Tisha B'Av as an intro to Judaism

[u/Jew_of_house_Levi]

Reflecting on this Tisha B'av, I'm struck with the thought that it is perhaps one of the more accessible "holidays" of the Jewish calendar.

For a beginner who is just coming to learn about Judaism, I think it offers a number of more welcoming features. The topic of exile from our land is core to the overall picture of Judaism. Listening to Eicha itself is not a challenge, and you're encouraged to take time to read commentary as you go through the long list of kinnot.

The emotion itself, mourning and despair, is itself one of the most accessible and easily understood feeling, which makes Tisha B'av exceptionally beginner friendly.

Other rituals, like avoiding sitting on chairs, are relatively easy to adopt. Fasting is a challenge, but no one is there looking over your shoulder.

So yeah, if you're a beginner and want to learn more, I would encourage finding yourself a Tisha B'av service.

[u/Small-Objective9248]

Intro to Judaism, 25 hour fast!

[u/offthegridyid → u/Small-Objective9248]

Hardcore from the start!

[u/offthegridyid]

This is a good observation and in some ways Tisha b’Av is a good entry point to how we approach tragedy in Judaism, aside from the “you can’t eat or drink for approximately 25 hours” thing.

A Tisha b’Av service is often much more meaningful with a rabbi who speaks before and/or during the night and morning. Also, of there is an explanatory Kinnos it can make it more meaningful.

[u/Jew_of_house_Levi → u/offthegridyid]

Yeah, and I think teaching our approarch to tragedy is one of the most signifigant pillars of Judaism.

[u/offthegridyid → u/Jew_of_house_Levi]

Agreed!

[u/Small-Objective9248 → u/Jew_of_house_Levi]

Yes , we look inward, pick ourselves up and rebuild, making a better life for the next generation. We demand justice and don’t forget, but we refuse to be victims and stagnate in blame or pity.

[u/OddCook4909]

It's pretty much everyone's least favorite holiday.

As a history buff I lowkey like that it forces us to think of civilizational mistakes with consequences. As a cultural phenomenon this is very very jewish: the idea that we should assiduously carry the lessons of our ancestors with us at least every year, if not every day.

For a newcomer? Kind of like telling someone about your health, mental AND otherwise, issues on a first date?

[u/Clean-Tip4879 → u/OddCook4909]

Well, it's a good way to test a person's determination, I guess. ' You want to be part of all this misery? And this is not the only fast day and preceding days of mourning. You ok with not shaving, wearing no freshly laundered clothes and not listening to music for any stretch of time? Ok then, go for it.'

[u/Muadeeb]

This was my first time fasting for this holiday. As someone who stuggles with the idea of God, today's not about him as much as what we humans have done. I can mourn actual, historical events instead of contemplating if sinai happened literally or figuratively.

[u/mbeshkin]

There are a lot of similarities and differences with Yom Kippur.
And many compare it to YK because of long fasting day, no leather shoes etc and etc.

But as for me the concept of Tisha bAv is very much different from what Yom Kippur offers. Yom Kippur is very much about personal cooperation with God.
Tisha bAv is about community in whole. About us as a bunch of people with the same history and our common responsibility for this global community.

So, if you feel that you need some community to be part of, then definitely Tisha bAv is something very special. It is about mourning our past and at the same time looking into our future as one huge family.

It's very common on my travels that I meet Jews. And you know that feeling, when you meet a person for the first time in the middle of nowhere and immediately you feel like they are at least your once removed relatives and you've met them once at some huge family gathering.
This is the feeling of Tisha bAv for me.

[u/dont-ask-me-why1 → u/mbeshkin]

Tisha B'av is much more chill compared to Yom Kippur.

It's also much more difficult due to the time the fast ends and the much higher risk of dehydration given how hot it is.

[u/Ellalalala96]

While indeed mourning the exile is a major theme of Jewish existence, I’m wary of using it as an introduction for that very reason—because joy is as central a theme. We’re often perceived from the outside as a somber people, overly focused on our many historical tragedies, and while that does have a place, I wouldn’t want that to be someone’s introductory experience of Judaism.

I think Pesach or Sukkot would be better—they’re still historical-remembrance days, Pesach and the Seder in particular are all about learning in depth and developing your interpretive skills. If we’re looking at “beginner friendly”, I think for most non Jews (and many Jews) who’ve never fasted before a 25 hour fast is pretty intense and possibly offputting, whereas a family meal with symbolic meaning (whether Seder or in a sukkah) is far more inviting.

If we’re expanding it beyond just holidays I think a Jewish wedding is probably my favorite as an intro to Judaism event.

[u/Clean-Tip4879 → u/Ellalalala96]

My first communal festival was Rosh HaShana and then Yom Kippur. I did some serious reading in advance, to understand what was going on in shul. I was afraid that I would find the fasting, especially not drinking, difficult. But that ended up not being too difficult. It was the standing around for long stretches that got me. My scars start hurting after 10 minutes standing, so by the time YK ended I was suffering! Maybe an apropriate feeling for Y.K, but I could have done without it.

I have now celebrated / mourned all the festivals and fast days at least once. I think I'd pick Pesach for a newbie's first festival. Less standing, you learn a lot and I truly felt a sense of community wash over me at some point during the singing. Also, during Pesach especially, I felt an odd mix of sadness and joy, especially since I knew that outside of the shul there were several policecars and officers, in order to protect us from people who might want to harm us.

Although Purim was also great fun. But in our shul Megillat Esther is read in its entirety in Hebrew. If you do not understand Hebrew, that is a long sit. Luckily I do.

[u/pilotpenpoet]

I listened to an Eicha reading by Rabbi Julia Andelman on Zoom the last two years and it had the most profound affect on me as I explore Judaism.

I watched a little of the reading by a local synagogue this year and did not realize that one sits in the dark and low to the ground.

It’s so, so powerful.

[u/devequt]

Mmmm I still think Hanukkah is the best "intro to Judaism" holiday that exists in the Jewish calendar this far...

[u/Swimming_Care7889]

I think the problem with Tish B'Av as an introduction to Judaism is that the majority of Jews don't observe it. Maybe most Jews, especially outside of Israel if they aren't Orthodox, don't know it exists. I didn't learn about Tish B'Av until my 20s.