The Jewish community will hold open services and opportunities for learning during Tisha B'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.
A community-wide observance and service will take place on Wednesday, July 26, outdoors at Congregation Beth Shalom. If there is inclement weather, the evening will be held indoors at the synagogue. Outdoor seating will be available, and those who wish may bring blankets to sit on.
The evening will begin at 8:30 p.m. with singing and a Tisha B’Av Ma’ariv service beginning at 8:45 p.m. The observance will include study and the chanting of Eicha with English summaries from the Book of Lamentations, which details the destruction of Jerusalem through song and poems. This service will include mournful melodies, teaching and discussion, and a time for communal reflection on both painful times of our past and hope for our future. Planning this year’s observance are Hazzan Tahl Ben-Yehuda, Rabbi Larry Karol and Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick.
The community Tisha B’Av observance will continue on Thursday, July 27, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Kehilath Israel Synagogue. The movie “City of Joel” — a documentary that follows an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic sect as they wage a turf war with their secular neighbors 50 miles north of New York City — will be shown. A panel of rabbis across denominations will then reflect on the movie. A Mincha service led by Rabbi Moshe Grussgott will begin at 8 p.m., followed by a ten-minute Torah lesson and the Ma’ariv service. Conclusion of fast will take place at 9:09 p.m. and will be followed by a light break-fast. Rabbi Grussgott is serving as the rabbinic coordinator for this program.
Those interested are asked to indicate their attendance at both observances by registering online by Tuesday, July 25, at forms.gle/3GPxvkboM9d1guoS9, or by visiting kcrabbi.org, where registration link will also be posted.
More information is available at kcrabbi.org or by contacting Annette Fish, Rabbinical Association administrator/program director, at or (913) 327-8226.
