When sad is also beautiful

[taylweaver]

So it's Tisha B'av again. That day when we all communally mourn by getting collectively dehydrated

Comments

[ladymondegreen]

This was very well written and expressed. Oddly, it made me sad. I think because despite the somewhat regimented aspect to religion at Ramah, it was a time where I had unquestionable community which reflected my level of Judaism, which is something I frequently have trouble seeking out these days, especially since graduating from JTS. Interestingly, this is my Ramah experience pretty much to a T, except I wasn't on staff and thus wasn't in a choir. I went to Ramah Canada, so I expect that it was pretty much the same across all the Ramah (Ramot

[sdelmonte]

Kind of glad to see that I am not alone in not really feeling it on Tisha B'Av. Though I don't think I ever have. It wasn't that big a deal for me growing up, and now that I live in a community where the very fact that I am at work (and even looking at my friends list) means I am not observing it like everyone else.

Still, it's nice to see that there can be more to the day than the well-meant and heartfelt but limited services I encounter every year.

Just a note

[margavriel]

Well-written post. You are mourning the loss of a ritual experience which you yourself experienced -- a mini-version of the national loss.

Just a point: The opening words of the Qina which you mention are not "Eili Tziyon" ("My god, Zion!"), but "Eli Tziyon" -- the first word is a rare word for "mourn", in the feminine imperative. Thus: "Mourn, O Zion".

Re: Just a note

[taylweaver]

Glad you found meaning in my post.

In terms of spelling, I was just sounding things out, not paying attention to the exacting conventions of transliteration that you prefer. But it was still an interesting bit of trivia, so thanks.