By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The first music that I heard on Israel radio this morning (Tuesday, August 9th, ט’ באב) was עַל נַהֲרוֹת, בָּבֶל–שָׁם יָשַׁבְנוּ, גַּם-בָּכִינוּ: בְּזָכְרֵנוּ, אֶת-צִיּוֹן. My old brain heard transformed that into Peter, Paul and Mary, “By the waters of Babylon, we sat down and wept when we remembered thee Zion . . [...]
By Gary Rotto SAN DIEGO — In years past, I’ve rejected the commemoration of Tisha B’av. Over time, the legend of what an awful day this is for the Jewish people has growth. It’s become the Friday the 13th of Friday the 13ths – except for the fact that I don’t believe in Friday the [...]
By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM — I’ve never been in Tel Aviv or Haifa for Tisha B’Av, but my guess is that it probably doesn’t feel too much different than Tisha B’Av in Seattle–a few hardy souls sitting on the floor of their synagogues in the evening and then spending the day itself struggling to [...]
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — This Shabbat has a special name. It is called “Shabbat Chazon,” after the first few words of the Haftarah. The Haftarah contains the dire prophecy/vision (“chazon”) of the prophet Isaiah concerning the impending destruction of Jerusalem. Isaiah’s prophecy is traditionally read on the Shabbat preceding Tisha B’Av, the [...]
