Parshat Devarim
Parshat Devarim opens the final book of the Torah with Moshe recounting the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness. Notably, Moshe doesn’t merely retell the story—he interprets it, highlighting the mistakes and lessons learned along the way.
A core message is the importance of honest reflection before entering a new chapter. As the Israelites stand on the edge of the Promised Land, Moshe reminds them—and us—that growth comes through self-examination and acknowledgment of both strengths and failures.
Devarim teaches us that before any transition or milestone, it is essential to look back thoughtfully. Through memory, humility, and a willingness to learn from the past, we better prepare ourselves to move forward with wisdom and purpose.
Tisha B’Av
I’m keeping this week’s d’var Torah brief to share a few words about Tisha B’Av, especially regarding some changes that occur when the fast begins at the end of Shabbat.
Tisha B’Av commemorates the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. Tradition teaches that both tragedies occurred on the 9th of Av. The Mishnah (Ta’anit 4:6) recounts five events that happened on this date:
The spies returned with a negative report, leading God to decree that the people would wander in the desert for 40 years.
The First Temple was destroyed in 586 BCE.
The Second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE.
Betar, the stronghold of the Bar Kochba revolt, was captured in 133 CE.
The Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 134 CE.
Other tragedies have also befallen the Jewish people on this date:
The expulsion from England in 1290
The expulsion from Spain in 1492
The outbreak of World War I, which ultimately led to the destruction of much of European Jewry in the Holocaust
We observe Tisha B’Av by fasting from sunset to sunset, similar to Yom Kippur. We refrain from celebrations and even from studying Torah, except for the Book of Eicha (Lamentations), which we read during Maariv and Shacharit, as well as texts relating to mourning and the laws of Tisha B’Av. During the reading of Eicha, we sit on the floor, reading by candlelight or flashlight. We avoid bathing, washing clothes, wearing leather shoes, and adorned clothing or jewelry. In general, the day is observed as one of mourning.
There are numerous changes to the prayer service, especially when Tisha B’Av begins on Saturday night. This year, the fast actually begins before Shabbat ends—in central NJ, Shabbat ends at 9:01 PM, but the fast begins at 8:11 PM. The pre-fast meal (in Hebrew, Seudat Mafseket) this year also serves as the third Shabbat meal (Seudat Shlisheet).
We do not recite Havdalah in the usual way, since we cannot drink wine or use spices in a mournful context. Instead, during the Maariv service after Shabbat, we add a Havdalah paragraph in the Amidah. If you do not say this, you can simply recite the phrase “Barukh HaMavdil Bein Kodesh L’chol,” (“Blessed is the One who separates between holy and ordinary”), to mark the end of Shabbat. We also say the blessing over the candle as that can be said at this time.
After Maariv, we read Eicha to a special, mournful melody. In the morning at Shacharit, we do not wear tallit or tefillin, as they are considered adornments inappropriate for Tisha B’Av; these are worn instead at Mincha in the afternoon. Finally, on Sunday night, at the end of Tisha B’av we say Havdalah. We only say the blessing over the wine and the final Havdalah paragraph, as we said the blessing over the candle at the end of Shabbat, and we only use the spices when it is actually the end of Shabbat.
Traditionally, the fast concludes with a dairy meal, and many continue to refrain from eating meat until midday on the 10th of Av, as the Second Temple continued to burn into the next day.
I wish everyone a meaningful fast. If you have questions about Tisha B’Av, please send them via my “Ask the Rabbi” page. All questions will be answered on Tisha B’Av.
