נַחֲמ֥וּ נַחֲמ֖וּ עַמִּ֑י
Comfort, oh comfort My people (Isaiah 40:1).
Tonight at sundown marks the beginning of Tisha b’Av, the 9th of the Hebrew month of Av, a somber day of collective Jewish bereavement. Traditionally remembered as the day that the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed; Tisha b’Av has evolved into a broader day of mourning for a number of disasters experienced by the Jewish people, a day fated to hold our communal pain. Tisha b’Av is marked by fasting, chanting the Book of Lamentations and the Book of Job, and gathering together as a community to seek solace and comfort.
As Jews, we remember times our ancestors suffered, and perhaps there will be more suffering ahead of us (God forbid), but we know we will never experience our woes alone. This year especially, we bear witness to the suffering of our loved ones in Israel; our hostages and our soldiers, as well as that of all of us who grieve to see the rising tide of anti-semitism around us. All other days, let us be resilient and hopeful; on Tisha b’Av, may we make the time to process our pain and to find comfort in our tradition, our faith, and our community.
Join us tonight as we mark Tisha b’Av with fellow Los Angeles synagogues at Adat Ariel at 7:30 p.m., where together we will begin this holy day with singing, chanting, and study. Starting with Maariv services, the evening will then continue with group study sessions; an incredible opportunity to deeply engage and connect with Jewish insight and tradition. The event concludes with a moving chanting of Eicha. We hope you will join us for this meaningful evening.
Wishing you a meaningful fast, a day of consolation, and eventually, a feeling of rejuvenation and resilience.
— Cantor Emma Lutz