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On Tisha B’av, we mourn the loss of the first and second Temples that once stood in Jerusalem and pray for the rebuilding of the third. Over the centuries, however, the holiday also has evolved into a day of commemoration of tragedies affecting different Jewish communities at various points in history across the globe. On Tisha B’av, we remember tragedies both communal and individual, and are thus given the opportunity to come together and learn to rebuild one another’s mental health after the devastating effects of those tragedies, and more, exemplifying the mental health middah of kol Yisrael arevim zeh la zeh (all Jews are responsible for each other).
To that end, the Blue Dove Foundation is proud to present articles and resources to help practitioners explore the ways Tisha B’av helps us learn how to build up one another after experiencing great loss as well as about how to practice mourning that is nourishing for the soul and healthy for the mind.
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What to Do When Our Walls FallJerusalem’s walls may feel like a far-off historical artifact, but those walls and their destruction are actually deeply relevant to our lives — and our mental wellness — in two critical ways. Walls, like many things in our lives, offer security and identity.
Engaging with GriefIt can be hard to know the best thing to say to someone who is grieving. While there is no perfect response, it can help to be prepared with different questions and phrases to engage with people who are suffering in the most effective and sensitive way possible.
Today, We Remember Destruction and DepressionAnd just like on Tisha B’av — where we come together in community to show our support for one another — we should remember to be there for anyone living with depression all year round.
On Tisha B’Av, Let’s Build a Temple of Love and InclusionI mourn. It was genius of the rabbis to create liturgical space in which to be sad. A time to pause and note that the world is imperfect, and I, as an individual, am also lacking. There is no one who does not have loss.
The Blue Dove Foundation •67 Views•June 12, 2025•Inclusion,Illness,Temple,Mental Health,Grief,Tisha B'Av,Love,Depression
Healing from Collective TraumaCollective trauma can eventually become part of a cultural identity, a narrative and a way of viewing a social group.
Good Mourning on Tisha B’avTisha B'Av practices, while somber, serve as a reminder that mourning and grief are natural parts of human life. It is important, however, to realize there are different ways to mourn.
The Blue Dove Foundation •66 Views•June 12, 2025•Mourning,Community,Sadness,Tisha B'Av,Mental Health,Wellness
Tisha B’Av: A Day of Hope and LossDon’t let your flame go out. Mourning and despair signify your care for something beyond yourself; maybe it is forever lost or temporarily unobtainable, but your yearning is the first step to rebuilding.
Catching Friends Before Rock BottomIt is true that people aren’t always ready to accept help, even when they desperately need it, but that doesn’t mean we need to wait until they hit rock bottom before accepting or seeking help.
The Blue Dove Foundation •64 Views•June 12, 2025•Friendship,Community,Mental Health,Illness,Depression,Tisha B'Av
Tisha B’Av from the Ground Up: Piecing Our World Back TogetherOn the holy day of Tisha B’Av, the saddest day of the Jewish calendar, tradition has us sitting on the ground as a way to simulate grief and mourning. But the practice can also bring healing to people reeling in the lingering effects of trauma.
The Blue Dove Foundation •78 Views•June 12, 2025•Growth,Trauma,Meditation,Mental Health,Community,Tisha B'Av,Wellness
Exploring the Connections Between Modern Communal Tragedies and Tisha B’AvRabbi Melanie Levav from the Shomer Collective and our partners explore the connections between modern communal tragedies and communal mourning tied to Tisha B’Av.
The Blue Dove Foundation •58 Views•June 12, 2025•Mourning,Mental Health,Community,Tisha B'Av,Grief,Wellness
Connection and Redemption: A Tisha B’Av MeditationOn the holy day of Tisha B’Av, the saddest day of the Jewish calendar, tradition has us sitting on the ground as a way to simulate grief and mourning. But the practice can also bring healing to people reeling in the lingering effects of trauma. Use this meditation as your guide.
The Blue Dove Foundation •59 Views•June 12, 2025•Redemption,Mental Health,Meditation,Connection,Tisha B'Av
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