Tisha B’Av 2026 II: Judaism Unbound Episode 544 - Andy Kahn, Dania Rajendra
Tisha B'Av (the 9th of Av) is an annual observance on the Jewish calendar, often understood as the saddest day of the year. It commemorates many different destructions and catastrophes throughout Jewish history, including (but not limited to) the destruction of the first and second temple in Jerusalem, thousands of years ago. Lex Rofeberg and Rena Yehuda Newman are joined by Andy Kahn, a rabbi and executive director of the American Council for Judaism, and Dania Rajendra, a community organizer and writer who is currently serving as interim director of the In Our Name Fund, to explore the history and contemporary practice of this holiday. This episode is the second in a two-part mini-series exploring the past, present, and future of the 9th of Av.
[1] Interested in learning (and unlearning) with Judaism Unbound’s UnYeshiva? Just head to JudaismUnbound.com/classes to check out amazing 3-week mini-course options, taking just before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, to help you prep for the High Holidays!
[2] Explore David Einhorn’s approach to a new (and global) temple, referenced by Kahn in this episode, via this link (pages 330-333).
[3] Rajendra gives a shout-out to Sarah Jaffe’s book, From the Ashes: Grief and Revolution in a World on Fire. Learn more about the book here.
[4] For the full text of Lamentations (Eicha, in Hebrew), click here.
[5] Rena Yehuda references the notion of chiasm, when speaking with Lex and both guests about the structure of Lamentations. For more on the idea of chiasm in Jewish tradition, see Judaism Unbound Bonus Episode: Elul 2025 III - Chiasm - Lex and Wendie.
[6] Another recent Judaism Unbound episode explored the distinction between abolition and reform. To listen in, see Episode 538: Matir Asurim — Judaism and Incarceration - Shir Lovett-Graff.
[8] Rajendra references a piece by M. Gessen in the New York Times. Give it a read at this link.