Tisha B’Av 101
Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the month of Av, is the major day of communal mourning in the Jewish calendar.
When Prayer Fails Us
Tisha B’Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, is testament to the failure of prayer to avert national catastrophe.
Why Tisha B’Av is Not Really About Mourning
The practices associated with this holiday are closer to the experience of being a refugee than to being a mourner.
Kinot: Poems of Lament
These mournful poems are the central part of the liturgy of Tisha B’Av.
Tisha B’Av Rituals and Practices
Mourning the destruction of both temples, as well as a number of other Jewish tragedies.
Next Torah Portion
Summary
In this Torah portion, Moses stresses to the Israelites the importance of keeping God’s commandments when they enter the Land of Israel. Moses repeats the Ten Commandments and utters the Shema and Ve’ahavta prayers.
Featured Commentary
Dealing Wisely with Torah
In Parashat Vaetchanan, Moses “places” the Torah before the Israelites with a warning.
Mourning on Cue: The Talmudic Perspective on Tisha B’Av
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Introduction to Kabbalah: Concepts and History to Enhance Your Understanding
Meets: Wednesdays
Hosted by: My Jewish Learning
Daf Yomi
Bava Batra 41
Open your mouth for the mute.
Bava Batra 40
Gold diggers.
Bava Batra 39
Your friend has a friend.
STUDY RESOURCES
recharge now
Our weekly Shabbat newsletter, Recharge, features a thoughtful, timely essay to enrich your Shabbat. Here are a few of our recent pieces:
The Medicine of the Mythic
The period of mourning leading up to Tisha B’Av brings us into a space where the pain of the past can be touched — and transformed.
Joy Comes With the Mourning
True joy comes from fully inhabiting our experiences, no matter how tough.
A Matter of Trust
How does a society recover from a complete breakdown of trust?
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The World to Come
The rabbis of the Talmud had a lot to say on the World to Come, but little about what it actually is.
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Distinguishing between different types of Jewish prayers.
Am Yisrael Chai: The Meaning and History of this Jewish Rallying Cry
This slogan of Jewish resilience was popularized by the legendary songwriter Shlomo Carlebach.
The Jews of Scandinavia
The tiny Jewish communities of the Nordic countries have been sustained by regular arrivals of Jews fleeing persecution elsewhere.