Podcasts about tisha b

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing. Today, we have a special episode that we pulled from our archives. Just ahead of this year's observance of Tisha B’Av on Sunday, which commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples, we are replaying an episode of our former weekly podcast, Times Will Tell, in which we went onsite in Jerusalem to the Temple Mount Sifting Project. We speak with archaeologist Zachi Dvira, who is the co-director of the project. He’ll explain its controversial genesis and continuing struggle. At the end of our conversation, you'll hear as we wet-sift a bucket of earth taken from the Temple Mount. Founded in 2004 near the Mount of Olives, it’s now at a location called Mitzpe Hamasuot, near the Hebrew University. The site is easily accessible and has an auditorium and a shady picnic grove, which was made possible with the help of American Friends of Beit Orot. Dvira calls for all who have not been to help sift through thousands of years of Temple Mount history to "hurry up!" IMAGE: Visitors sifting buckets of earth from the Temple Mount at the relaunch of the Temple Mount Sifting Project, June 2, 2019. (Yosef Huri)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg discuss the inherent potential, along with the limitations, of the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'av (the 9th of Av) — understood by many to be the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. What does it mean to mourn a past pain in the present? In this week's episode, Dan and Lex consider the meanings of grief and reflection as the month of Av progresses and we move towards the month of introspection, Elul.------------------------Tisha B'av punctuates the end of the Jewish calendar with a bright, momentary grief. Soon after comes the month of Elul, often thought of as the on-ramp to the contemplations and reflections asked of us during the High Holiday period. Interested in thinking about how to reframe and reinvigorate your meditations on the cycles of grief and change? Sign up for Elul Unbound 2025 to receive biweekly wisdom and introspective prompts to guide you through the late summer days.Access full shownotes for this episode via this link. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation -- support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!

