Are we ready yet, as multi-racial Jewish communities, to ask God to “renew our days as of old”? Have we, as U.S. Jews, thoroughly “searched our ways” for the racist systems in which we participate? Have we wept for the results in our own country and around the world?
Milwuakee 2016 “The joy of our heart is ceased;…”
“…our dance is turned into mourning.” (Lam. 5:15) Baltimore 2015
Ferguson 2014 “How lonely sits the city, once full of people;…
“…she has become a widow!” (Lam. 1:1) Cincinnati 2001
LA 1992 “The crown is fallen from our head;…
“…woe unto us! for we have sinned.” (Lam 5:16) NYC etal 1968
Newark etal 1967 “For this our heart is faint,…
“…for these things our eyes are dim;” (Lam 5:17) Chicago etal 1966
Watts 1965 “She weeps sorely in the night,…”
“…and her tears are on her cheeks;” (Lam 1:2) Philadelphia etal 1964
Birmingham 1963. “For these things I weep;…”(Lam 1:16)
For these things I weep; my eye, my eye runs down with water….
“Let us search and try our ways, and return to the LORD.
“Turn us unto You, O LORD, and we shall be turned…”
— (Lam 1:16, 3:40, 5:20)
How can we complete the recitation of Lamentations for Tisha B’av, asking God to
“…renew our days as of old”
if we have not yet wept and searched our ways?
"A Song Every Day" 