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Tisha B’Av & Minor Fast Days

A single lit candle glowing softly in a dark room.

During the hottest time of the summer, when the land of Israel is parched and dry, we pause for the holiday of Tisha B’Av. It commemorates the destruction of the first and second temples in Jerusalem and provides the opportunity to mourn for the suffering of our people and suffering throughout the world. Other minor fast days remind us of additional events from our shared history, and provide opportunities for reflection in our hectic lives.

Latest Rituals

A poem about the contradictions in the month of Av.
twine tied in the shape of a heart
A poem for Tisha b’Av.
woman in dark behind window with raindrops
“All that remains to me / of my family’s life in Ukraine… / are four silver kiddush cups…”
a lit candle glows against a dark background
“In a field of lilies trampled by warriors / the Shekhinah weeps”
close up of light yellow-white lilies with black background
“her presence undimmed but hidden as the new moon”
a person sits in the middle of a desert with a striped blanket wrapped around them
“As this day begins its dark descent / our tongues go dry again”
view of an orange and red sunset

“You weep with us in the darkest night / But raise us in joy in morning’s light.”

a candle glows against a dark background

“May the new orchard bloom, and the First Fruits be blessed”

mixed media piece by author with almonds and eyes covered by sticks in a grid pattern and a jug in the middle

“May we honor the earth that has received the remnants of that which has been destroyed”

a group of candles glow against a dark background

“We take for granted that we have food to eat”

A person sitting on a windowsill, gazing outside at a tree and houses with red roofs.

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