I find it challenging on Tisha B’Av to create a home environment that is in tune with the somber spirit of the day. In synagogue it’s easier but at home, with children needing to be taken care of and fed, it’s easy to lose sight of the messages of the day. For this reason, I find it helpful to watch suitable videos with the kids to help us soak in a message that is in line with the spirit of the day. Last year and the year before I shared several links which are still relevant for this year; today I’m sharing the video presentation that I watched together with our older children this afternoon that we enjoyed.

Tisha B’Av: Reigniting our Connection to Yerushalayim 2013

We watched this while ds11 was at the park with ds7, ds5 and ds4.  I have another presentation that I’m planning to watch with them when they get back. I’m guessing it won’t be suitable for ds4 and ds5 is a question mark, but I’ll show it to all of them and see.  Rabbi Fischel Schachter is an entertaining speaker who always has a good message, and as a rebbe for teenage boys and also as someone who often speaks at camps, he knows how to target his message to the younger set.  Here’s the link for this talk.

Torahanytime.com has a great lineup of speakers who are sharing about different aspects of Tisha B’Av.

May this year be the last that Tisha B’Av is a day of national mourning, and may it be turned into a day of celebration next year!

Avivah