Saturday August 13| 8:30 p.m. Silent Meditation | 9:00 p.m. Gather for readings, chants, recitation of the traditional Eicha/Lamentations, and communal outpouring of our own cries of mourning and anguishIf you want to set the spiritual container for the evening, join in a silent ‘sit’ at 8:30.
To create a communal ‘Eicha’ you will have the opportunity to complete one of these phrases as you enter:
My Plea…
I am Heartbroken for…
My Heart is in Anguish for …
My eyes are spent with tears…
I cry out for …
Please come in quietly.
Each participant receives a candle, liturgy, and a floor cushion.
Seating on chairs will be for those who cannot sit on the floor.
The room will be dimly lit, with flickering candles
providing most of the light. Bring an open heart and hope for the world.
This is an important evening to attend, a crucial aspect of the spiritual/historical cycle of the Jewish year. Tisha b’Av is a time of grief, yet our Tisha b’Av gathering also reminds us that hope can spring from destruction in surprising ways.
Now too, we deeply feel our shock and grief over the seemingly unending murders of innocent Americans with assault weapons intended for war. The eruption of racism in America horrifies us. Religious violence rages in the world. We likewise must face the peril to our planet caused by continued global warming and consequent ecological devastation. May our grief spur us to action in behalf of humanity and the earth.