Rituals of Remembrance: Seeking Meaning in Modern Loss

The final session in this series addresses the practical and ritualistic challenges of commemorating modern Jewish suffering, with a specific focus on the Holocaust and the October 7 massacre. We will examine Viktor Frankl’s "Man’s Search for Meaning" to explore why contemporary commemorations often lack the established liturgical rituals found in traditional observances such as Tisha B’Av.

By revisiting foundational texts including Psalms, Lamentations, and the Book of Job, the session seeks to identify which classical sources can authentically facilitate the struggle with despair within the context of contemporary national mourning. This discussion aims to bridge the gap between historical traditions and the unique requirements of modern remembrance, providing a framework for understanding how we process collective trauma through the lens of ancient wisdom and existential inquiry.