The annual Tisha B’Av Program of Flatbush will, be’ezras Hashem, be held in Tiferes Israel – Ocean Parkway Jewish Center, 550 Ocean Parkway, between 18th Avenue and Ditmas Avenue on Wednesday night, July 29 and on Thursday, July 30.
For more than 25 years, the Tisha B’Av Program together with a smaller lecture program on the 17 of Tammuz has inspired members of the community to focus on the significance of the Three Weeks. At this time, Klal Yisroel mourns the loss of the two Batei Mikdosh in Yerushalayim (Temples in Jerusalem) and other related tragedies that have befallen our nation such as the Crusades, the Expulsion from Spain, and more recently the Holocaust.
The program begins with Maariv at 9:00 P.M. on Thursday night, July 29. Participants should bring their own Siddurim & Kinos. After the reading of Megillas Eichah, Rav Shlomo Pearl, shlita, the Rosh Kollel of the Bostoner Night Kollel in Flatbush, will present an introduction to the Kinos, and set the tone for the day of mourning. At 10:20 P.M. Rav Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, shlita, Executive Vice President, Emeritus of the Orthodox Union will address the topic “Why Have You Forsaken Us? A Candid Analysis of Where We Have Gone Wrong.”
The program will resume the following morning with Shacharis at 8 A.M. Those participating are again requested to bring their own Siddurim and Kinos. At 9 A.M. Rav Yosef Stern, shlita, Rav of Congregation Agudas Achim of Midwooda rav will give an introduction to the Kinos and offer explanations of selected Kinos.
Rav Noach Orlowek, shlita, the Mashgiach Ruchni in Yeshiva Torah Ore in Yerushalayim will talk about “Kol Yisrael Areivim Zeh B’Zeh” at 12:30 P.M. Rav Herschel Welcher, shlita, of Congregation Ahavas Yisroel and Rosh Mesivta of Mesifta Tiferes Yisroel will address the question – “For What Should We Mourn?” at 1:30 P.M, followed by Mincha at 2:30 P.M. At 3:15 P.M., Rav Yechiel Perr, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Derech Ayson of Far Rockaway, will discuss “Looking to the Future with Poor Hindsight.”
Rav Yosef Viener, shlita, Rav of Kehilas Shaar Hashamayim in Monsey will at 4:15 P.M. focus on “Ticket to Geula – Who’s Buying It; what Does it Cost?” Rav Shmuel Dishon, shlita, Menahel of Mosdos Yad Yisroel, Karlin Stolin will at 5:15 P.M. offer a powerful analysis of how a Jew should feel on this sad day that we all hope will soon turn into a joyful Yom Tov with the coming of Moshiach.
Rav Yochanan Zweig, shlita, Rosh Hayeshiva of Yeshiva v’Kollel Bais Moshe Chaim in Miami Beach will speak on the topic of “If Hate is Causeless, How Can We Fix It?” at 6:15 P.M. A second Mincha is scheduled for 7:10 P.M.
Rav Hanoch Teller, prominent author and lecturer from Yerushalayim, will conclude the program with a talk titled “To the Other Guy, You’re the Other Guy.” Maariv, will begin at 8:45 P.M. Participants are invited to break the fast with light refreshments.
The Flatbush Tisha B’Av Program has featured many of the most inspiring Torah lecturers from around the world, whose words of hope have made it possible for tens of thousands of Jews – from simple laymen to erudite Torah scholars – to gain a deeper insight into our ongoing spiritual loss in Golus and thus strengthen our desire to do teshuvah and hasten the Geulah.
For anyone who has attended these classic Tisha B’Av programs, perhaps the most heartening aspect is that the program attracts a broad spectrum of Klal Yisroel. The range of headwear demonstrates the diversity of those who come, united by a mutual desire to make this the last Tisha B’Av that the Jewish people will ever have to mourn the loss of our Beis Hamikdosh in Yerushalayim.
The program is open to men and women, with separate seating. Admission is $12 per person or $35 per family. For more information or if you would like to help subsidize the costs of running these programs, please call (718) 998-5822 or email [email protected].
May we merit to see the fulfillment of the prophecy that those who mourn the destruction of Yerushalayim by properly observing Tisha B’Av will be worthy to celebrate in its rejoicing, and may this and future Torah Connection programs offer participants the opportunity to listen to lectures of a more joyous nature.
{By Daniel Keren, Matzav.com Newscenter}