“The Jewish voice must be heard, not because it's more right or less right, but it's there. The suffering is there, the grief is there, and human grief is human grief.” As Jews around the world mark Tisha B'Av, we're joined by Columbia University professor and award-winning poet Owen Lewis, whose new collection, “A Prayer of Six Wings,” offers a powerful reflection on grief in the aftermath of October 7th. In this conversation, Lewis explores the healing power of poetry in the face of trauma, what it means to be a Jewish professor in today's campus climate, and how poetry can foster empathy, encourage dialogue, and resist the pull of division. *The views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views or position of AJC.   Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus: Untold stories of Jews who left or were driven from Arab nations and Iran People of the Pod:  Latest Episodes:  An Orange Tie and A Grieving Crowd: Comedian Yohay Sponder on Jewish Resilience From Broadway to Jewish Advocacy: Jonah Platt on Identity, Antisemitism, and Israel Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War: The Dinah Project's Quest to Hold Hamas Accountable Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview:   Owen Lewis:   Overheard in a New York Restaurant.   I can't talk about Israel tonight.    I know.    I can't not talk about Israel tonight.    I know.    Can we talk about . . .   Here? Sure. Let's try to talk about here.   Manya Brachear Pashman:   On Saturday night, Jews around the world will commemorate Tisha B'av. Known as the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, the culmination of a three week period of mourning to commemorate several tragedies throughout early Jewish history.  As a list of tragedies throughout modern Jewish history has continued to grow, many people spend this day fasting, listening to the book of Lamentations in synagogue, or visiting the graves of loved ones. Some might spend the day reading poetry.  Owen Lewis is a Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics at Columbia University. But he's also the award-winning author of four poetry collections which have won accolades, including the EE Cummings Prize and the Rumi Prize for Poetry.  His most recent collection, A Prayer of Six Wings documents in verse his grief since the October 7 terror attacks. Owen is with us now to talk about the role of poetry in times of violence and war, what it's been like to be a Jewish professor on the Columbia campus, and a Jewish father with children and grandchildren in Israel. And also, how to keep writing amid a climate of rising antisemitism. Owen, welcome to People of the Pod. Owen Lewis:   Thank you so much, Manya. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So you opened with that short poem titled overheard in a New York restaurant. I asked you to read that because I wanted to ask whether it reflected how you felt about poetry after October 7.  Did you find yourself in a place where you couldn't write about Israel, but yet you couldn't not write about Israel? Owen Lewis:   Among the many difficult things of that First Year, not only the war, not only the flagrant attacks on the posters of the hostages one block from where I live, 79th and Broadway, every day, taken down every day, put back up again, defaced. It was as if the war were being fought right here on 79th and Broadway.  Another aspect that made this all so painful was watching the artistic and literary world turn against Israel. This past spring, 2000 writers and artists signed a petition, it was published, there was an oped about it in The Times, boycotting Israeli cultural institutions.  And I thought: artists don't have a right to shut their ears. We all need to listen to each other's grief, and if we poets and artists can't listen to one another, what do we expect of statesmen? Statesmen, yeah, they can create a ceasefire. That's not the same as creating peace. And peace can only come when we really listen to each other. To feel ostracized by the poetry community and the intellectual community was very painful. Fortunately, last summer, as well as this past summer, I was a fellow at the Yetzirah conference. Yetzirah is an organization of Jewish American poets, although we're starting to branch out. And this kind of in-gathering of like-minded people gave me so much strength.  So this dilemma, I can't talk about it, because we just can't take the trauma. We can't take hearing one more thing about it, but not talk about it…it's a compulsion to talk about it, and that's a way to process trauma. And that was the same with this poetry, this particular book.  I feel in many ways, it just kind of blew through me, and it was at the same time it blew through me, created this container in which I could express myself, and it actually held me together for that year. I mean, still, in many ways, the writing does that, but not as immediately and acutely as I felt that year.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   This book has been praised as not being for the ideological but for the intellectually and emotionally engaged. So it's not it's not something that ideologically minded readers will necessarily be able to connect to, or is it actually quite the opposite?  Owen Lewis:  Well, it's very much written from the gut, from the experience, from in a sense, being on the ground, both in Israel and here in New York and on campus, and trying to keep a presence in the world of poetry and writers. So what comes from emotion should speak to emotion. There are a few wisps of political statements, but it's not essentially a politically motivated piece of writing.  I feel that I have no problem keeping my sympathies with Israel and with Jews. I can still be critical of aspects of the government, and my sympathies can also be with the thousands of Palestinians, killed, hurt, displaced. I don't see a contradiction. I don't have to take sides.  But the first poem is called My Partisan Grief, and it begins on October 7. I was originally going to call the bookMy Partisan Grief, because I felt that American, Jewish, and Israeli grief was being silenced, was being marginalized. And I wanted to say, this is our grief. Listen to it. You must listen to this. It doesn't privilege this grief over another grief. Grief is grief. But I wanted ultimately to move past that title into something broader, more encompassing, more humanitarian. Manya Brachear Pashman:  And did that decision come as the death toll in Gaza rose and this war kept going and going and the hostages remained in captivity, did that kind of sway your thinking in terms of how to approach the book and frame it?  Owen Lewis:  Yes, but even more than those kind of headlines, which can be impersonal, the poetry of some remarkable Palestinian poets move me into a broader look. Abu Toha was first one who comes to mind Fady Joudah, who's also a physician, by the way. I mean his poetry, I mean many others, but it's gorgeous, moving poetry.  Some of it is a diatribe, and you know, some of it is ideological, and people can do that with poetry, but when poetry really drills down into human experience, that's what I find so compelling and moving. And that's what I think can move the peace process. I know it sounds quite idealistic, but I really think poetry has a role in the peace process here. Manya Brachear Pashman:  I want to I want to unpack that a little bit later. But first, I want to go back to the protests that were roiling Columbia's campus over the past year and a half, two years. What was it like to be, one, writing this book, but also, teaching on campus as a Jewish professor?  