Beginning on Saturday evening August 10, we commemorate Tisha B’Av, the day on which a multitude of tragedies befell our People. We traditionally read from the Book of Lamentations, an elegy for the city of Jerusalem in the wake of the terrible and senseless loss of life that accompanied the destruction.
“For these things do I weep, My eyes flow with tears — עַל־אֵ֣לֶּה ׀ אֲנִ֣י בוֹכִיָּ֗ה עֵינִ֤י ׀ עֵינִי֙ יֹ֣רְדָה מַּ֔יִם.” (Lamentations 1:16)
Dear God,
We are sorry.
We are sorry for the bloodshed, for the innocents gunned down in recent days.
We are sorry for the culture of hatred and division that we have yet to find a way of reversing.
We are sorry for not being more careful with our words, for not speaking out more forcefully when the dignity and safety of others is attacked.
We are sorry for the racism, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia, and antisemitism that we too often accept and sometimes even encourage.
We are sorry for not doing more to protect our neighbors, for standing idly by while our sisters and brothers bleed.
And we are sorry for not doing more to change a system that permits even teenagers to purchase weapons of war and a culture that inspires even children to use them.
We are sorry — so sorry.
How can we ever be worthy of Your forgiveness?
In pain,
Your broken-hearted children
To turn your sorrow into action, visit WiseLA.org/ProtectOurKids