An Asir Tzion, a Prisoner of Zion, is a Jew who was imprisoned or deported for Zionist activity. The phrase is taken from Kinah (Elegy) #36, written by Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi which we read on Tish B’Av morning: “Zion, ha’lo tishali...
On Tisha B’Av afternoon, the Nachem prayer is added into the amida of the Mincha service:Console O Lord our God,The mourners of ZionThe mourners of Jerusalem,And the city that is in sorrow, laid waste,Scorned and desolate;That grieves for the loss of its...
In the first verse of Megilat Eicha, the prophet Yirmiyahu describes Jerusalem k’almana, like a widow: “Alas- she sits in solitude! The city that was great with people has become like a widow. The greatest among nations, the princess among provinces,...
This Saturday night and Sunday, we will commemorate the sad day of Tisha B’Av. The Hebrew date of Tisha B’Av, the 9th of the month of Av actually comes out on Shabbat this year. Since it is forbidden to turn Shabbat into a day of mourning Tisha...
In the Talmud, Shabbat 31a we read the following: “Rava said: When they escort a person to his final, Heavenly judgment after his death, the Heavenly tribunal says to him: Did you conduct your business transactions faithfully? Did you set aside fixed times...