Tisha b’av and your relationship with food (and yourself)

It’s about an hour before Tisha B’av and I have been wanting to write something to you for the last few days, and haven’t had the chance.

Here’s what I wanted to say in really short form.

Last year on the night of Tisha B’av I listened to a shiur by Chevi Garfinkel on TorahAnytime. I found it really inspiring, and I wrote copious notes about the impact it had on me.

Here’s a snapshot of my notes. I hope they inspire you, too.

“There is darkness in the world.
People have put up walls around themselves –> preventing the building of the Beis Hamikdash. We need to bring down our own walls. We need to be REAL.
Our crazy relationship with food is a GIFT from Hashem — it creates the opportunity to get closer to Him, and have a real relationship with Him, others, and ourselves.
Yet at the same time, it is heartbreaking that we are going through this, and it is truly a sign of Galus.
Hashem is — wherever we let Him in.
Hashem hasn’t given up on us. We’re still His kid. And so don’t give up on yourself. The WORST thing to do is to give up on yourself.
You don’t have to be perfect — but you have to keep trying. Ask Hashem for help — “Carry me!”, “Hug me!”.

Wishing you a meaningful fast,
Rena