Synagogue List

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Torah Portion

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Unity On A Day Of Grief

Beth Ahm and ffnai Moshe combine for Tisha b'Av services.

people, including the destruction of both the
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
first and second Temples.
StaffWriter
"We can't get together on Shabbat or on a
chag (holiday) because of the distance," said
uilding on their own personal friend-
Rabbi Popky. "But this is a time when we
ship, the rabbis from two local
can."
Conservative synagogues decided to
Rabbi Popky sees the combined
merge their memberships for
Rabbis Pachter and services as representative of the
two joint services this Tisha b'Av.
"strong sense of camaraderie with-
Popky during the
Friends from rabbinical school days
planning committee in our community's congrega-
at the Jewish Theological Seminary
meeting.
tions."
ofo America in New York,
"The Conservative movement
Congregation B'nai Moshe's Rabbi
itself
often shares sponsorship of
Elliot Pachter and Congregation Beth
programming,
such
as when visiting scholars
Ahm's Rabbi Charles Popky chose the upcom-
are in town," he said.
ing holiday for the collective observance.
B'nai Moshe and Beth Ahm each will host
Tisha b'Av is a fast day on the ninth day of
the Jewish month of Av, the day that com-
UNITY ON DAY OF GRIEF on page 41
memorates a series of tragedies for the Jewish

' ha IrAv?
What Is Ms

Tisha b'Av — the ninth day of the Hebrew month of
Av -- is called the saddest day on the Jewish calendar,
because of the series of tragedies occurring on that
date throughout Jewish history.
The holiday, beginning this year on the evening of
Wednesday, Aug. 6, commemorates tragedies that
occurred on that date, including the destruction of the
two Temples in Jerusalem 656 years apart, the dead-
line date for the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492
and the start of World War I, the beginning of the
downward slide to the Holocaust.
The sundown-to-sundown holiday is observed by a
fast, during which other aspects of mourning are
observed.
Kinot, somber dirges composed from the Middle
Ages up to the present, including those commemorat-
ing the Holocaust, may be read along with Eichah
(Book of Lamentations), composed by the prophet
Jeremiah in reaction to the destruction of the First
Temple in Jerusalem.
In addition, Torah study is limited to portions deal-
ing with Tisha b'Av and mourning.
Until midday, seating is restricted to the low stools
that are customary for mourners during the shivah
period.

Tisha Inv Video

Through Thursday, Aug. 7, Orthodox synagogues
nationwide will make available for viewing The
Jerusalem Connection: In Our Hearts and blinds, a
joint project of the Orthodox Union and the
Rabbinical Council of America.
The video, whose theme is the centrality of
Jerusalem in the Jewish experience, includes "personal
interviews with leading rabbis, Israeli government
leaders, former military personnel and ordinary citi-
zens," said Rabbi Moshe Krupka, OU executive direc-
tor for programming. For those who see the video,
Rabbi Krupka said, the "kinot [somber laments] will
resound ever more deeply in their Jewish souls."
Information on viewing the video may be obtained
by calling local Orthodox synagogues.

8/ 1
2003

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