O how has the city that was once so populous remained lonely! She has become like a widow! She that was great among the nations, a princess among the provinces, has become tributary.  (Megilat Eichah 1:1) Hashem’s bewilderment over the destruction of Jerusalem Our Sages attribute the authorship of Megilat Eichah to the prophet Yirmiyahu […]

Gadol Gibor v’Nora – Great, Mighty, and Awesome Why are the Anshei Knesses Ha’Gedolah, asks the Gemara in Yoma (69b), called by that name? Because they reinstated the practice of referring to Hashem as “great, mighty, and awesome”. Yirmiyahu and Daniel had omitted (respectively) “mighty and awesome” for in relation to the destruction of the […]

The Gemara in Maseches Rosh HaShana (18b) says that there are three categories regarding the four fasts (of Asarah b’Teves, Shiva Asar b’Tamuz, Tisha b’Av, and Tzom Gedaliah) : 1) when there is gezeiras malchus (persecution) all four fasts are obligatory as fasts, 2) when there is no gezeiras malchus but also not shalom only Tisha b’Av is obligatory, and the rest are optional, 3) when there is shalom all four are Yamim Tovim.  […]

Why do we fast on Tisha B’av?  The primary answer, of course, is to remember the destruction of the Bet HaMikdash and Yerushalayim. Yet, according to the Navi Zechariah, not only Tisha B’av, but all four of the fast days (in which we remember Yerushalayim) will one day take on an added dimension. In the […]

Why do we change the mood halfway through Tisha B’Av to a more optimistic one? What can’t we even have 1 day on our calendar that focuses entirely on sadness? Recorded live at the OU Israel Center, August 2nd, 2017  

The word moed means a meeting, a time when we meet Hashem. How then is Tisha B’Av a moed? How is Tu B’Av a holiday on par with Yom Kippur? The Good Vort (Recorded 8/31/05)

Unlike the crusades, one of the most tragic events in Jewish History, the Spanish inquisition and the subsequent expulsion is absent from Kinot. Why? Shiur provided courtesy of Torah Anytime

There are many possibilities as to what is the basis of our theology, our world outlook. According to Rabbeinu Bachya the basis is hakarat hatov. A lack of this trait is the beginning of our downfall.

The path out of galut, out of darkness into light. Why are we still in a state of “mipnei chataeinu galinu me’artzeinu” (because of our sins we in exile)? Tisha B’Av has to do with our sins which cause our exile.

The existence of the Beit HaMikdash is considered the natural order, nature in balance. What caused it and how do we restore the natural order?