In observance of Tisha B’Av (the fast day that is on the ninth of the Hebrew month of Av), a period of fasting, lamentation and prayer to remember the destruction of the first and second Temples of Jerusalem and other major disasters and tragedies that Jewish people experienced throughout history, the local Jewish community will come together to remember this dark period in our people’s history.
A community-wide observance and service will take place on July 17 at Congregation Beth Shalom. The program will be offered virtually with limited in-person attendance. The evening begins at 9:30 p.m. with a Tisha B’Av Ma’ariv service and will be followed by a D’var Torah and reading of Eicha. Participants can choose to participate in either the Hebrew or English reading from the Book of Lamentations, which details the destruction of Jerusalem through song and poems.
This is a meaningful service with beautiful, mournful melodies, some engaging teaching, and a time for communal reflection on both painful times of our past and hope for our future. To indicate your attendance, register at: www.docs.google.com/forms/REGISTRATIONTishaBAv2021
The community Tisha B’Av observance continues July 18 beginning at 4:00 p.m. and will be held virtually via zoom. Tisha B’Av commemorates destruction, but also bears with it the hope of redemption.
We will mark the end of this somber day by hearing stories from members of our community and from outside of our local community who have suffered personally from addiction or have a loved one who has; and we will reflect on the path from addiction to recovery as a form of transition from destruction to redemption. The program is a collaborative effort of the Rabbinical Association and Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City.
Register for the Sunday program at: www.docs.google.com/REGISTRATIONTISHABAAVSUNDAYJULY18
Links to connect via Zoom for each event will be sent a couple of days in advance. Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick is the rabbinic liaison for this year’s communitywide Tisha B’Av observances. Rabbi Moshe Grussgott is the Sunday program rabbinic liaison.
For more information and links to registration, visit kcrabbi.org or contact Annette Fish, Rabbinical Association administrator/program director, , 913-327-8226.
