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ShareIn this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Daniel Reifman explore the book of Eicha through the lens of bearing witness to tragedy. As Tisha B'Av approaches, they examine the voice of Jerusalem calling out to be seen, the theological complexity of God as both punisher and consoler, and the modern relevance of survivor testimony- from Eicha to Primo Levy to October 7. The conversation asks what it means to see, hear, and remember in moments of devastation.
(יא) כׇּל־עַמָּ֤הּ נֶאֱנָחִים֙ מְבַקְשִׁ֣ים לֶ֔חֶם נָתְנ֧וּ (מחמודיהם)[מַחֲמַדֵּיהֶ֛ם] בְּאֹ֖כֶל לְהָשִׁ֣יב נָ֑פֶשׁ רְאֵ֤ה יהוה וְֽהַבִּ֔יטָה כִּ֥י הָיִ֖יתִי זוֹלֵלָֽה׃ {ס}
(11)כ All her inhabitants sighAs they search for bread;They have bartered their treasures for food,To keep themselves alive.—“See, O ETERNAL One, and behold,How abject I have become!”
(יב)ל֣וֹא אֲלֵיכֶם֮ כׇּל־עֹ֣בְרֵי דֶ֒רֶךְ֒ הַבִּ֣יטוּ וּרְא֔וּ אִם־יֵ֤שׁ מַכְאוֹב֙ כְּמַכְאֹבִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר עוֹלַ֖ל לִ֑י אֲשֶׁר֙ הוֹגָ֣ה יהוה בְּי֖וֹם חֲר֥וֹן אַפּֽוֹ׃ {ס}
(12)ל “May it never befall you, All who pass along the road—Look about and see:Is there any agony like mine,Which was dealt out to meWhen GOD afflicted meOn this day of wrath?
אִלּוּ זְכִיתֶם הֱיִיתֶם קוֹרְאִים בַּתּוֹרָה (שמות ג, ז): רָאֹה רָאִיתִי אֶת עֳנִי עַמִּי אֲשֶׁר בְּמִצְרָיִם, וְעַכְשָׁו שֶׁלֹא זְכִיתֶם הֲרֵי אַתֶּם קוֹרְאִים: רְאֵה יהוה כִּי צַר לִי מֵעַי חֳמַרְמָרוּ.
Had you been worthy, you would have read in the Torah: “I have seen the affliction of My people that is in Egypt” (Exodus 3:7), but now that you are not worthy, you read: “See, Lord, for I am in distress, my innards burn” (Lamentations 1:20).
(א) אֵיכָ֣ה ׀ יָשְׁבָ֣ה בָדָ֗ד הָעִיר֙ רַבָּ֣תִי עָ֔ם הָיְתָ֖ה כְּאַלְמָנָ֑ה רַבָּ֣תִי בַגּוֹיִ֗ם שָׂרָ֙תִי֙ בַּמְּדִינ֔וֹת הָיְתָ֖ה לָמַֽס׃ {ס}
(1)א Alas!Lonely sits the cityOnce great with people!She that was great among nationsIs become like a widow;The princess among statesIs become a thrall.
