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Collecting These Times

American Jewish Experiences of the Pandemic

Collected Item: “Coronavirus Eli Tziyon”

Title

Coronavirus Eli Tziyon

URL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eXlyuMOqpE

Description

This is a kinah (dirge) for Tisha B'Av (9th of Av) that laments the great suffering endured by the world during the Covid-19 pandemic. It follows the structure of Eli Tziyon (Wail, O Zion), a medieval poem that mourns the destruction of the Temple. In that poem, the pain of the destruction is compared to that of a young widow grieving and of a woman in labor.

In this version, Tziyon serves as a stand-in for the suffering of both the Jewish community and the world during the pandemic. The central image here is of a lonely Torah scroll sitting in an ark, unread, which reflects the isolation and sadness many have experienced over these months. The rest of the poem follows the Hebrew acrostic structure of the original with an aspect of the pandemic associated with each letter.

This version is not meant as a final word on Covid. In fact, we'd love for it to be an invitation to write your own verses, and even poems, about the pandemic. We hope this video will be a meaningful contribution to Jewish communities' commemoration of Tisha B'Av on Wednesday night, July 29th through Thursday, July 30th. Contains (electronic) instrumental music.

Credits:
Written by Daniel Olson and Rabbi Ben Goldberg
Editorial Consulting by Rabbi Jonah Rank
Sung by Daniel Olson

Creator

Daniel Olson and Benjamin Goldberg

Date

2020-07-22

State or Territory

New York

City or Town

Port Chester

Denomination

Conservative

Name

[private]

Your Location

[private]

Do you agree?

Yes
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