Iran's Chief Rabbi Leads Lamentations Reading at Tehran's Central Synagogue on Tisha B'Av
On the night of Tisha B'Av, the central synagogue in Tehran, known as "Yosef Abad," hosted a traditional reading of the Book of Lamentations (Eicha) and kinnot (dirges). The ceremony was led by Iran's Chief Rabbi, Yehuda Gerami, who recited the piyut "Aleichem Edah Kedosha," a liturgical poem typically read on Tisha B'Av in certain Jewish communities. This kinah opens with the question "What has changed this night from all other nights?" drawing a contrast between the customs of freedom observed during the Passover Seder and the mourning practices of Tisha B'Av. The event was documented with photographs provided by the photographer, highlighting the solemn atmosphere of the observance in Tehran's Jewish community on July 26, 2023 (9th of Av, 5783).
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