AppleTree

Sadness

Remembering the destruction
of the Holy Temple on Tisha bAv.

ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM

AppleTree Editor

What We Observe: Tisha b'Av

When We Observe: The ninth (or
tisha, in Hebrew) day of the Jewish
month of Av. This year, Tisha b'Av
begins Saturday night, Aug. 13, and
continues until sundown on
Sunday, Aug. 14.

Why We Observe: On this
day, on two separate
help
occasions, the Holy
fam
Temple of Jerusalem
was destroyed. Other
catastrophes also have befallen
the Jewish people on the 9th of Av.

How We Observe: Tisha b'Av and
Yom Kippur are the only two full fasts
on the Jewish calendar. There is no
eating or drinking from sunset to sun-
down (except for those who, for med-
ical reasons, may not fast),
Also on Tisha b'Av, we do not wear

Photo by WZPS Photo

An illustration of "Lamentations" 1:1

leather shoes or use perfume, bathe for
pleasure or engage in marital relations.
Jews should not participate in enjoy-
able activities, even the study of
Torah, on Tisha b'Av.
One is, however, permitted to read
Eichah (Book of Lamentations) and The

Book ofJob.

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Traditions Of The Day: Before the
fast begins, many will eat a last meal
consisting of bread and an egg. Those
who study Torah will limit their study
to sad topics. Synagogues will take
down the curtain on the Ark and
lower the lighting in the sanctuary.

The Service: Those who come to pray
sit on the floor or low stools, appro-
priate for mourners.
During Ma'ariv (evening)
services on Tisha b'Av, we
read Eichah
ish (Lamentations) in the syn-
vr agogue after regular dav-
ening, or prayer. As the
reading is concluded, the congre-
gation 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
number of dirges, or kinot.
The following day, on Tisha b'Av,
tefillin and tallit are not worn during
shacharit, the morning
service. 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,
which focuses on 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 and forgive them).
Many congregations also recite special
kinot to mark the millions of Jewish
lives lost in the Holocaust Two of these
may be found in The Complete Tisha
b'Av Service published by Artscroll.
At minchah, the afternoon service,
tallit and tefillin are worn. This service
includes a Torah reading, with
haftorah. By this time of day, it is per-
mitted to sit on ordinary chairs. ❑

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Gather up your favorite
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Send them to the Jewish News
and we'll feature as many as
possible in the October issue

13f

PLATINUM

Submit prints via U.S. mail

to Halloween Photos, Lynne

Konstantin, Contributing

Arts Editor, The

Jewish News,

29200 Northwestern Hwy,

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digital photos
with subject Halloween Photos to

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Please provide a caption for each photo

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Deadline for submissions is noon

Wednesday, Sept. 7.

8/11
2005 •

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