Tisha B’Av (the ninth day of Av) marks one of the low points in our Jewish calendar. It commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples, and the beginning of the galut, the exile into the diaspora, which was our Jewish fate until recent history, with the founding of the state of Israel.

Tisha B’Av is a full fast day from sun-down to sun-down. It is marked by mourning practices and, just like on Yom Kippur, the following are forbidden: eating, drinking, bathing, anointing with oil/perfume, wearing leather shoes, and sexual intercourse. The Book of Lamentations is chanted to a haunting melody.

Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun, Congregation Sinai, and Congregation Shalom, are planning a special Joint Tisha B’Av program which will be held on Monday night, August 12 at CEEBJ. The program will begin at 7:00 pm led by the Rabbis and Cantors of these congregations. We will be chanting from each of the five chapters of Eicha, the book of Lamentations, in Hebrew and Yiddish. Between chapters we will study various texts with our Rabbis and hear moving songs from the combined choirs of Congregations Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun, Sinai, Shalom, and the Milwaukee Jewish Community Chorale.

Please join us to participate in this unique program and to learn more about Tisha B’Av and the impact and relevance that it has on our lives today.