Tefillah Tips - Tisha B'Av - Nachem

3 elements of Nichum Aveilim – Comforting the Mourner – are:

1. Presence – Just being there and demonstrating love and support to the mourner is felt and appreciated. 2. Acknowledgment - When a mourner understands that the deceased was loved, appreciated and made his/her mark in the world, it provides comfort. 3. Perspective – Understanding that the deceased is in a better place and that the loss is only temporary; when Messiah comes , we will be reunited.

So too, we raise our eyes to the heavens and pray on Tisha B’av to experience G-d’s presence, acknowledgment and perspective to provide comfort and thereby hope for a stronger and better and eternal tomorrow.

May we merit seeing the Temple and Jerusalem rebuilt; as well as Tisha B’av reversed into day of joy and celebration.

Rabbi Ephraim Epstein