TISHA B'AV - THE NINTH OF AV
Links to other Sites
BASIC INTRODUCTIONS:
Ahavat Israel
http://www.ahavat-israel.com/ahavat/torat/tishabeav.asp
Introductory file - Talmud, preparations, observances and
pre-fast meal, readings, quotations from special prayers.
JEWFAQ
http://www.jewfaq.org/holidayd.htm#Dates
Introductory file to Tisha B'Av and mourning practices, with
extended links, plus Gregorian calendar dates for Tisha B'Av
through 2007.
Judaism About
http://judaism.about.com/library/holidays/tishabav/bl_tishabav.htm
Introductory file to the Three Weeks, Nine Days and Tisha
B'Av, with extended links for terms like kinot, Eicha.
Lazer's Guide to the Jewish Year
http://homes.aol.com/Lazera/jewyear.html
Introductory file to the Three Weeks and Tisha B'Av, including
prohibitions, list of prayers and special readings.
EXTENDED SERIES:
Aish Hatorah
http://www.aish.com/holidays/tisha_bav_and_the_3_weeks/default.asp
34 articles under 4 headings (What, when & Why; Jewish
Unity; Audio; the Holy Temple) ranging from observances to
the philosophical and ethical, by different contributors,
with an emphasis on translating the importance of this period
into one's life and returning to observance. Level is adult
introductory through moderately advanced.
Chabad
http://www.thethreeweeks.com/
15 articles under 2 headings (Insights & Essays; Need
Info?) and 13 files of textual Temple Tour with image replicas
of utensils, plus further, in-depth study. Emphasis on spiritual
messages and observances. Suitable for different levels of
use in family and education: Insights - intermediate level
for adults; History/Info articles - intermediate level for
mid-teens, or as introductory adult material; note: the accompanying
stories to Info articles are for younger children.
Darchei Noam
http://www.darchenoam.org/articles/web/holidays/ar_3weeks_home.htm
7 articles by several authors, covering the Three Weeks, Ethics,
Repentance, Land of Israel, Tisha B'Av, including the continuity
from The 17th of Tammuz Fast through to Yom Kippur. College
age upwards, intermediate.
Hagshama Department, WZO
http://wzo.org.il/en/resources/expand_subject.asp?id=139
5 articles by several authors, relating to Tisha B'Av and
its origins, mourning and loss in Jewish life and calendar,
Jewish national tragedies, senseless hatred and anti-Hate
laws, reflections on the day's modern significance - and the
origins of Tu B'Av. Suitable for college age and adult education.
Hillel
http://www.hillel.org/Hillel/NewHille.nsf/0/138741D17ED3951B85256BF1004CE89F?OpenDocument
Introduction plus three downloadable guides in pdf: Traditions
and Practices; Mishnah Taanit study; Midrash study on Book
of Lamentations. Intermediate and beyond, for college age
upwards.
JTSA
http://learn.jtsa.edu/tishabav/
6 essays on Tisha B'Av and additional reading, covering foundations,
messages and meanings, basic guide to observances. Targeted
at adults, families, college age students.
Ohr Somayach
http://www.ohr.org.il/yhiy.php/holidays/tisha_bav/
22 articles under 4 headings (Mourning, Laws and Rituals,
Poems and Riddles, Talmudic Insights) with a major emphasis
on Tisha B'Av, its origins, ethical messages, philosophy,
observances of the Nine Days and Tisha B'Av, sources. The
Three Weeks are not developed as a theme. Targeted at college
age and adults, the materials are clear and do not usually
presume prior knowledge; some are anecdotal in style; content
level ranges from post-secondary age introductory to intermediate.
OU
http://www.ou.org/yerushalayim/threeweeks/resources.htm
and http://www.ou.org/yerushalayim/tishabav/
Approx 20 articles in each index, plus 15 audio files (lectures,
Lamentations) and video material (Real One). Introduction
to traditions, laws, history & chronology, observances,
texts, ethics, Midrash, readings, abstracts for all the Kinot,
overview of the Book of Lamentations, modern events: varies
between introductory to intermediate level, with ranges for
students, adults and materials that can be used in schools
or camps.
Torah Org
http://www.torah.org/learning/yomtov/3weeks/
70 Articles under 7 headings (Divrei Torah from Parshat Hashavua,
17th Tammuz, Three Weeks, Tisha B'Av, Tu B'Av, Other Classes).
General materials are interpretative about the questions and
issues behind these dates, with some Midrash; classes and
Divrei Torah are frontally didactic. All give sources. Level
of the general materials is intermediate for young students
and introductory for adults; level of Divrei Torah and Classes
is post-secondary intermediate plus to very advanced (which
they call beginners to advanced!).
VBM (Virtual Bet Midrash)
http://www.vbm-torah.org/3weeks.htm
18 articles in three sections (Journal; Halacha; Jewish Thought)
about the meaning, messages, observances, history of the Three
Weeks and Tisha B'Av, mourning, calendar setting. Targeted
at intermediate plus college students and adults familiar
with study, source text and Talmud, but seeking insight. Translated
from Hebrew lecture notes or writings at Yeshivat Har Etzion.
Virtual Jerusalem
http://207.168.91.4/vjholidays/3weeks/index.htm
5-section comprehensive feature with sub-files by a single
author. Presents the overall period, the Fasts of 17 Tammuz
and 9 Av, The Nine Days, Jerusalem of Old, together with the
background and customs for each. Introductory to intermediate
level, well-balanced.
Extra/related: The text line (but not the Frames index) offers
a large collection of related articles (from introductory
to advanced) and audio files (incl. Lamentations).