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 Saturday, August 6 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 9:15 p.m. with schmooze and singing and will be followed by Havdalah and a Tisha B’Av MA’ARIV service beginning at 9:30 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 a time for communal reflection on both painful times of our past and hope for our future. Planning this year’s observance are Rabbi Larry Karol, Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick and Hazzan Tahl Ben-Yehuda.

The community Tisha B’Av observance will continue on Sunday, August 7 beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Kehilath Israel Synagogue. The movie, “Lonely Man of Faith a documentary about Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, a rabbinic scholar of Yeshiva University will be shown. The movie is about Modern Orthodoxy, and how Rabbi Soloveitchik’s frustration and conflicts as a man of faith influenced the balance of tradition and tension with change. A panel of rabbis across our denominations will then reflect on the movie and discuss how their respective denomination navigates change. 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 8:55 pm and will be followed by a light break-fast. Rabbi Moshe Grussgott is serving as the rabbinic coordinator for this program.

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