Tisha B'Av 2022

Join us for a meaningful Tisha B’Av with Prayer, Study & Reflection

SATURDAY NIGHT, 6 AUGUST 2022
AT CHABAD NORTH SHORE 6:30 PM
Maariv and Eichah followed by Guest Speaker

THE STORY OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR ANA DE LEON

A unique opportunity to hear Ana de Leon’s fascinating story of survival of the Holocaust.

Ana was born in Yugoslavia in November 1935. Because she was Jewish, Ana was banned from attending her school in 1944.

Ana and her family were initially confined to a ghetto at the end of February 1944 and thereafter ended up in a transit camp in Austria called Strasshof.

On 6 April 1945, they were able to leave Bergen-Belsen by train and survived under miraculous circumstance before finally being liberated by the Americans. At the time of liberation, Ana was nine years old and was so weak that she could not walk and she spent six months in Displaced Persons camps in Germany. She finally returned to Yugoslavia and was reunited with her father after two years.

The family migrated to Australia in 1971.

The saddest day on the Jewish calendar is the Ninth of Av, “Tisha B'Av," the date on which both our Holy Temples were destroyed, and exile, persecution and spiritual darkness began.

Tisha B'Av starts at sundown on Shabbat and lasts till nightfall on Sunday. During this time-period we fast, eschew pleasurable activities and amenities, and lament the destruction of the Holy Temple and our nation’s exile. This year, the fast is postponed by one day, due to the holiness of Shabbat.

It is a tradition, however, that Tisha B'Av is also the birthday of our Redeemer. This symbolizes the idea that from the ashes of the destroyed temple will rise an incomparably magnificent edifice; exile will give birth to redemption. Thus Tisha B’Av is also a day of anticipation and hope, for “One who mourns Jerusalem will merit seeing her happiness."