Tisha B'av

[theyellowhobbit]

Yesterday was Tisha B'av, and I think it was the first or second time I was able to survive a fast day without drinking any water. Usually I dehydrate and need a bit of H20, or back in my Reform days I would drink if I was reading Torah and eat cough drops. This time I didn't even take medicine! I am so ubershtark [except for when I accidentally sat in a chair while davening and washed my hands...no one is perfect!]

So Right before the fast started I remembered the no leather shoes thing. So I checked to see if my shoes were leather, and alas! Both pairs of sneakers I had with me were leather. I assumed my boots were also leather and I knew my naots were leather [mmm...naots...]. So in essence, I was screwed.

So I looked around, and found my beautiful furry leopard print slippers. Yes. You heard me right. Furry Leopard Print Slippers. Now of course wearing these would not be in the spirit of mourning that is the essence of Tisha B'av. So, havig a few minutes before the fast really started, I frantically called Rabbi Seif, whose number I happen to have and who happens to be in Yerushalayim.

He said the slippers were fine, but I felt really weird about walking around the Holy City in leopard print on our most tragic day of the year. So I switched between going barefoot and wearing the slippers.

Amy Olsen [who is actually a family friend but I didn't know that until my parents e-mailed me. She has also been my chevruta for these past 3weeks] read eicha, which was really beautiful. I didn't realize how well she could sing. It was definitely the best chanting of Jewish texts I had ever heard.

Of course, yesterday morning I realized that my boots weren't leather, so I wore them all day. Which was good because I think I injured my foot a bit on Monday night. It's still a bit uncomfortable.

I sat around reading all afternoon when I got home from Pardes at 2:40. I broke the fast with Kate, Lawee, and Rachel Fried. We had meat [even though we should have waited until today, but it was soooooo good!] Then we hung out for a bit and I bowed out at like 10:15ish because I was tired and didn't feel like going bowling. I would have thrown myself down the lane.