Here are three resources for Tisha b’Av, which this year falls (on the Gregorian calendar) on August 13-14.

Rabbi Sami Barth shares a lament, writing:

I grew to love this unusual qinah when attending Tisha B’Av at the Spanish Portuguese synagogue (Bevis Marks) in London. The power of the “questions” and the refrain “Mah nishtanah halailah hazeh” is enhanced by the traditional melody, chanted by their Hazzan – Halfon Benaroche – who served with great distinction and modesty for decades.

You can find an mp3 of the melody here: Mah Nishtanah for Tisha b’Av [mp3]. A pdf of the text is available here: Mah Nishtanah for Tisha b’Av [pdf]

Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan offers a teaching from Rabbi Kalman Kalonymous Shapira, writing:

When every head is ailing, every heart is sick, what words of spiritual comfort are possible? When property is stolen, wounds are left untreated, and social supports worn to a shred, what insight can Jewish traditions offer?

You can find her teaching here: Reb Kalman’s Vision.

And Rabbi David Evan Markus offers a new siddur for the afternoon of Tisha b’Av, writing:

While the most prevalent Tisha b’Av observance is ma’ariv (the evening service), mystical thought evokes the birth of redemptive moshiachzeit at mincha (the afternoon service). At mincha of Tisha b’Av, descent turns toward an ascent that continues for seven weeks, a runway for Rosh Hashanah.  At mincha of Tisha b’Av, tradition invites donning tallit and tefillin, and we begin to rise.  This siddur for mincha of Tisha b’Av traces that journey, weaving both the despair and the hope born anew.

You can find his siddur here: Siddur – Hope Anew [pdf]

 

You can find previous years’ resources in our Tisha b’Av category. Broken stone heart photo by Carla Garloff.