Come join us at Congregation Shir Hadash to observe Erev Tisha B’Av on Saturday, August 2!

Tisha B’Av is a Jewish holiday in which we commemorate the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, along with other historical tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people. On this day, some Jews fast, sit on low chairs, and refrain from typical joyful activities.

In the spirit of this sadness, and with the knowledge that it is only through community that we can heal, we will come together on Saturday night for interactive learning in which we will explore brokenness and repair in our own lives, a pre-fast dinner, havdalah, and a prayerful service filled with song, poetry, and a chanted reading of selections from the book of Eichah (Lamentations). All ages are welcome and a lounge for youth will be set up for day-appropriate activities and a movie viewing. 

Amidst the tragedies we commemorate on this day, we will recall the teaching that the Messianic age is said to be ushered in on Tisha B’Av. After Saturday evening's Erev Tisha B'Av events (registration below), on Sunday we invite you to please join Shir Hadash and Fr. Jon Pedigo, Executive Director of PACT, for a Tisha B'av Social Justice Day, as we visit St. Lucy Catholic Parish in Campbell to celebrate a special Sunday service in Spanish with simultaneous English audio translation and learn how we can orient ourselves to human dignity in a time where so much feels so heavy.

Schedule:

• 5:30pm-7pm, Interactive Learning & Activity for All Ages, thoughtfully looking at Piyut (liturgical poetry) in multidisciplinary ways, with both robust learning for adults and hands-on engaging connection to poetry appropriate to kids, youth and teens. We will focus on classical and contemporary Kinnot — elegies — traditionally read on Tisha B’Av.
• 7pm-8pm, Pre-Fast Dinner, delicious menu from Saaj Mediterranean with falafal, pita, cauliflower, baba ganoush, tahini, salad, and more, $24 per adult, $12 per youth, $8 per tot.
• 8pm, Havdalah
• 8:30pm-10pm, Parallel Programs with Youth Lounge and Youth Activities in the Chapel, and our Ma’ariv (Evening) Erev Tisha B'Av Prayer Service and Reading of Eicha/Lamentations in the Sanctuary
  • Youth activities will include a movie (watching the Pixar film Soul), snacks, and supervision