Owen Lewis:  Most of my teaching takes place up at the Medical Center at 168th Street. And there I have to say, I didn't feel battered in any way by what was happening. I had a very shocking experience. I had a meeting that I needed to attend on, or that had been scheduled, I hadn't been quite paying attention. I mean, I knew about the encampments, but I hadn't seen them, and I come face to face with a blocked campus. I couldn't get on the campus. And what I'm staring at are signs to the effect, send the Jews back to Poland. I'm thinking, Where am I? What is this? I mean, protest, sure. I mean we expect undergraduates, we expect humans, to protest when things really aren't fair. But what did this have to do…why invoke the Holocaust and re-invoke it, as if to imply the Jews should be punished? All Jews.  And what it fails to account for are the diversity of Jewish opinion. And you know, for some Jews, it's a black or white matter, but for most thinking Jews that I know, we all struggle very much with a loyalty to Israel, to the Jewish people, to the homeland and larger humanitarian values. So that was quite a shock. And I wrote a piece called “The Scars of Encampment,” in which I say, I can't unsee that. " And I go to campus, and, okay, it's a little bit more security to get onto campus. It's a beautiful campus. It's like an oasis there, but at the same time, I'm seeing what was as if it still is. And in a way, that's the nature of trauma that things from the past just roil and are present with almost as much emotion as when first encountered. Manya Brachear Pashman:  So did you need to tune out those voices, or did that fuel your work? Owen Lewis:  No, that fueled my work. I mean, if anything, it made me feel much more, a sense of mission with this book. And a commitment, despite criticism that I may receive, and no position I take is that outlandish, except to sympathize with the murdered on October 7th, to sympathize with their families, to resonate with what it must be like to have family members as hostages in brutal, brutal conditions. Not knowing whether they're dead or alive. So I really felt that the Jewish voice must be heard, not because it's more right or less right, but it's there. The suffering is there, the grief is there, and human grief is human grief. Manya Brachear Pashman:  Owen, if you wouldn't mind reading another poem from the collection. Of course, many of us remember the news out of Israel on Thanksgiving Day 2023, right after October 7th. And this poem is titled, “Waiting for the Next Release, Reported by the New York Times, November 23 2023”. Owen Lewis:  Waiting For the Next Release, Reported N.Y. Times, Nov. 23, 2023    Maybe tomorrow, if distrust  doesn't flare like a missile,  some families will be reunited.    How awful this lottery of choice; Solomon would not deliberate. Poster faces always before my eyes,   Among them, Emma & Yuli Cunio.  Twins age 3, Raz Katz-Asher, age 4, Ariel Bibas, another four year old.    What do their four year old minds make  of captivity? What will they say? What would my Noa say?    What will the other Noas say?  Remembering Noa Argamani, age 26,  thrown across the motorcycle    to laughter and Hamas joy.   I have almost forgotten this American day,  Thanks- giving,   With its cornucopian harvests,  I am thinking of the cornucopian  jails of human bounty.    (What matter now who is to blame?) Manya Brachear Pashman:  Really beautiful, and it really captures all of our emotions that day. You have children and grandchildren in Israel, as I mentioned and as you mentioned in that poem, your granddaughter, Noa. So your grief and your fear, it's not only a collective grief and fear that we all share, but also very personal, which you weave throughout the collection.  In another poem, “In a Van to JFK”, you talk about just wanting to spend one more hour with your family before they fly off to Israel. And it's very moving.  But in addition to many of the poems, like the one you just read, they are based on and somewhat named for newspaper headlines, you said that kind of establishes a timeline. But are there other reasons why you transformed those headlines into verse? Owen Lewis:  Yes, William Carlos Williams in his poem Asphodel, says, and I'm going to paraphrase it badly. You won't get news from poems yet, men die every day for wanting what is found there. And I think it's a very interesting juxtaposition of journalism and poetry. And I mean, I'm not writing news, I'm writing where my reflections, where my heart, goes in response to the news, and trying to bring another element to the news that, you know, we were confronted.  I mean, in any time of high stress, you swear off – I'm not watching any more TV. I'm not even gonna look at the newspaper. And then, of course, you do. I can't talk about Israel today. I can't not talk about it. I can't read the paper. I can't not read the paper. It's kind of that back and forth. But what is driving that? And so I'm trying to get at that next dimension of what's resonating behind each one of these headlines, or resonating for me. I mean, I'm not claiming this is an interpretation of news. It's my reaction, but people do react, and there's that other dimension to headlines. Manya Brachear Pashman:  That seems like it might be therapeutic, no? Owen Lewis:  Oh, totally, totally. You know, I'm very fortunate that having started a career in medicine, in psychiatry, and particularly in child and adolescent psychiatry. I always had one foot in the door academically. I spent, you know, my life as, I still teach, but I'm very fortunate to have, maybe 10+ years ago, been introduced to a basically a woman who created the field of Narrative Medicine, Rita Sharon. And now at Columbia in the medical school, we have a free-standing Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics, of which she's chairman.  So I've had the fortune of bringing psychiatry and medicine and writing together in a very integrated way. And yes, writing is therapeutic, especially, I could say in medicine, which has given itself over to electronic medical record keeping, but our whole society is moving towards the electronic. And what happens when you sit and write, and what happens when you then sit and read, you reflect. Your mind engages in a different way that is a bit slower than the fast pace of electronic communications and instant communications and instant thinking. And now with AI, instant analysis of any situation you want to feed data from.  So that's sorely lacking in the human experience. And the act of writing, the act of reading has huge therapeutic values, huge salutary benefits for humans in general, but particularly in times of stress. In a lot of work on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, finding an outlet, an artistic outlet, it doesn't have to be writing, but that's often a way of transcending the trauma.  And medicine is filled with trauma. People trying to come to terms with acute illnesses, chronic illnesses. Doctors and caregivers trying to come to terms with what they can and can't do. And you know, we're coming up against limitations. But how do you make peace with those limitations? And it's not that it's a magical panacea, but it's a process of engagement, not only with the subject, but with yourself in relation to the subject. Manya Brachear Pashman:  I mean, I imagine dialogue is really the healthiest way of conversation and speaking through and interacting with a topic. And so I would imagine poetry, or, as you said, any art form, responding to news reports, it makes that a two way conversation when you're able to process and it's not just the headlines shouting at you, you're actually interacting and processing it by writing and reaction, or painting and reaction, whatever you choose to do. Owen Lewis:  Exactly. Manya Brachear Pashman:  You have said that poetry can serve a purpose during times of war. Is this one of the purposes to to be therapeutic or are you talking more in terms of what statesmen could learn from it?  Owen Lewis:  Well, yes, of course, what statesmen could learn from it, but it's human nature to want to take sides. I mean, that's kind of just what we do. But I think we can always do better than that. So I'm really talking about the people. I mean, there are also many Jews who are so angry at Israel that they can't listen to the story of Jewish grief. They should be reading mine and others poetries from this era. I wish the Palestinian poets were. I wish the Palestinian people. I mean, of course, in their current situation, they don't have time when you're starving, when you're looking for your next glass of fresh water. You don't have time for anything beyond survival.  