Community Tisha B’Av Observance

Jewish Community Tisha B’AV Observances July 26-27

Tisha B’Av (the fast day that is on the ninth of the Hebrew month of Av) is a period of fasting, lamentation and prayer to remember the destruction of the First and Second Temples of Jerusalem and other major disasters and tragedies that Jewish people experienced throughout history.

In observance of Tisha B’Av, a community-wide observance and service will take place on Wednesday, July 26 outdoors at Congregation Beth Shalom. If inclement weather, the evening will be held in indoors at the congregation.  Outdoor seating will be available and those who wish may bring blankets to sit on.

The evening begins at 8:30 p.m. with schmooze and singing and a Tisha B’Av MA’ARIV service beginning at 8:45 pm.  The observance will include study and the chanting of Eicha with English summaries from the Book of Lamentations which details the destruction of Jerusalem through song and poems. This is a meaningful service with beautiful, mournful melodies, some engaging teaching and discussion, and a time for communal reflection on both painful times of our past and hope for our future. Planning this year’s observance are Hazzan Tahl Ben Yehuda along with Rabbi Larry Karol and Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick.

The community Tisha B’Av observance will continue on Thursday, July 27 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Kehilath Israel Synagogue. The movie, City of Joel -a documentary that follows an ultra-orthodox Hasidic sect as they wage a turf war with their secular neighbors 50 miles north of New York City – will be shown. A panel of rabbis across our denominations will then reflect on the movie. A Mincha service will begin at 8pm led by Rabbi Moshe Grussgott and will be followed by a ten-minute Torah lesson and ending with a Maariv service. Conclusion of fast will take place at 9:09 pm and will be followed by a light break-fast. Rabbi Moshe Grussgott is serving as the rabbinic coordinator for this program.

To indicate your attendance at both observances, register online by Tuesday, July 25 at https://forms.gle/3GPxvkboM9d1guoS9 or visit kcrabbi.org where registration link will also be posted.  

For more information, visit kcrabbi.org or contact Annette Fish, Rabbinical Association Administrator/Program Director, afprogram@aol.com, 913-327-8226.