Tisha B'Av — Words of Torah (my blog!) — Rabbi Amy Josefa Ariel (she/her)

Days of Comfort

These seven weeks of 49 days are a time of consolation.
They are a time to ask ourselves and to ask each other questions so specific we can answer them in this particular moment. Where am I right now? How am I right now? What do I need right now? What good can I bring into the world right now? What is one thing I can do to comfort someone right now? What comfort do I need right now?
These are the right now weeks.
They are tender.
I’ve included a link to my Sounds of Comfort playlist with this post.

Jewish ValuesAmy ArielAugust 7, 2023Days of Consolation, Sounds of Comfort, Mourning, Tisha B'Av, Jewish MourningComment

Reaching Through the Smoke and Ash:

Lonely, sits the city once great with people. She that was great among nations has become a widow. The princess among states has fallen under their power. She weeps bitterly. Her friends offer no comfort. Her allies have betrayed her. Empty of festival pilgrims, her gates are deserted. My eyes flow with tears.

Every year we chant these words on Tisha B’Av and are reminded that lament deserves our time. Pain will not be forgotten, but can be held. There is no just future without having an honest reckoning with our past.

Jewish Holidays, TORAHAmy ArielJuly 16, 2020Tisha B'Av, Convergence on Campus, Lament, EichaComment

It's Tisha B'Av

Saying, "It's Tisha B'Av" is a little like saying, "It's 9/11." Tisha = 9th. Av is the month we are in. It's a date. This date is the major day of communal mourning in the Jewish calendar. The. If you haven't heard of it, I get it, and it might be the biggest day you've never heard of.