Rabbi's Blog

My friends, Tisha B’Av is the saddest day for the Jewish Nation. There are 5 main things we are restricted from doing just like on Yom Kippur (No eating, washing, anointing, relations and leather shoes). HOWEVER, another not so famous restriction is that one is not allowed to greet a fellow, that means no saying: "Good Morning how yah doin’?"

Imagine a whole day and you can't express a simple greeting to another. To me, this is such a powerful custom because nothing is more easy, and can serve as a quick, simple pick-me-up than the ability to deliver a warm greeting to your fellow.

So, after a whole day of no eating, leather shoes and greeting; when the Day is finally over, what will we be running to...? I have a hunch some of us will run for a coffee while others will run to brush their teeth. I imagine no one will run to change their shoes. But how many of us will run to give a fellow a proper greeting…?

The success of Tisha B’Av will be determined the minute after it's over. Let’s not forget why we have the day in the first place. Good Shabbos, Be Jewish, Live Jewish, Stay Jewish,