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In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores the opening verse of Eicha for Tisha B’Av, the halachot of Tisha B’Av, and a teaching from the Talmud about mourning Jerusalem as the path to redemption.

Focusing on Eicha’s description of Jerusalem as “like a widow,” Rabbi Rubenstein explains Rashi’s teaching that God’s absence is temporary rather than permanent. Even in exile and destruction, the verse contains hope that the relationship between God and the Jewish people will ultimately be restored.

The halachic section reviews Tisha B’Av’s purpose, its five primary afflictions, customs of mourning, and the restriction agains ...