But once we get beyond that, how long are these positions going to be hardened. I mean, I think when the people of all sides of the dilemma really listen to the others, I mean, they're, I mean, if, unless as Hamas has expressed, you know, wants to push Israel into the sea, if Israel is going to coexist with the Palestinian people, whether they're in a nation or not in a nation, each has to listen to the other.  And it's, you know, it's not one side is right, one side is wrong. It's far too complex a history to reduce it to that kind of simplicity. And I think poetry, everyone's poetry, gets at the complexity of experience, which includes wanting to take sides and questioning your wanting to take sides and moving towards something more humanitarian.  Manya Brachear Pashman:  You said earlier, you recommend Abu Toha, Fady Joudah, two Palestinian poets who have written some beautiful verse about– tragically beautiful verse–about what's happening. But there have been some really deep rifts in the literary world over this war. I mean, as you mentioned before, there was a letter written by authors and entertainers who pledged to boycott Israeli cultural institutions. Some authors have refused to sell rights to their books to publishers in Israel. So why not reciprocate? And I know the answer. I think you've already addressed it pretty well. What's wrong with that approach? Owen Lewis:  In any conflict, there are at least three sides to the conflict. I mean, claims to nationhood, claims to who shoved first, who. I mean, you don't entangle things by aggressively reacting. I mean, if we learned anything from Mahatma Gandhi, it's what happens when we don't retaliate, right? And what happens when we go the extra mile to create bridges and connections.  There are a host of people in Israel who continue to help Palestinians get to medical facilities, driving them back and forth, working for peace. I mean, there's a Palestinian on the Supreme Court of Israel, and well, he should be there. You know, that's the part of Israel that I am deeply proud of. So why not retaliate? I think it entrenches positions and never moves anything forward. Manya Brachear Pashman:  So have you gotten any negative feedback from your writing colleagues? Owen Lewis:  Some cold shoulders, yes. I mean not nothing overtly. I haven't been slammed in a review yet. Maybe that's coming. But when I publish pieces, I tend not to look at them. I had an oped in the LA Times. I've had some other pieces, you know, that precipitates blogs, and I started to read them.  And the first blog that came off of the the LA Times oped was, God, is he an opportunist, just taking advantage of having a daughter in Israel? And trying to make a name for himself or something. And I said, You know what, you can't put yourself out and take a position without getting some kind of flack. So occasionally, those things filter back, it's par for the course. Manya Brachear Pashman:  Right, not really worth reading some of those. You included Midrash in this book. You also spelled God in the traditional sense in the poems. Why did you choose to do that? Owen Lewis:  Well, I felt it honors a tradition of Jewish writing. It mean we have yud, hey, vav, hey, you know, which in English comes down as Yahweh, but it's unpronounceable. The name of God is unpronounceable. And, you know, yud, hey, vav, hey is just a representation. It isn't God's name. And there's a tradition that the name of God, when it's written down, can't be destroyed. And it's a way of honoring that tradition. Millennium of Jewish writers, you know, it's similar to say Elokim, instead of Elohim when the text is written. To sort of substitute. We know what we're talking about, but really to honor tradition, to pay respect and sort of to stay in the mind frame that, if there is a God, he, she, they, are unknowable. And somehow it creates, for me, a little bit of that mystery by leaving a letter out. It's like, G, O, D, seems more knowable than G-d. It's leaving that white space right for something bigger, grander, and mysterious, for the presence of that  right in the word itself. Manya Brachear Pashman:  And what about including Midrash? Owen Lewis: That's a very interesting question. You know Midrash for me, when you steep yourself in traditional Midrash, there's stories that exemplify principles and they fill in gaps. I mean, some of the most important. I mean, we have this notion of Abraham breaking the idols of his father before he left. No. That's Midrash, thats not in the Torah. And yet, nine out of ten Jews will say that's in the Torah, right? So, it kind of expands our understanding of the traditional text. But it also very much allows a writer to creatively engage with the text and expand it. It's like a commentary, but it's a commentary in story, and it's a commentary in terms that evoke human responses, not necessarily intellectual responses. So frankly, I think it's every Jews' responsibility to write Midrash. That reinvigorates the stories, the texts, and the meanings, and then we write midrashes upon midrashes. And you know, we get a whole community buzzing about a single story. Manya Brachear Pashman:  Which is very much what you've done with this collection, you know, writing poetry in response to news stories and engaging it in that way. It's very Jewish response, I would argue.  Do you observe Tisha B'av? Owen Lewis:  You know what I do. You're gonna laugh. My grandmother always warned us, don't go in the water on Tisha B'av, the sea will swallow you up. So I'm a big swimmer. I love swimming. I don't swim on Tisha B'av, because I hear my grandmother's voice, I'm going to be swallowed up. Manya Brachear Pashman:  If you could please wrap up this conversation by sharing a poem of your choice from your latest collection. Owen Lewis:  A poem I love to read again starts with a headline.   2000 Pound Bombs Drop, Reported N.Y. Times, Dec,, 22 2023.   In Khan Younis, the call to prayer  is the call of a dazed Palestinian child crying baba, standing at the brim of a cavernous pit of rubble   biting his knuckles–baba, baba . . .  It's so close to the abba of the dazed  Israeli children of Be'eri, Kfar Azza. There is no comfort. From his uncles   he's heard the calls for revenge– for his home and school, for his bed  of nighttime stories, for his nana's  whisper-song of G-d's many names.   His Allah, his neighbor's Adonai,  cry the same tears for death  and shun more blood. No miracle these waters turning red. Who called forth    the fleets of avenging angels? By viral post: Jewish Plagues on Gaza! A firstborn lost,  then a second, a third. What other plagues  pass over? Hail from the tepid sky?   From on high it falls and keeps falling.  Though we've “seen terrible things,” will you tell us, Adonai, Allah, tell us– do You remember the forgotten promise?   From the pile once home of rubble stone, a father's hand reaching out, baba, abba crushed by the load. We know the silence  of the lost child . . . G-d “has injured us   but will bind up our wounds . . .” Mothers  Look for us, called by the name yamma, calling  the name imma. Our father of mercy, not the god of sacrifice. Our many crying heads explode. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Owen Lewis, thank you so much for talking to us about how this book came about and for sharing some of these verses. Owen Lewis:   Thank you so much. Manya Brachear Pashman: If you missed last week's episode, be sure to listen to my conversation with Israeli comedian Yohay Sponder on the sidelines of AJC Global Forum 2025. Hear how his Jewish identity shapes his work, how his comedy has evolved since the Hamas terror attacks, and what he says to those who try to silence him.

