marital relations. We do not participate
in enjoyable activities, even the study
of Torah, on Tisha b'Av. One is, however,
permitted to read Eichah (the Book of
Lamentations) and the Book of Job.
Traditions Of The Day:
Before the fast begins, many will eat a
last meal consisting of bread, water and
an egg. Those who study Torah are lim-
ited to sad topics. Synagogues and tem-
ples take down the curtain on the Ark
(parochet) and lower the lighting in the
sanctuary. During the day of Tisha b'Av,
some choose to visit a cemetery.
The Service:
Those who come to pray sit on the
floor or low stools or benches, appro-
priate for mourners. During Maariv
(evening) services on Tisha b'Av, we
read Eichah (Lamentations) in the
synagogue after regular davening, or
prayer. As the reading is concluded,
the congregation says the follow-
ing 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 inserted into the
Shmona Esrei or Amidah portion of
the service. Anenu, an ancient prayer
cited in the Talmud and read on each
fast day, asks 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,
Deuteronomy 4:25-40, 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 have cho-
sen to recite certain kinot (lamenta-
tions) 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 ser-
vice includes a Torah reading, with
haftorah. By this time of day, it is per-
mitted to sit on ordinary chairs.
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On The Web:
Here is a good Internet site: www.
ou.org/yerushalayimitishabay.
This website, from the Union of
Orthodox Jewish Congregations of
America, contains many opportunities
to learn about Tisha b'Av and the
Three Weeks, which lead up to the
holiday. You can find both interesting
written and audio material. 17
Read a related editorial on page 25.
August 4 2011
31