Category: Three Weeks

The Nine Days are so much more than milchig meals and no swimming. They are the time given to us to mourn the Churban — and, as Chazal tell us, to earn the right to see the Beis HaMikdash rebuilt.

Here are two ArtScroll books that help put the meaning into our mourning:

The newest volume in the Zera Shimshon series, Zera Shimshon on Megillas Eichah, gives us a fascinating and deep understanding of Megillas Eichah and of the Churban itself. Rav Shimshon Chaim Nachmani, author of the Zera Shimshon, was one of the greatest rabbanim and Kabbalists in 18th-century Italy. His works — and the powerful segulah connected to their study — were recently rediscovered. There are many treasures to be found in the Hebrew original, but they are not easily uncovered. The writing is complex, with countless allusions to concepts and texts from all over the Written and Oral Torah.

The Haas Family Edition Zera Shimshon on Megillas Eichah brings us the full text of the Zera Shimshon’s commentary on Megillas Eichah, with an elucidated translation that enables the reader follow and understand it. It includes an introduction to each derush and explanations to increase our understanding of the Zera Shimshon text; it also provides summaries and notes that offer important background material.

How did Avraham Avinu argue with Hashem about the Destruction — and how did Hashem best him in the argument? What is the connection between orphans and widows, the Churban, and the rebuilding of Yerushalayim? These are just two of the many fascinating questions — and their eye-opening answers — in this important new volume.

What more appropriate way to spend the Nine Days and Tishah B’Av, than to study the tragic events leading up to the Churban through the eyes of Chazal? The story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza, a seemingly small incident, was the catalyst for great tragedy. The Schottenstein Edition of Ein Yaakov, Orlofsky Family Edition of Seder Nashim — Tishah B’Av Excerpts from Tractate Gittin: Kamtza and Bar Kamtza offers us a new understanding of the well-known aggadata and the events that followed. Available in a convenient softcover volume, it includes a new, flowing translation, notes based on the primary commentaries and other sources, and “Insights” drawn from a vast range of commentaries.

It’s been a long, long galus. Let’s start to truly feel the Churban — so we can merit to see the rebuilding.

Chazal tell us that those who mark the Churban will merit seeing the Geulah. ArtScroll’s Three Weeks titles can help make this time of year meaningful and relevant. Here is a sampling:

Rav Chaim on the Three Weeks: Written by Rabbi Avraham Yehayah Shteinman, grandson of Rav Aharon Leib Steinman zt’l and y’blcht Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita, this classic work includes Rav Chaim’s piskei halachah on the Three Weeks, Nine Days, and Tishah B’Av ; the personal practices of Rav Chaim, the Chazon Ish, and the Steipler; Rav Chaim’s comments on Megillas Eichah, the haftarahs of the Three Weeks, and selected Kinnos; as well as his teachings on mourning, consolation, and the coming of Mashiach. Interspersed throughout are stories Rav Chaim has told, and stories about the Steipler, the Chazon Ish, and Rav Shteinman zt’l, and Rav Chaim himself.

The ArtScroll Eichah, translated and with commentary by Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz: One of ArtScroll’s first classics, and still a bestseller, this work makes Megillas Eichah accessible like none other. Includes an Overview by Rabbi Nosson Scherman.

The ArtScroll Kinnos/Tishah B’Av Siddur: If anything captures the tragedy of the Churban, it is the Kinnos composed to lament the Temple’s destruction and other tragedies in our history. This translation and commentary make the Kinnos accessible and meaningful, and the siddur includes the full prayer service for the entire Tishah B’Av.

The Schottenstein Edition Interlinear Kinnos/Tishah B’Av Siddur: With its word by word translation directly beneath the original Hebrew, the reader can recite the Kinnos in Hebrew while easily following the translation. Also includes the complete interlinear prayer service for Tishah B’Av, interlinear Megillas Eichah, Torah readings for Tishah B’Av, and laws of the fast.

The Kleinman Edition Midrash Rabbah on Megillas Eichah: In the Midrash Rabbah on Megillas Eichah, we share the Sages’ profound insights on the dreadful moments when the Temple burned and on the events that led to the catastrophe.

The Laws of Daily Living: The Three Weeks, Tishah B’Av, and Other Fasts: Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen examines the laws of fast days (except Yom Kippur), the restrictions of the Three Weeks and Nine Days, and the laws of Tishah B’Av.

Touched by Their Tears: A Kinnos Companion: Bestselling author Rabbi Yechiel Spero explains these carefully selected Kinnos and illustrates their message with powerful true stories that bring them to life.

Order TODAY at artscroll.com!

Soon we will be fasting on Tishah B’Av for the 1,948th time, mourning all that was lost to us during the Churban. That’s a long, long time.

Our Sages tell us, “Those who mourn the Beis HaMikdash will merit to see it rebuilt.” If we want the galus to end, we must mourn it properly. Here are some books that will help us mourn — and allow us, with Hashem’s help, to finally celebrate redemption.

Rav Chaim on the Three Weeks: Written by Rabbi Avraham Yeshayah Shteinman, grandson of Rav Chaim shlita and Rav Aharon Leib Steinman zt”l, this popular work includes Rav Chaim’s piskei halachah on the Three Weeks, Nine Days, and Tishah B’Av; the personal practices or Rav Chaim, the Chazon Ish and the Steipler; Rav Chaim’s comments on Megillas Eichah; the haftarahs of the Three Weeks, and selected Kinnos, as well as his teachings on mourning, consolation, and the coming of Mashiach.  Interspersed throughout is a wealth of stories told by Rav Chaim himself.

The ArtScroll Eichah, translated and with commentary by Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz z”l: One of ArtScroll’s first classics, and still a bestseller, this work makes Megillas Eichah accessible like none other. Includes an Overview by Rabbi Nosson Scherman.

The ArtScroll Kinnos/Tishah B’Av Siddur: If anything captures the tragedy of the Churban, it is the Kinnos, composed to lament the destruction of both Temples and other tragedies in our history. This translation and commentary make the Kinnos understandable and meaningful, and the book includes the full prayer service for the entire Tishah B’Av.

The Schottenstein Edition Interlinear Kinnos/Tishah B’Av Siddur: With its word-by-word translation directly beneath the original Hebrew, the reader can recite the Kinnos in Hebrew while easily following the translation. Also includes the complete interlinear prayer service for Tishah B’Av, interlinear Megillas Eichah, Torah readings for Tishah B’Av, and laws of the fast.

 

The Kleinman Edition Midrash Rabbah on Megillas Eichah: In the Midrash Rabbah on Megillas Eichah, we share the Sages’ profound insights on the dreadful moments when the Temple burned and on the events that led to the catastrophe. Available in regular and compact sizes.

The Laws of Daily Living: The Three Weeks, Tishah B’Av, and Other Fasts: Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen teaches the laws of fast days (except Yom Kippur), the restrictions of the Three Weeks and Nine Days, and the laws of Tishah B’Av.

May we all merit seeing the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash soon in our days!