On this erev Shabbos Chazon, the Mashgiach delivers a powerful and moving schmooze on how to approach Tisha B'Av 5785. Rabbi Stark is currently giving the daily Hachzek mussar shiur. To access, click the link below: Hachzek.com. WhatsApp Chat. Free Sefer. Hachzek App (Apple). Hachzek App (Google).  

There are so many of us who are disenchanted with the entire way Tisha b'Av demands of us. Sit on the floor. Mourn. Listen to sad stories. My Rebbi- Rav Yitzchock Berkovits Puts a terrific perspective on it all that had me actually excited for the avodah of Tisha B'av this year. In truth I gave this class right after I sat with Nachi Gordon from Meaningful Minute to film an Episode for Tisha B'av. What you will hear now is only bullet points of the depth we covered in that episode. You have to be a member of Meaningful Minute Plus to hear it. There is so much content there that it is a true life improving experience to be a member and tap into the many awesome classes, episodes and podcast available there. Please use code : www.Twocents.plus to join and hear this class in depth and all the new Two Cents Podcasts with my Brother Yossi and myself coming out weekly.

Holiday-Tisha B'Av 5785

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The Nine Days leading to Tisha B'Av stand as a stark reminder of loss, reflection, and spiritual reckoning. Through the discomfort of these days—likened to the feeling of putting sweaty socks back on after golf in scorching heat—we're called to confront the deeper discomfort of our spiritual priorities.Why did the Temple fall? When the sages posed this question directly to God, His answer was clear: "They forsook my Torah." The Gemara elaborates that this refers specifically to failing to make a blessing before Torah study—a seemingly minor oversight that reveals a profound misalignment. When we treat Torah casually, when we don't credit its significance in our lives, we create the conditions for spiritual exile.This perspective transforms our understanding of the Nine Days. Rather than simply mourning what was lost, we're called to examine what we place first in our lives. Do parents ask children about their Torah learning before anything else? Do spouses encourage and support each other's study? Is Torah truly the focal point of our existence, or have creature comforts and physical pleasures taken precedence?The path to redemption lies not in elaborate rituals but in the simple act of blessing the Torah with true intention and making it central to our daily lives. When we demonstrate that we've learned from past mistakes by prioritizing our spiritual commitments, perhaps then God will see our teshuvah and rebuild what was lost. The Nine Days thus become not just a time of mourning, but an opportunity for realignment, renewal, and return.Support the showJoin The Motivation Congregation WhatsApp community for daily motivational Torah content!---------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Weekly Parsha for an insightful weekly talk on the week's Parsha. Listen on Spotify or 24six! Access all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our website, themotivationcongregation.org ----------------Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

Why do we still mourn the loss of the Holy Temple 1,955 years after its destruction? What is missing from the world without it, and what would it mean to have it back again? What is the true message of Tisha B'Av for Israel and the whole world? In this week's Jerusalem Lights Podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman discuss the meaning of the Holy Temple for the whole world, and reflect on the cycle of pain which our fragmented world endures on account of the concealment of the Divine Presence. May we be consoled with the speedy rebuilding of the Holy Temple, and as Zechariah the prophet promises, may Tisha B'Av be transformed into a day of joy and gladness! _________Rabbi Chaim Richman Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone Please support the work of Jerusalem Lights, Inc., a USA recognized 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization to enable these productions to continue and grow:PayPal: infojerusalemlights@gmail.com or: https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?loc...In the USA: Jerusalem Lights Inc. Post Office Box 16886Lubbock Texas 79490In Israel: Tel. 972 54 7000395 Mail: PO Box 23808, Jerusalem IsraelSubscribe to our newsletter at https://www.rabbirichman.comSubscribe to our YouTube channel:    / jerusalemlightsrabbichaimrichman  Follow us on Facebook:   / rabbichaimrichman    / 282440396475839  

Music and commentary by Estelle, Cantor Ahron Abraham, and a special historical overview of Jerusalem by George K. Bernstein

Why do we cry on Tisha B'Av?

Watch the ground breaking, first of its kind initiative called Uniting Torah which unites the 4 Torah worlds. Let's show hashem that the divisions of the past no longer define us. Now every Jew can support all Torah worlds equally. This time, we give to each other.https://Unitingtorah.com/rk

Having received his Ph.D. in mathematical logic at Brandeis University, Rabbi Dr. Dovid Gottlieb went on to become Professor of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University. Today he is a senior faculty member at Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem. An accomplished author and lecturer, Rabbi Gottlieb has electrified audiences with his stimulating and energetic presentations on ethical and philosophical issues. In Jewish Philosophy with Rabbi Dr. Gottlieb, we are invited to explore the most fascinating and elemental concepts of Jewish Philosophy. https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ podcasts@ohr.edu

