A Pshat Tisha B’Av Companion: Psukim that Speak for Themselves

I think this year, I need to just focus on pshat.

Every year, we all have our traditions that we turn to as Av arrives. And, for me, turning to Midrash Eicha Rabba to hear how Chazal related to the text has always resonated. 

But this year, as I opened Eicha, there was no need to read midrash and no need to read interpretations. 

The psukim, one after the other, jumped off the page. 

They are descriptive of today’s events and emotions and, to put it clearly and simply, the texts need no interpretation and commentary. They describe the day of destruction, the tears, the displaced, the murdered and ripped-apart souls. 

Attached here are 25 psukim that stood out for me in studying Eicha this year. While in learning groups and classrooms the psukim could be accompanied by stories, snapshots or videos, in the end, those feelings and images should be left to the reader. 

The psukim speak for themselves. They evoke images to our minds and hearts that we know all too well.They make it simple for us to feel and to cry. 

They make us shout, as our people have for centuries, Eicha?! 

May the Eichas this year turn into nechama and peace.