For Rachel’s Sake

On Tisha B’av, as we mourn the loss of the Temple and other tragedies across Jewish history, we also reaffirm our hope for the future. Throughout Tanakh and tefillah, we express our confidence in God’s promise of ultimate redemption. But why do we believe we deserve redemption? And why is God convinced to make such a promise? The Midrash in Eikhah Rabbah depicts God seeking answers to these very questions from our biblical ancestors. When Rachel finally steps forward, it is her personal testimony that ultimately moves God to have mercy on the Jewish people. In this session, we will dive into this midrash and explore what it has to teach us about sisterhood, sacrifice, and divine compassion.