Linking Ancient Grief and Today's Urgency on Tisha B'Av

This Saturday night and Sunday mark Tisha B’Av (the 9th day of the month of Av). Tisha B’Av commemorates not only the destruction of both the first and second Temples, but also many other tragedies in our people’s history. The power of Tisha B’Av is that it encourages us to make communal space to feel our grief. The customary mourning rituals that include fasting and reciting kinot/lamentations are there to support the experience of opening our hearts to actually feel the enormity of grief and loss that we, understandably, often knowingly or unknowingly avoid feeling.

Tisha B’Av comes at a moment of so much acute suffering in our Jewish community and in our world. On Saturday evening we will observe Tisha B’Av by sitting on the ground in the CBI Sanctuary, in the custom of mourners, and reading the haunting laments of Eicha, the Book of Lamentations by candlelight. Among Eicha’s many anguished cries, one theme echoes with particular pain this year: hunger. “The young children ask for bread,” we read, “but no one gives it to them.” (Eicha 4:4)

Eicha’s descriptions of hunger reverberate painfully as we witness an ever deepening, devastating and dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where far too many—especially children—face widespread starvation and despair. Regardless of politics, borders, or blame, we can never turn away from human suffering. Our tradition commands us: “If there is a hungry person, one must feed them.” (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 250:1) At this moment we call on Israel’s leaders, our fellow Jews, to take responsibility in bringing about a solution. 

The themes of Tisha B’Av and Eicha also mirror painfully with the cruel injustice currently directed towards our country’s immigrants.  Eicha depicts the very beginning of our own people’s forced exile and our outcast condition as refugees, unwelcome wherever we went. “Away! Unclean!’ people shouted at them. ‘Away! Away! Do not touch!’ So they wandered and wandered again. It was said among the nations, ‘They shall stay here no longer.’" (Eicha, 4:15)

Thanks to the hard work of so many in our CBI community and in our broader community, there are a number of very meaningful opportunities to observe Tisha B’Av and to link the themes of the day with the current devastation that weighs so heavily on our hearts. 

We have opportunities to come together as a community to grieve and to show our support over the next week:

Thursday, July 31, 6–7 pm Jews Rally Against Mass Starvation in Gaza Northampton City Hall

This rally is hosted by Jews in the Valley who reached out to each other across a variety of political backgrounds and affiliations to join in protest of the ongoing starvation in Gaza.

While it is quite possible there will be signs, symbols, and clothing that don't align with my/your personal viewpoints, I encourage you to attend and rely on the common denominator that unites us all: starvation as a weapon of war is unconscionable and must stop now. 

August 6 & 20, 12–1 pm; August 14 & 28, 5–6 pm

Standing Together Vigil

Main and King Street

This Thursday,  July 31 the vigil will focus on ending the starvation campaign.  It will take place in front of the old courthouse on the corner of Main St. and King Street and will be followed by joining the rally at City Hall at 6 pm.  To learn more about Standing Together and get connected, please go here.

Saturday, August 2, 9:15 pm

Eicha Reading

CBI Sanctuary

Join us in the CBI Sanctuary for a community reading of Eicha (Book of Lamentations). We will read by candlelight. Read more.

Sunday, August 3, 11 am–12 pm

Making Space for Grief on Tisha B'av

CBI Library

Many of us are holding grief inside, personal grief, world-wide grief. In the spirit of the solemn fast of Tisha B'av, come join a facilitated grief circle, an opportunity to feel what you are carrying, to be witnessed, and to not carry the pain alone.

Facilitated by Naomi Barnett and Judi Wisch

Sunday, August 3, 2 pm

Interfaith Vigil and Procession for the Disappeared

Edwards Church, 297 Main St., Northampton

I will be joining clergy and congregants from over 15 Western MA churches, synagogues, mosques, and Buddhist temples in Northampton to honor immigrants recently taken off the streets in Massachusetts.

We will create time and space for people to grieve, provide spiritual help in living through this dark time, let immigrants know they are supported, and move people to take action to stop the injustice. It will commence with prayer and meditation. Participants, dressed in black (if possible) will then walk in silence down Main Street. Pre-prepared signs, some with pictures of people disappeared in MA, will also be provided. Organizers have requested to not bring your own sign. 

Add your name to Jews for Food Aid for People in Gaza

CBI leadership has signed on to this call from the Jewish community to end the starvation campaign; please join by going here: https://www.foodaidforgaza.org/

Donate money for humanitarian aid in Gaza

If you would like to donate money to support urgently needed aid to civilians in Gaza, please consider donating to New Israel Fund's campaign.

View our full calendar

Jewish grief, though rooted in our particular story, opens us to a deeper awareness of human pain and the brokenness we all share. In our lived experience, sorrow is often interconnected—our sadness over past losses is not separate from the anguish we feel for suffering in our world today. 

May this Tisha B’Av, and the days leading up to it, offer us space to more fully feel our own pain, to more deeply empathize with one another and inspire us to do what we can to support justice and spread peace.

With a heavy heart and enduring hope,

Jacob