Tisha B’Av is a holiday you may not know a lot about or that perhaps you've never really connected to in the past. The holiday doesn't get a lot of great publicity because we can't serve latkes and jelly donuts and it doesn't have a Seder plate. The holiday is Tisha B'Av (the 9th day of the Jewish Month of Av). 

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Tisha B'Av is a fast day and mourns the destruction of the First and Second Temple as well as additional infamous events that occurred throughout history on that day (ie: the first crusades, Warsaw Ghetto liquidation, etc)

Perhaps a sad, fast day doesn't really sound like your "thing" – we understand that. Often times we’re asked – “why should I care about the destruction of a Temple in 586BCE when I live in current day Cincinnati?” It's a fair question. We think if you reflect for a moment, or talk to a congregant who has been to Israel - every stone has a story, every section of land has a past. Tisha B’Av marks the moment our lives were altered.

 

So, if you decide to attend a Tisha B’Av program at our Synagogue here is what you can expect. We engage in a group experience be it an art-based project or a museum style exhibit which lasts about 30 minutes. Following the group project, we'll sit inside our darkened chapel and by candle light we will hear the Book of Lamentations chanted. We have six talented women who chant the chapters using the traditional sad melody. The tune transcends words and brings the meaning of this spiritual holiday to heart.

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Below are photos from some of our previous Tisha B'Av programs.

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