July 8, 2004

Once Again OU’s Rabbi Weinreb to Provide Tisha B’av Commentary in Live Broadcast On OU Website, www.ou.org

Once again this year Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb will provide commentary on the Tisha B’Av Kinot, the elegies of the day, in a four-hour broadcast to be carried live around the world on the OU website, www.ou.org. The theme of this year’s presentation will be The Beginning of the End of Our Suffering.

The broadcast will originate from the Young Israel of Woodmere in Long Island, NY at 8:50 a.m. on Tisha B’Av morning, Tuesday, July 27. One purpose of the broadcast is to enable Jews who cannot be present in the synagogue that day because of work or family responsibilities – or who only remain for a short while – to observe Tisha B’Av and to experience the full significance of the day while attending to their other activities.

This is the third year of what is becoming an OU tradition of website broadcasts of Rabbi Weinreb’s Tisha B’Av commentary. Last year, Rabbi Weinreb returned to Congregation Shomrei Emunah in Baltimore, which he served for 13 years before assuming his OU position, to lead the broadcast. This year he comes to YIW, a synagogue with which he has a particularly close relationship, together with years of working closely with its spiritual leader, Rabbi Hershel Billet. The service is open to all, not only to regular congregants of the synagogue. For driving directions please call the YIW at 516-295-0950.

For his presentation, Rabbi Weinreb will draw from a wide range of sources -- ancient to modern, halachic and aggadic, religious and secular. Last year the result was insights into the elegies which educated and deeply moved his worldwide audience.

Some comments follow:

“As I listen to the last few minutes of Rabbi Weinreb’s lecture, after being with it since 9:15 this morning, I simply must commend you and the OU for a magnificent act of service to the community. You have utilized modern technology in a way that is mezakeh harabim (brings merit to the community), and you have helped infuse this holy day with true neshama (soul), even for those of us who must spend much of our day in the office.”

“I just finished watching Rabbi Weinreb saying Kinot on the web. I want to tell you that it was the most meaningful Kinot that I ever experienced. Rabbi Weinreb’s explanation before each Kina was superb.”

“What a tremendous service to the Jewish community. Rabbi Weinreb was masterful and inspiring. I stayed on-line the entire time and have never felt so enriched by a Tisha B’Av before. The live Kinot webcast was very inspiring and has made my fasting a more meaningful experience.”

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