For more than a decade Rabbi Soloveitchik spent virtually the entire day of Tish‘ah be-Av expounding upon its major themes and reading and closely analyzing the Kinot, drawing upon on a whole range of sources including the Bible, rabbinic literature (Talmud and Midrash), medieval halakhic and philosophical works, Hebrew poetry, and Jewish history. He would begin with a shiur or lecture on general issues relevant to Tish‘a be-Av for about an hour and, after a short break, would begin the recital of the Kinot. After reading a few words or phrases, he would stop and comment, sometimes for a moment or two and sometimes for a more extended period of time. Also, those assembled would regularly interrupt with questions and insights and Rabbi Soloveitchik would stop and address their points. This mixture of reciting and learning, the traditional plaintive sweet sing-song of the Kinot and the traditional robust sounds of Torah teaching, analyzing the words of Rabbi El‘azar ha-Kalir and the concepts of the Rambam (Maimonides), would continue for many hours. Very often this mixture of a religious and intellectual experience would last until the end of the day.

This work represents an edited transcript of those presentations and unlocks entire areas of Jewish liturgy and Jewish thought that had previously been closed