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: From Rain to Rainbow: A Tisha B'Av Transformation in Jerusalem Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-07-29-22-34-02-he Story Transcript:He: האבנים העתיקות של העיר העתיקה בירושלים זהרו כאשר השמש התחילה להרפות, והרוח הפכה קלילה.En: The ancient stones of the Old City in Jerusalem glowed as the sun began to set, and a gentle breeze took over.He: היה קיץ, ועדיין העיר נראתה כמו חורף אחרי גשם קל.En: It was summer, yet the city seemed like winter after a light rain.He: איתן, מדריך הטיולים, חייך אל קבוצת המשתתפים שנאספה בפניו בכיכר המרכזית.En: Eitan, the tour guide, smiled at the group of participants gathered in front of him in the central square.He: הם התכנסו לציין את תשעה באב, ואתן תכנן לספר על מאורעות זה היום העצוב והקדוש.En: They had convened to commemorate Tisha B'Av, and Eitan planned to tell the story of the events of this solemn and sacred day.He: "התחלנו!En: "We're starting!"He: " קרא איתן בקול מרומם.En: called out Eitan in an uplifted voice.He: בהם היו אריאלה, שהגיע לגלות את שורשיו ההיסטוריים אך היה ספקן לגבי דת, ומרים, שהייתה מקומית וחיפשה להכיר חברים חדשים בפעילות רוחנית.En: Among them were Ariela, who came to discover her historical roots but was skeptical about religion, and Miriam, who was local and looking to meet new friends through a spiritual activity.He: לפתע, עננים אפורים הצטברו בשמים, והגשם התחיל לרדת במפתיע.En: Suddenly, gray clouds gathered in the sky, and rain began to fall unexpectedly.He: טיפות כבדות פגעו באבנים העתיקות.En: Heavy drops hit the ancient stones.He: "הגשם הזה לא תוכנן," אמר איתן, מנסה לשמור על רוחו המרוממת.En: "This rain wasn't planned," said Eitan, trying to maintain his elevated spirit.He: הוא ידע כי תוכניותיו שנעשו לחוד לפעילות חיצונית עלולות להיסתחפות בגשם.En: He knew that his plans for an outdoor activity might be swept away by the rain.He: הוא כבר חשש שהאירוע יתבטל, אך החליט להמשיך, למצוא פתרון אחר.En: He was already concerned that the event might be canceled, but decided to continue and find another solution.He: "בואו נלך לתוך הקשתות של הרובע היהודי," הציע.En: "Let's go under the arches of the Jewish Quarter," he suggested.He: הקבוצה עקבה אחריו, אם כי בלחישה של תהיות.En: The group followed him, albeit with whispers of wonder.He: גם מרים, באמונתה הגדולה, הביטה אל השמיים ברוך, בעוד אריאלה הלך שקט עם מחשבותיו.En: Even Miriam, in her great faith, looked up at the sky with serenity, while Ariela walked quietly with his thoughts.He: כאשר הגיעו לקשת הבניינים המקושטות, איתן ביקש מהם להקשיב לסיפור החורבן והתקווה, ליצור קשר עם מהות היום.En: When they reached the ornamented arches of the buildings, Eitan asked them to listen to the story of destruction and hope, to connect with the essence of the day.He: ומרים, מצדם, עשתה תפילה דוממת.En: And Miriam, on her part, offered a silent prayer.He: בעת שביקרו בקיר המערבי, הטיפות הכבדות המשיכו ליפול, ואריאלה, למרות ספקנותו, הרגיש משהו חזק.En: As they visited the Western Wall, the heavy drops continued to fall, and Ariela, despite his skepticism, felt something powerful.He: הוא התבונן במרים שהתפללה ברגש רב.En: He observed Miriam praying with deep emotion.He: "אולי יש יותר ממה שנראה לעין," חשב לעצמו.En: "Maybe there's more than meets the eye," he thought to himself.He: אחרי שנים של ספקות, משהו זעמא אותו לרגע.En: After years of doubt, something stirred within him for a moment.He: לפתע, הגשם פסק.En: Suddenly, the rain stopped.He: אי שם מעל החומות נראתה קשת בענן, כאילו האירה את העיר באור של תקווה חדשה.En: Somewhere above the walls, a rainbow appeared, as if illuminating the city with a light of new hope.He: הקבוצה נעמדה, פיה פתוח בפליאה.En: The group stood, mouths agape in wonder.He: איתן הבין כעת את חשיבות הגמישות והאמונה בתפקידו.En: Eitan now understood the importance of flexibility and faith in his role.He: אריאלה חייך, הרגיש מחובר יותר ליהדותו ולעברו מהיכולת שלו לשייך רגש למקום עתיק זה.En: Ariela smiled, feeling more connected to his Judaism and heritage from the ability to associate emotion with this ancient place.He: סיפור הסתיים, אך בלבבות אלה שהקשיבו לו, התחיל סיפור חדש של קשר ושייכות.En: The story ended, but for those who listened, a new story of connection and belonging began.He: תשעה באב הזה, תחת הגשם והקשת, נהפך לזמן של זיכרון, חיבור ותקווה.En: This Tisha B'Av, under the rain and the rainbow, became a time of memory, connection, and hope. Vocabulary Words:stones: אבניםancient: עתיקותgentle: קלילהbreeze: רוחskeptical: ספקןcommemorate: לצייןuplifted: מרומםsacred: קדושornamented: מקושטותarches: קשתותdestruction: חורבןheritage: שורשיוserenity: ברוךemotion: רגשflexibility: גמישותfaith: אמונהlight: אורthunder: רעמיםunexpectedly: במפתיעgathered: הצטברוparticipants: משתתפיםconnect: ליצור קשרwhispers: בלחישהdoubt: ספקותobserve: להתבונןilluminating: האירהcontentment: שביעות רצוןwonder: פליאהdoubt: ספקותbelonging: שייכותBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

What is the main point of the 5th book? What is the significance of the number 5 and what can we learn from Moshe's transformation from someone afraid to speak to a master orator? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!

The Shmuze - Rabbi Karlinsky - A Tragedy of Tisha B'Av: You Don't Know What You Are Missing by Shapell's Rabbeim

We continue to discuss Melacha and work on Tisha B'Av.

Join Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld as he guides us through the world and major works of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, and Jewish philosophy, shedding light on the inner life of the soul. To learn more, visit InwardTorah.org

Charlie Harary on Let's get Real with Coach Menachem, Sunday July 27, 2025Tisha B'Av 2025 : Making Hashem Real in Our Daily Experience #238

Source material: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i5ZNDrth2okF7ACLBvKafjGgOKBU74sm/view?usp=drive_link

This morning we review the details of Shabbat ending as Tisha B'Av begins. this is an opportunity to use the holiness of Shabbat to infuse the meaningfulness of Tisha B'Av. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/ Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO Please contact Rabbi Whitman (rabbi@adath.ca) with any questions or feedback, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.

WE continue to discuss Melacha and work on Tisha B'Av.

Come spend Tisha B'Av with us! We're going to be having a live online event in the afternoon. It's a chance to join hundreds of Jews from around the world to learn together, connect and make this day about community instead of being alone. Click here to learn more. A Book Like No Other is a product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through the generous support of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide.

When the opportunity arose to join the Project Mesorah trip to Poland, we didn't know exactly what to expect—but we had one assurance from Rabbi Spero: this would be a life-changing journey. And it was. This year, in the season of Tisha B'av, join us as we recount our emotional trip following the footsteps of the victims, from Chachmei Lublin, to Majdanek to Auschwitz. Follow us as we say Kaddish where so many were martyred. Listen to us as we sing Hamalach Hagoel where countless children spent their last moments as a sacrifice to future children victims of the war. And most of all, be inspired from hearing how we saw the words of the Torah fulfillfed: וְאַף־גַּם־זֹ֠את בִּֽהְיוֹתָ֞ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֗ם לֹֽא־מְאַסְתִּ֤ים וְלֹֽא־גְעַלְתִּים֙ לְכַלֹּתָ֔ם לְהָפֵ֥ר בְּרִיתִ֖י אִתָּ֑ם כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י ה' אֱלֹהֵ-יהֶֽם׃ Yet, even then, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or spurn them so as to destroy them, annulling My covenant with them: for I Hashem am their G-d. ________ ** We want to thank from the bottom of our hearts, Ari Scharf, Rabbi Spero, and the entire Project Mesorah team for the unbelievable opportunity they gave us in joining their trip.  What are you waiting for? Experience it for yourselves! ** Project Mesorah's trips are always memorable and even life changing, but if you want private tours with amazing chefs, tour guides, and speakers, Project Mesorah has you covered! Visit them at: https://www.projectmesorah.org/ Or call: 845-570-1943 ________ ** Town Appliance - For All Of Your Appliance Needs! ** No matter the budget, Town Appliance will get you the right appliance for your needs and give you the most value for your money. https://www.townappliance.com/ Call/Text/Whatsapp: 732-364-5195 ________ ** BONUS CONTENT AVAILABLE NOW BY PHONE! ** Subscribe At: 605-417-0303 If you're having an issue connecting to our call-in number: Alternate number: 605-562-3525   Get official KC swag and show your support to the world! https://kiddushclubmerch.com   Subscribe now to keep us going and access bonus content! https://buymeacoffee.com/kiddushclub/membership     We have a call-in number where you can hear the cast! Tell your friends and family who may not have internet access! 605-417-0303 To Call In From Israel: +053-243-3287   Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiddushclubpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kiddushclubcast Join our WhatsApp chat: https://2ly.link/27DRp Send us you thoughts comments and suggestions via email: hock@kiddushclubpodcast.com  

