What Is Tisha B'Av?
In this episode of Holy Days, Holy People, we explore Tisha B’Av—the saddest day on the Jewish calendar—and discover why a day devoted to remembering tragedy is also one of Judaism’s most powerful lessons about hope.
Fellowship President and Global CEO Yael Eckstein explains how Tisha B’Av commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, along with centuries of suffering endured by the Jewish people. Yael shares the solemn traditions of the day—from fasting and reading the Book of Lamentations to sitting low to the ground in mourning—and reveals the deeper purpose behind them: remembering sorrow does not mean surrendering to it.
You’ll also hear timeless teachings from Fellowship Founder Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, of blessed memory, as he reflects on the tragedies remembered on Tisha B’Av and the promise of restoration still to come. Bishop Paul Lanier concludes the episode with a moving prayer, reminding people of faith that God has called us for this moment and invites us to take part in His purposes.
The episode also remembers Anne Frank, whose young voice survived the hatred that sought to silence her. Her story gives a human face to the tragedies mourned throughout Jewish history, while reminding us all of the extraordinary hope that sustained God’s people through centuries of exile, persecution, and loss.
Whether Tisha B’Av is a day you’ve observed for years or one that you’re discovering for the first time, this podcast will deepen your understanding of this solemn Jewish observance, show you why biblical faith makes room for grief without giving way to despair, and encourage you to trust that even in the darkest moments, God is still writing a story of redemption.
