The literature of grief and hope across 2,000 years.

On this 9th of Av, our memories of destruction of 2,000 years ago have been overlaid with the destruction of a few months ago. Our ancient texts take on new meaning and elicit questions: How do our texts make meaning of a singular event? How do they help us today?

The book of Eicha – Lamentation – was written at the time of the destruction of the first Temple. Kinnot – poems of lament – have been written for a thousand years or more across our long and tragic diaspora in response to massacres, crusades and holocaust since then. We will look at the need to write and pray in reaction to an event, to making meaning of memory and to attempt to understand what more we need to do in the face of destruction.

Join the Academy for an experiential look into the literature that reacts and responds to grief and tragedy, both on the 9th of Av and on October 7th.