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4460 Orchard Lake Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48323
Phone: 248.683.1010

Fast Facts
About Holiday

Holiday: Tisha b'Av

When It's Observed: The ninth (tisha)
day of the Hebrew month of Av. This
year, Tisha b'Av begins Saturday night,
July 28, and ends Sunday night, July
29.

Why It's Observed: On this day, on
two separate occasions, the Holy
Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed.
Other tragedies also have befallen the
Jewish people on this day (see "Why
We Mourn").

What We Do: Tisha b'Av is one of only
two full fasts on the Jewish calendar,
with no eating or drinking from sunset
to sundown, except for those who, for
medical reasons, may not fast,; the
other is Yom Kippur. Further, we do
not wear leather or use perfume, bathe
for pleasure or engage in marital rela-
tions. One is not allowed any enjoyable
activity on Tisha b'Av, even the study of
Torah, except Eichah (Lamentations)
and the book of Job.-

Traditions: Before the fast begins,
many will eat a last meal consisting of
bread and an egg. Those who study
Torah will limit this material to sad
subjects on the day before Tisha b'Av.
Synagogues will take down the curtain
on the Ark and remove any other
adornments before the fast begins.

The Service: During Ma'ariv (evening)
services on Tisha b'Av, we read Eichah
in the synagogue after regular davening,
or prayer. Those who come to pray
remove their shoes and sit on the floor
or low stools, appropriate for mourners.
As this is concluded, the congregation
says together the following verse from
Lamentations. "Turn Thou us unto
Thee, 0 Lord, and we shall be turned.
Renew our days as of old."
At the conclusion of the reading of
Eichah, it is traditional to recite a num-
ber of dirges, or kinot.
The following day, on Tisha b'Av,
tefillin and tallit should not be worn
during davening. A special prayer,
Anenu ("Answer Us") is recited.
Anenu, an ancient prayer cited in the
Talmud and read on each fast day, calls
on God to "answer us ... in all times of
trouble and distress."

It also is read during the afternoon
service.
The Torah reading on Tisha b'Av is
Deuteronomy 4:25-40. The subject is
Moses' warning to the Children of
Israel of their fate should they forsake
the Torah (though in the end, they are
told, God will have mercy an _ d forgive
them).
A number of congregations also have
chosen to recite special kinot to mark
the millions of Jewish lives lost in the
Holocaust. Two of these may be found
in The Complete Tisha bAv Service pub-
lished by Artscroll. ❑

Those interested in attending Tisha bAv
services may want to consider the follow-
ing Ch; call the synagogue of your
choice.

• Young Israel of Oak Park, 15140 W
10 Mile Road, will have evening servic-
es, including a reading of Eichah
(Lamentations) at 9:50 p.m. Saturday,
July 28. Morning services with Rabbi
Reuven Spolter begin at 9 a.m. Sunday.
Included are two 2:30 p.m. programs:
"Why Did Yirmiyahu write the Book
of Eichah? A Study in Text" with Rena
Spolter and a program for children
(making cards for the victims of terror-
ism in Israel). At 3:30 p.m., the syna-
gogue will present a video: Terrorism: A
Work in Progress presented by Deanna
Sperka. At 7:15 p.m., a video featuring
Rabbis Benjamin Yudin and Dr. Tzvi
Hirsh Weinreb of the Orthodox Union
Till be shown.

• Adat Shalom Synagogue, 29901
Middlebelt, Farmington Hills: Services
begin at 8:45 Saturday night and con-
tinue at 8 a.m. Sunday. Rabbi Daniel
Nevins will speak on the destruction
Jerusalem and on the Holocaust.

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I Machorn L'Torah, 15221 W. 10 Mile
Rd., Oak Park: "A Time To Heal," a
video presentation by Rabbis Yissachar
brand and Jonathan Rietti,
July 29, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Donation at
the door.
" Are We Facing The Third Exile? The
Jewish Response to The Arafat
Challenge," a special educational expe-
rience led by Rabbi Avraham
jacObovitz, July 29, noon.
For more information and reservations,
(248) 967-0888:

Studios and suites with private baths
Three well planned daily meals
Licensed Nurses & Resident
Assistants 24 hours/7 days
Emergency call system
Medication management
Alzheimer's and dementia care
Housekeeping and linen service
Pool and exercise room
Scheduled activities 7 days weekly
Game Room
Hair Salon
Sundries shop
Transportation
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Includes all utilities except telephone „,

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