Generally speaking, the restrictions observed during the three-week period of Ben Ha'mesarim – from Shiba Asar Be'Tammuz through Tisha B'Ab – apply equally to both and women. The question was asked regarding an unmarried girl who would like to take a haircut before going on a date, or an engaged girl who wishes to take a haircut before spending time with her fiancé. Ashkenazic practice is to refrain from haircutting through the Three Weeks, and Sephardic practice is to refrain from doing so from Shabbat Hazon (the Shabbat immediately preceding Tisha B'Ab). Is there room to permit a girl to take a haircut during the Three Weeks or the Nine Days if she finds this necessary for purposes of courtship, or for her fiancé? When it comes to a female mourner, the Shulhan Aruch (Y.D. 390:5) rules that a woman in mourning for an immediate family member may take a haircut already after the seven-day Shiba period, whereas the Rama, whose rulings are followed by Ashkenazim, forbids haircutting even for women until after the thirty-day Sheloshim period. Accordingly, Hacham Ovadia Yosef ruled that a Sephardic girl who wishes to cut her hair may do so, even after Shabbat Hazon, since the restrictions of Ben Ha'mesarim are treated more leniently than the laws of mourning. Moreover, it seems clear from Hacham Ovadia's rulings that any Sephardic woman who feels the need to cut her hair, for any reason, may do so, even after Shabbat Hazon. An example would be a woman who needs to immerse in a Mikveh and wishes to cut her hair to make the preparations for her immersion easier. As for Ashkenazic girls, Hacham Ovadia ruled that they may, if necessary, cut their hair until Shabbat Hazon. Although Ashkenazic practice forbids a female mourner from haircutting during Sheloshim, the laws of the Three Weeks are observed only by force of custom, and not as strict Halacha, and so there is greater room for leniency. After Shabbat Hazon, however, an Ashkenazic girl should not take a haircut. Hacham Ovadia showed that this is the position also of Rav Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986) and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (1910-1995). Summary: Ashkenazim refrain from haircutting during the three weeks from Shiba Asar Be'Tammuz through Tisha B'Ab. An Ashkenazic girl who wishes to cut her hair for a date, or an engaged Ashkenazic girl who wishes to take a haircut so she looks good for her fiancé, may do so until Shabbat Hazon (the Shabbat preceding Tisha B'Ab). Sepharadim refrain from haircutting from Shabbat Hazon through Tisha B'Ab, but a Sephardic woman who feels a need to take a haircut for any reason during this week may do so.

We hope you enjoy this shiur. If you would like to sponsor or dedicate any of our shiurim or help with the running costs please do not hesitate to get in contact with us at office@rabbiroodyn.com or WhatsApp +447791221449May Hashem heal the wounded, free the captives and lead our soldiers to a swift and painless victory.#jew #jewish #torah #torahfortoughtimes #rabbiroodyn #bringthemhome #rabbi #torahanytime #Judaism #Israel #shiur #responsetotragictimes #jewishunderstanding #thethreeweeks #tishabav #9av #9days

We continue to discuss Melacha and work on Tisha B'Av.

We discuss the importance of not having a Hesech HaDaat from the Aveilut on Tisha B'Av. This also begins our discussion regarding work on Tisha B'Av.

This is part one of a two part episode relating to the upcoming observance of Tisha B'av. Rabbi Dobrusin tells a story which can shed light on the traditions of this fast day.  

We discuss the prohibition of greeting one another on Tisha B'Av.

Uno de los días más solemnes del año para el pueblo judío, no es un día santo bíblico. No, este día de luto nacional, conocido como Tisha b'Av, se conmemora por las catástrofes que sucedieron a Israel a lo largo de la historia en el noveno día del mes de Av… To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1235/29

