Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family, 

From services on Shabbat morning, Erev Tisha B'Av, through the Tisha B'Av evening service, we will recite a phrase beginning with the word "Eicha" three times. In each instance, the phrase is offered by a Prophet in the opening chapter of his respective book.

On this Shabbat, we begin to read the book of Devarim-Deuteronomy. This fifth and final book of the Torah is a recapitulation of earlier events and lessons from the distinct perspective of Moses. In chapter 1:12, Moses exclaims, "Eicha - How can I myself bear your cumbrance, your burden, and your strife?"

In the Haftarah recited on Shabbat morning, the Prophet Isaiah exclaims, "Eicha - How the faithful city (Jerusalem) has become a harlot (Isaiah 1:21)."

In the book of Lamentations recited on Tisha B'Av eve, the prophet Jeremiah exclaims, "Eicha - How desolate lies Jerusalem that was once full of people ((Lamentations 1:1)."

At face value, each of these three verses originates from a particular time, place, and context, as voiced by the particular Prophet. However, from a literary point of view, these three verses can be read as one leading into the next. When cumbrance, burden, and strife are not confronted immediately, they can lead to the licentiousness of harlotry. When the licentiousness of harlotry is not confronted immediately, it can lead to a spiritual and physical destruction of what was once a sacred community.

 The Hebrew letters of Eicha, meaning "How?"  can also be read as Ayeka, meaning  "where are you?" The Sages find the precedent for this lesson when God asks Adam after the sin of the forbidden fruit, "Where were you?"

While we may not have the ability as individuals or as communities to completely transform the world around us from acts of immorality to acts of righteousness, we must try our best. "Where are you?" asks our tradition when we observe the perils that Moses and Isaiah observed. Will we arrive in time so that the desolation described by Jeremiah does not repeat itself again?

So, when you see the Hebrew letters - Alef, Yud, Chaf, Hay - will you say Eicha (How?) or Ayeka (Where are you?)

Shabbat Shalom and a meaningful Fast,

Rabbi Howard Morrison