At the Western Wall, prayers will be held in a limited format • And also - where can you participate in zoom in study events and a discussion on the occasion of fasting? • all the details

• Praying at the Western Wall // Photo: Oren Ben Hakon

The corona continues to devour religious life in the State of Israel and around the world, and even during the Tisha B'Av fast, millions around the globe will be forced to be absent from synagogues and in some cases also from prayers, due to the fear of contracting the virus. In the synagogues, prayers are allowed for up to ten worshipers, and even at the Western Wall they will be content with a dramatically reduced entrance than usual.

At the Western Wall, on the night of Tisha B'Av (Wednesday), prayers will be held in the format of 20 worshipers and 20 worshipers in each prayer complex, in accordance with the procedures of the Ministry of Health. In total, there will be about 1,000 men and women in the plaza at the same time, compared to tens of thousands in a normal year.

When does the Tisha B'Av fast begin?

"Israel Today" will hold a live broadcast from the Western Wall where masses in Israel and around the world can watch Arabic prayers, read the Megillah and say lamentations for those who are unable to reach the Western Wall and synagogues, courtesy of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. "These days, in the shadow of social distance and a deep economic crisis, require us all to increase our love of freedom, mutual guarantee and connection to the heritage and tradition of Israel," said Rabbi of the Western Wall Shmuel Rabinowitz. At the end of the fast, the foundation will distribute a drinking bottle and a personalized pastry packed to those who end the fast at the Western Wall.

Simultaneously with the prayer at the Western Wall, various organizations will hold the "Tonight Do Not Study Torah" events, some in a special format, in accordance with the time of the Corona. In some of the organizations' events, past and present Israel Today writers will also participate.

For the 21st year in a row, the events of "Tonight Do Not Study Torah" will be held by the Bible Studies Lobby in the Knesset, the Society for Biblical Studies and the Jerusalem Peace Foundation. This year, the events will be held under the title "People in Isolation Will Live ?!" Emek HaMaainot, Hadera, Yavne, Lod, Modi'in, Rishon Lezion, Rehovot, Ramat Gan, Shoham, Tel Aviv, Kochav Yair-Tzur Yigal and in the Baka and Talpiot neighborhoods of East Jerusalem.

Among the participants: Yafal Erlich, Minister Yoaz Handel, Kobi Arieli, Lucy Aharish, Adi Altshuler, Rabbi Engelman, Yaakov Bardugo, Amir Bar Shalom, Prof. Ruth Gavison, MK Yair Golan, MK Uzi Dayan, Sivan Har Shefi, MKs Tamar Zandberg, Jackie Levy, Hani Lifshitz, Yehuda Meshi Zahav, Miriam Peretz, Rabbi David Satyu, Oded Ravivi, Bat Galim Shaar, MK Ayelet Shaked, Israeli Ambassador to Rome Dr. Dror Eder and more.

On the Facebook page of the "Global Momentum" organization, which aims to empower and promote women around the world, an online public discussion will be held on the night of Tisha B'Av with the participation of leading women in Israeli society, each of whom will talk about "free love" from her personal point of view. Among the speakers: Women in the media: Emily Amroussi and Miri Michaeli, CEO of the Authority for the Advancement of Women Eva Diziboz, Israeli-Israeli social activist Shira Ruderman, actress Bat El Papura and more.

To watch the event on the night of Tisha B'Av, click here

As every year, an event will be held in the City of David on the night of Tisha B'Av. After reading the Book of Lamentations and broadcasting greetings from President Reuven Rivlin, there will be a live tour of the City of David website at 9:00 PM with the participation of Rabbi Bnei Lau and Scout Grant "on the fragments of Jerusalem that have accompanied us ever since, and the hope of healing."

Free registration to watch the event here

The events will also continue on Tisha B'Av. The Tower of David Museum invites the general public to online lectures entitled "Between Destruction and Remembrance - Jerusalem in the Destruction of the Second Temple and After, in the Mirror of Archeology and Jewish and Christian Tradition" through the Zoom app.

In the program:

Prof. Uzi Livner - "On Tisha B'Av ... the sword of the house ... and the city was plowed" - archaeological evidence of the destruction of Jerusalem in the days of the Second Temple and the founding of Ilya Capitoline. At 11:00, about 45 minutes.

Prof. Eyal Ben Eliyahu - Between Upper Jerusalem and Lower Jerusalem - Jerusalem in the Sage Tradition vs. Jerusalem in the Christian Tradition after the Destruction of the Second Temple. At 11:45, about 20 minutes.

Pre-register at the link