This Sunday, the 10th of Av, we remember the destruction of G-d’s Temple. We mourn our exile and the loss of this singular pipeline to communicate with Him. In order to make this sublime occasion more meaningful, the OU has for years provided resources for congregations and individuals to help us all better understand the message of the day.
This year, my Tisha B’Av presentation will be webcast from the Boca Raton Synagogue in Florida. The theme is “Grappling with Destruction.” In a significant departure from past years, OU Executive Vice President, Emeritus Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb will be webcasting from Israel, at the OU’s Seymour J. Abrams Jerusalem World Center. Rabbi Weinreb will be speaking on “Woe to the Children.” Join us at www.ou.org/holidays/tishabav.
Aside from these evocative presentations, thousands will gather in shuls in over 100 cities worldwide to view an inspirational video jointly produced by the OU and Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future. The video, entitled “Making Tisha B’Av Meaningful to Us Today,” will be screened in over 250 synagogues across the United States, as well as in Australia, Canada, Israel, Poland, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Presenters on the video include Rabbi Mordechai Willig, Rabbi Kenneth Brander, Rabbi Yaakov Glasser, Dr. David Pelkovitz and Mrs. Nechama Price, plus Rabbi Weinreb, Rabbi Burg and myself. You can see more about this at www.yutorah.org/tishabav/video.