Harav Yussie Zakutinsky Shlita

Rabbi Yoel Gold is one of the most beloved storytellers in the Jewish world. He grew up in a Hasidic home, though his family life was shaped by more than tradition—his parents divorced, and that personal journey has added depth and emotion to his words. His stories resonate across generations, weaving together faith, humor, vulnerability, and timeless wisdom.This year, Rabbi Gold premieres his new Tisha B'av film, which centers on the mysterious fate of the Temple menorah. The film follows an unforgettable journey to uncover where the menorah might be hidden and why its discovery could change everything. Rabbi Gold shares fascinating findings in this episode.Watch Rabbi Gold's Film here:→ https://bit.ly/3TIVMyaCode: LIVING LCHAIM for 10% OFF✬ SPONSORS OF THE EPISODE ✬► Twillory: The Air Collection!Suits can be itchy, hot, heavy and honestly annoying. Get the cool AirSuit for a suit that actually breathes. Or, the AirShirt. Or the AirBomber!INSPIRE20 for 20% OFF Your First Purchase!→ https://bit.ly/4eBHeKb► Tesla Raffle: Win Your Dream CarWin the Tesla of your choice — or choose a Rivian, Lucid, or another EV — or take $50,000 in cash!New this year: You're not limited to Tesla. You can now choose from Rivian, Lucid, or any electric vehicle of your dreams.ChesedChicago is a tzedaka organization founded by Dayan Shmuel Fuerst dedicated to helping families in crisis with 80+ life-changing programs — including food, furniture, job placement, and government aid support. Your ticket makes all of that possible. Go to CCraffle.com and use promo code LCHAIM to get $25 off two tickets, or $500 off fifteen tickets.ENTER HERE→ https://bit.ly/45FNRc5► BitBean: Smart Custom SoftwareReally great way to take your business to the next level.Contact Bitbean today for a FREE CONSULTATIONReach Out Here→ https://bitbean.link/MeEBlY► Wheels To Lease: #1 Car CompanyFor over 35 years, Wheels To Lease has offered stress-free car buying with upfront pricing, no hidden fees, and door-to-door delivery.Call today!→ CALL/TEXT: 718-871-8715→ EMAIL: inspire@wheelstolease.com→ WEB: https://bit.ly/41lnzYU→ WHATSAPP: https://wa.link/0w46ce✬ IN MEMORY OF ✬This episode is in memory of:• Shimon Dovid ben Yaakov Shloima• Miriam Sarah bas Yaakov Moshe✬ Donate and Inspire Millions (Tax-Deductible) ✬Your generous donation enables us at Living Lchaim to share uplifting messages globally, enrich lives, and foster positive change worldwide! Thank you!→  https://www.LivingLchaim.com/donateOur free call-in-to-listen feature is here:• USA: (605) 477-2100• UK: 0333-366-0154• ISRAEL: 079-579-5088Have a specific question? email us hi@livinglchaim.comWhatsApp us feedback and get first access to episodes: 914-222-5513Lchaim!

Rabbi Vann

Today Pastor Stan shares a very important message. We must realize the Lord has already warned us that Trump should not make enemies with Russia. If we threat the Russians with ultimatums, it will backfire severely and will set the stage for Nuclear War. 00:00 Intro 03:43 Most Alarming Dream 11:03 Fasted Prayers 13:06 Trump Threatens Russia 25:39 Tisha B’Av

Today Pastor Stan shares a very important message. We must realize the Lord has already warned us that Trump should not make enemies with Russia. If we threat the Russians with ultimatums, it will backfire severely and will set the stage for Nuclear War. 00:00 Intro 03:43 Most Alarming Dream 11:03 Fasted Prayers 13:06 Trump Threatens Russia 25:39 Tisha B’Av

7/17/25: Smith Prof James Lowenthal: space travel & NASA cuts. Rabbi David Seidenberg: Tisha B'Av, immigrants, ICE & Israel. Local newspapers' Ex Ed Dan Crowley: Amherst Guidance Counselor, fired over ant-trans behavior, reinstated. Prof Amilcar Shabazz w/ Dr. Lucinda Canty of Mom-&-baby-focused Lucinda's House & Anika Lopes on Ancestral Bridges.

[This episode originally aired on July 29, 2024] Hi everyone, welcome to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I'm Alex Segal and today, we are speaking with Dr. Hilla Aboody, an amazing teacher, mother, wife and mentor currently living in Eretz Yisrael who I invited to come on to speak about this heavy time on the Jewish calendar.Hilla has such a beautiful way of explaining things — it's so deep and profound yet easy to comprehend at the same time.A little background on her:She is a wife and mother of five, living in Eretz Yisrael after making Aliyah 7 years ago from Brooklyn, NY. She is a teacher and Em Bayit (house mother) at Midreshet Eshel, a Sephardic seminary for post High school students from around the world. Her educational background includes studying at Michlalah and receiving her bachelor's degree from Bar-Ilan University and a Master's and PhD in Jewish History from New York University. She has published her study on Eliyahu the Prophet in Talmudic literature and midrashim in her book, “Through the Prism of Wisdom”. As an educator and kallah teacher, Hilla dedicates her time in guiding students to creating a relationship with Hashem and tips and tools to thrive in their marriages and in life.In our conversation, we speak about:-What the Jewish perspective is on sadness and pain-How we can connect to Hashem during this time and in this unique way, especially if it feels daunting for you right now-Why this particular time period brings about more heaviness and actually the reason why we take more precautions-The rich energy that lies in the months of Tammuz and Av — what the letters associated with each month mean, why the sense of each month is important and what we can individually and collectively take from all of that-Why crying is actually a sign of bravery-Practical things you can do now to get through this time with more faith, in a more connected way to yourself, Hashem and those around you-How to deal with difficult emotions with your kids…and SO MUCH MOREThis podcast with Hilla is basically an hour long shiur. I got chills like 17 times as I was listening to her and it's definitely one of the most important ones I've done so far in terms of our spirituality.If there is someone you want to see on The Chai on Life Podcast, email me at alex@chaionlifemag.com or send me a DM @chaionlifemag. Thanks again, see you next week!

This podcast will explain the significance And deeper meaning of the values and law o this three week period leading up to the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem. It will also discuss why the Rabbis set aside an entire  day to mourn for a building destroyed nearly 2000 years ago, and why a parallel day of mourning  on the Jewish calendar is not set side for the Holocaust.

This podcast will explain the significance And deeper meaning of the values and law o this three week period leading up to the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem. It will also discuss why the Rabbis set aside an entire  day to mourn for a building destroyed nearly 2000 years ago, and why a parallel day of mourning on the Jewish calendar is not set side for the Holocaust.