Commentary | Masei | Mattot | Tishah Be'av
In a dramatic reversal of the ordinary mourning process, 鈥巜hich begins in its starkest intensity and lifts over time as the mourners are comforted, 鈥巘hese are weeks of increasing mourning that move, inevitably, to the destruction of 鈥嶨od’s house and the banishment of the People into exile. The prophetic readings drive 鈥巋ome that we have brought this horrible tragedy on ourselves.
Read More
Remembering the Munich Eleven
Aug 4, 2012 By Marc Wolf | Commentary | Tishah Be'av
What we encounter in the text of the Talmud is the tension between communal mourning and communal celebration. We live our lives in that tension鈥攂etween joy and sadness, life and death, destruction and rebuilding. All too often our moments of joy are interrupted abruptly by tragedy, and dancing turns to dirge. Just as quickly, we are taken by the hand and out of the depths of our sadness, pulled both emotionally and physically into communal celebration.
Read More
Jerusalem
Jul 17, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary | Tishah Be'av
As we emerge from our encounter with destruction and desolation on Tish鈥檃h Be鈥橝v, we approach Shabbat Nahamu, named for the opening words of the haftarah 鈥�Nahamu nahamu ami鈥� (Be comforted, oh be comforted My people; Isa. 40:1). This becomes the week when we allow ourselves to encounter all the images of Jerusalem that are presented to us as signs and symbols of hope in our liturgy.
Read More
Tisha Be’av
Jul 8, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary | Tishah Be'av
These words will reach you during the nine days that lead to the fast on Tish鈥檃h Be鈥橝v, the day we mourn the destruction of the first and second Temples and many other tragedies of Jewish history. It is traditionally a complete fast鈥攆rom sunset until sunset鈥攚ith Yom Kippur the only other such fast day in the Jewish calendar. There is a Hasidic teaching that no halakhah concerning fasting on these days is needed, for 鈥渙n the black fast of Tish鈥檃h Be鈥橝v, who could eat, and on the white fast of Yom Kippur, who needs to eat?鈥�
Read More
A Just and Sustainable Society
Jul 13, 2013 By Daniel Nevins | Commentary | Devarim | Tishah Be'av
What is your vision of a righteous city? This is an important question, because this week is known as Shabbat Hazon, the Sabbath of Vision, and the vision offered by our prophets is that of a city that has gone astray, abandoning the path of righteousness.
Read More