Monday, July 16, 2012

Tisha B'Av Customs From Czechoslovakia & Germany Remind Us How Important This Day Is





Reciting Eicha – Lamentations – while sitting at the foot of the Wailing Wall is the ultimate way to express grief over our Temples' destruction. That is, if you live in Israel or happen to be visiting. Unfortunately, most Jews do not have easy access to the Wall, so it takes a lot of creative thinking to come up with comparable customs.


This is where looking back at our rich Jewish heritage comes into play. Thinking out of the box was definitely part of it, and the amount of customs I have found for Tisha B'Av is amazing.


I'm going to focus on the two I especially appreciate.
Czech Jews did not wait until the reading of Lamentations to sit on the floor. They began showing signs of mourning during the last meal before the fast, which fittingly consisted of only a hard boiled egg and a slice of bread -- eaten while sitting on the floor.

German Jews had an even more original approach. While praying at the synagogue on Tisha B'Av the Torah scroll was placed on the back of an elderly man, bent over and looking at the floor. The symbolic meaning of this act was to show that while it is hard to be a Jew, we stubbornly persist and survive despite the suffering.

Tisha B'Av is a central date in the collective memory that has kept us going. Pass on its meaning and its customs to your children, grandchildren and students, even though it doesn't coincide with the school year.














Photo Credit


















Sunday, July 8, 2012

Kabbalat Shabbat, Tel Aviv Style

I experienced a breath of fresh Mediterranean air during Israel's present burning hot, religion and state climate.  It happened this past Friday night at the Tel Aviv Port --  a Kabbalat Shabbat open to all Tel Avivians regardless of religious stripe.  

Run by Beit Tefilah Israeli -- an independent group dedicated to Jewish pluralism and making Judaism accessible and appealing to the general Israeli public -- it was the full package of Siddurim, kipot, music and prayers.


A seamless integration of classic liturgy and traditions with contemporary customs made this event special.  It wasn't a one-time affair. Over the past six years it's been building up a following of mostly secular Israelis looking for a way to embrace Judaism into their lifestyle.

I was introduced to new customs that I want to share with you. An original  Tel Aviv Prayer and a poem welcoming the Sabbath Queen written by Chayim Nachman Biyalik -- Israel's first poet laureate  -- enhanced the regular service.




Those who wished, told about an event during the week that turned out well regardless of the hazardous potential -- to which all replied by singing out thanks to God. For me, the highlight was a new Simhat Torah style prayer under a tallit, blessing all the children finishing school and starting the summer vacation.  



And children galore there were, welcoming the Shabbat together with their young parents.





It was a Kabbalat Shabbat for all ages -- proof that our rich Jewish tradition can be embraced by all.



And for that, let us say Amen and Shavua Tov to all.