By Chanita Teitz

The Nine Days, a short but intense time to think about and mourn for what we have lost, has begun. Is it possible for us to relate to events that happened 2,000 years ago when our lives today are so blessed? Do we feel that we are missing anything?

What are we lacking? My son Shloimie answered the question last Shabbos. He responded that we are lacking a true “place,” our true home. Without the Beis HaMikdash, we are still not completely home.

We can relate to anyone who has been displaced or uprooted from their homes, like in Gush Katif and other communities. When we lack a “home,” we feel lost. We see Jewish kids who feel lost, who can’t seem to find their spiritual direction, and the unaffiliated who are searching.

Both in and out of Israel, the political arena is full of confusion and disunity because we have lost our perception and understanding of right and wrong. We are floundering.

This Tishah B’Av, we can ask Hashem to bring us home, to help us rebuild, to help us find what is missing in our lives, and to make the geulah complete with the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash.

Upcoming Events

Ahavas Yisroel Women’s League invites all Queens ladies to a Shabbos of the Three Weeks Lecture. Rabbi Haim Schwartz will speak on Fundamentals of Faith: The Ani Maamins, July 13, Shabbos Chazon at 5:00 p.m. in the Congregation Ahavas Yisroel Social Hall.

On Shabbos afternoon, July 13 at 5:30 p.m., the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills will present the fifth lecture in its annual summer Shabbos afternoon lecture series. Rebbetzin Judi Steinig, rebbetzin of the Young Israel of Bayside and director of programming for the National Council of Young Israel, will speak on the topic “Celebration after Sadness: Perspectives on Tu B’Av.” All men and women are invited. The lecture will take place in the beis midrash of the youth building, 150-05 70th Road, Kew Gardens Hills.

Tishah B’Av Program for Young Ladies. This program is designed especially so that you can have a place on Tishah B’Av to share your feelings about this meaningful day. The program will include a speech given by Lisa Babich (Okun), which will be followed by a workshop where people can interact with each other to reach deeper levels of self growth. At the Okun residence, 75-08 172nd Street, Fresh Meadows, NY 11366, at 12:00 p.m. RSVP if possible to elanasimonegold@gmail.com or lisaokun9@gmail.com. May this be the last Tishah B’Av gathering that we need to organize and may we rejoice in Yerushalayim bimiheirah biyameinu, amen!

A Day of Reflection at Havurat Yisrael, Monday, July 15, 9:00 p.m. Ma’ariv and Eichah; 10:00 p.m. Chofetz Chaim video A “Choice by Choice, Step by Step: Our Everyday Journey to Redemption.” Tuesday, July 16, 6:30 a.m. Shacharis followed by Kinos with explanations by Rabbi David Algaze (Havurat Yisrael); 10:00 a.m. Chofetz Chaim video A.; 11:45 a.m. Rabbi Leonard Levy (www.torahwithoutborders.org) “Because of the Sins We Were Exiled”; 12:30 p.m. Chofetz Chaim video B “Choice by Choice, Step by Step: Our Everyday Journey to Redemption”; 2:00 p.m. Rabbi Mordechai Kraft (Havurat Yisrael) “Heroism of the Holocaust, When it’s Right to Fight”; 2:45 p.m. Rabbi Eliyahu Hartman (The Jaffa Institute) “The Role of the Individual in the Rebuilding of the Bet HaMikdash”; 3:30 p.m. Rabbi Richard Weiss (Young Israel of Hillcrest) “Mishenichnas Av: Must We Diminish the Simcha?”; 4:15 p.m. Rabbi Peretz Steinberg (Young Israel of Queens Valley) TBA; 5:00 p.m. Rabbi Ygal Haimoff (rosh yeshiva of Ohel Simcha) TBA; 5:45 p.m. Rabbi Yaakov Jungreis (Yeshiva Ateres Israel) “The End of the End of Days”; 6:45 p.m. Rabbi Yaakov Sebrow (Havurat Yisrael) “Return Happily and Leave Feeling of Guilt and Deserving Punishment Behind”; 7:30 p.m. Minchah; 8:25 p.m. Rabbi David Algaze “Mourning Becomes Joy”; 9:00 p.m. Ma’ariv. The day of learning is sponsored by Miriam Levy in memory of her father, Elisha Yacob Sason, z’l. Refreshments after the fast are sponsored by Eileen Alter. Havurat Yisrael is located at 68-60 Austin Street (near Yellowstone Boulevard) in Forest Hills. Call 718-261-5500, visit www.havuratyisrael.org, or e-mail hyoffice18@yahoo.com for more information.

The Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation presents its Tishah B’Av Worldwide Event: “Choice by Choice, Step by Step: Our Everyday Journey to Geulah.” There are two video programs–program A, “Choosing Our Words” with Harav Yitzchok Scheiner, Harav Shmuel Kemenetsky, Rabbi Yissocher Frand, and Rabbi Elya Brudy. Program B, “Choosing to Care” with Rabbi Eli Mansour and Rabbi Eytan Feiner, to be shown at the following Queens locations: Kew Gardens Syn. Adath Yeshurun at 3:00 p.m. A and 5:00 p.m. B; Forest Hills Havurat Yisrael, July 15, 10:00 p.m. A, July 16, 11:45 a.m. A, 1:15 p.m. B; Machne Chadash, 2:00 p.m. A and B; Queens Jewish Center, 4:15 p.m. A, 6:00 p.m. B; Young Israel of Forest Hills, 6:00 p.m. A, 8:00 p.m. B; Kew Gardens Hills, Ahavas Yisrael 2:10 p.m. A, 4:10 p.m. B; Cong. Toras Emes, 4:00 p.m. A, 5:45 B; Kehilas Sephardim after Eichah B; Rego Park, Ohr Natan TBA; Sephardic Jewish Cong.1:30 p.m. A, 3:30 p.m. B; Hillcrest Young Israel of Hillcrest TBA, Admission is $15, students $10. All times are on Tuesday, July 16 unless otherwise noted. For more information, call the individual shul or 845-352-3505.

On Wednesday, July 24. there will be a blood drive at the Young Israel of KGH, 4:00—10:00 p.m. For more information call 800-688-0900 or 718-261-0381.

Keep e-mailing me your event information, and I will announce it in this column. v

Chanita Teitz is a real-estate broker at Astor Brokerage, with offices in Kew Gardens Hills and Fresh Meadows. For all your real-estate needs in Queens, call her at 718-263-4500 or e-mail chanita@astorbrokerage.com.

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