Tisha b’Av: Descent for the Sake of Ascent

The community joined Rabbi Shohama and Rabbi David for a soul-opening commemoration of Tisha b’Av, doorway into the High Holy Days that featured the TBE tradition of deconstructing, “destroying” and “rebuilding” our Sanctuary.

Tisha b’Av is Judaism’s lowest day, recalling destructions, Jewish exiles and history’s other tragedies. Only as we experience our own darkness can we fully honor the timeless call to forgive and renew.

Our Tisha b’Av commemoration used music, meditation, prayer and stillness to bottom out in personal and communal loss, and then begin the ascent toward Rosh Hashanah. Hashiveinu Yah eleicha v’nashuvah: chadeish yameinu ke’kedem / “Return us to You, God, and we will be returned: Renew us as in days of old” (Lamentations 5:12).

We bless all with a meaningful ascent into the season of meaning.