For two years now I have observed Tishah B’Av in some way. Last year, it happened to fall during camp. A group of us at Kutz fasted and had shacharit together. There was no minyan though, so we didn’t read Eichah. Peer pressure kept me going in my fast.
This year, I set out to do it again, going so far as to stand up in defense of Tishah B’Av acorss the Reform blogosphere. After a hearty dinner last night, I set out to fast. This morning I went to Agudas Achim, our local Conservative synagogue, where they had the whole nine yards; the chapel was all draped in black cloth and we sat on the floor and read Eichah.
And it was nice and I’m glad that I went, but I really don’t know what to think of Tisha B’Av right now. So we went to brunch after services. For now, at least, I think I’m done with Tisha B’Av. I’ll still defend the idea I defended in the post referenced above, but for now, what do I think of Tisha B’Av?
Ask me again in a year.
4 Comments
August 11, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Conservative Judaism is conflicted about 9 Av too. Just read the Conservative version of “Nachem.”
You do not need a minyan to read Eicha.
August 11, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Thanks for the comment, DH.
August 12, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Had a Tisha b’Av service at my teeny Reform shul, chanted Eicha, read some translated Kinot. Got four people, but for me, hey, it was great.
August 12, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Good for you, Emily!