Jerusalem's City of David Hosts Tisha B'Av Event Reflecting on Jewish Exile and Identity

On Wednesday evening, an event took place in Jerusalem's City of David, combining the traditional reading of the Book of Lamentations with a guided tour amid the ancient ruins of Jerusalem. The gathering aimed to explore the meaning of Tisha B'Av, a day commemorating the destruction of the Jewish Temples, through the lens of a central question facing the Jewish people for two millennia: whether the Jewish Diaspora is merely a consequence of exile or a purposeful mission.

The event featured Rabbi Leo Dee, a lecturer on Jewish identity who lost his wife Lucy and daughters Maya and Rina in a terror attack, alongside Naama Klar, director of the International School for Jewish People Studies at the "Anu" Museum. Together, they led discussions on Jewish life outside Israel, the relationship between the Diaspora and Jerusalem, and contemporary challenges confronting the Jewish people.

Following the reading of Lamentations, participants engaged in a shared tour and study session designed to transform Tisha B'Av from a day of mourning into an opportunity for dialogue, introspection, and strengthening the connection to Jerusalem and its history. The live broadcast of the event invited wider participation in this reflective experience.