OU, YU ONCE AGAIN TO COMBINE ON PROGRAMMING FOR THREE WEEKS AND NINE DAYS; CENTERPIECE OF EFFORTS IS VIDEO, ‘MAKING TISHA B’AV MEANINGFUL TO US TODAY’
Once again this year, the Orthodox Union and Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future (CJF) will combine efforts on programs for the Three Weeks and Nine Days leading to Tisha B’Av, to be followed by a variety of shiurim on Tisha B’Av itself.
In this year of extremely early Jewish observances, the Three Weeks begin on Tuesday, June 25 — the Fast of Shiva Asar B’Tammuz, the Fast of the 17 of Tammuz, with its restrictions on levity. The Nine Days , with its deeper restrictions, begin on Monday, July 8, Rosh Chodesh Av. Tisha B’Av itself, the Ninth of Av, extends from Monday evening July 15, until nightfall Tuesday, July 16.
“It is most rare for the Three Weeks to begin before the Fourth of July,” noted Rabbi Judah Isaacs, OU director of community engagement, who worked with CJF in developing the programs. “The materials jointly prepared by the Orthodox Union and Yeshiva University will enable Jews to focus on the tragic events of Tisha B’Av, by deepening their understanding of the past and how they impact on the Jewish soul in our times.”
The centerpiece of the program is a video, “Making Tisha B’Av Meaningful to Us Today.” It will feature Rabbi Yaakov Glasser, director of education, NCSY, the OU’s international youth movement; Professor Smadar Rosensweig, clinical assistant professor of Bible at Stern College for Women of Yeshiva University; Rabbi Steven Weil, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union; and Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Weinberg, rebbe and mashgiach, Stone Beit Midrash Program, at YU.
The free DVD will be sent to all Orthodox Union member congregations and by CJF to synagogues across North America, Israel, the United Kingdom, Australia and elsewhere. All synagogues can order at no cost at .
Tisha B’Av will once again feature live webcasts by Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, executive vice president, emeritus of the OU; Rabbi Weil; and Rabbis Dovid Gottleib and Jacob J. Schacter of Yeshiva University. Details of the programming will be announced once the Three Weeks begin.
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