The problem with Torah study is forgetting the mourning, because it brings joy. That teaches that any study that causes a person to forget the mourning in his heart is problematic.
Precisely the third book teaches us about the destruction that exile sowed, the distortions that the lack of a Sanhedrin can create. It’s like reading lamentations.

Is there room to be lenient about reading the second book after midday?

With God’s help, the Fast of the Fifth Month, 5780

In chapter 3 of the Book of Lamentations, “I am the man,” the mourner feels in his heart that God has “broken contact.” The ongoing suffering, with no way out in sight, arouses in the heart the feeling that “Even when I cry out and plead, He shuts out my prayer,” “And I said: My endurance is lost, and my hope from the Lord,” “You have screened Yourself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through.”

But even at the height of the feeling of depression, when the mourner recalls how good things were in the past and that memory intensifies the pain — “Surely You remember, and my soul is bowed down within me” — דווקא then, at the height of the pain, hope awakens in his heart: “This I restore to my heart, therefore I have hope in Him.”

Even in the terrible situation, the mourner sees that “The Lord’s mercies are not ended, His compassions are not spent.” Despite all the hardships, the Jewish people lives on and endures, and “They are new every morning” — he sees the preservation of the mutual faithfulness between God and His people. The loneliness and alienation of the nation before the whole world make it clear to him that he has no hope except in his God: “The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore I will hope in Him.”

And confidence returns to him that the difficult situation is only temporary: “For the Lord will not cast off forever. Though He has caused grief, He will have compassion according to the abundance of His kindness.” The suffering obligates us to “Let us search and examine our ways, and return to the Lord.” A person internalizes that “From the mouth of the Most High there does not come forth the bad and the good”; a person can only complain because of his sins, and the responsibility rests on him: “Let us search and examine our ways, and return to the Lord,” and along with repentance to strengthen himself in prayer with all his heart: “Let us lift up our heart with our hands to God in heaven.”

And when a person strengthens himself in prayer and calls in the name of the Lord “from the depths of the pit,” he feels that his prayer is not in vain. In his heart he feels God’s reply: “You came near on the day I called to You; You said: Do not fear.” And even if it tarries, salvation will surely come.

We, thank God, are in a far better condition than our ancestors. They experienced hundreds and thousands of years of exile and subjugation, humiliation and persecution — and despite everything they strengthened themselves in their faith. We, who see with our own eyes the beginning of the realization of the prophets’ vision of the return of the Jewish people to its land, the blossoming of its desolate places, and the restoration of Israel’s upright stature in its land, can strengthen our trust in the First Existent, be “masters of the spirit” to grow strong in faith and trust, and be “those who walk among those who stand” to add strength in the service of God through intellect and emotion and with beauty in deed.

With the blessing, “Return us to You, O Lord, and we shall return; renew our days as of old,” S.Z.

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… the loneliness and alienation of the nation…

Is it permitted on Tisha B’Av to discuss what is permitted to study on Tisha B’Av?

* Is it permitted on Tisha B’Av to discuss whether it is permitted to study on Tisha B’Av about…?

With God’s help, 10 Av 5780

To L.V.A. — greetings,

In my humble opinion, it seems simple that it is permitted on Tisha B’Av to discuss the question of what may be studied on Tisha B’Av, since studying the laws of mourning on Tisha B’Av is part of the things permitted on Tisha B’Av.

Best regards, S.Z.

A book that deals with clarifying the foundations of faith is certainly included in words of Torah, as Maimonides wrote that what is called the “Pardes” — which in his view is the clarification of faith — is included in the “third devoted to Talmud.” Certainly a book that deals with resolving doubts in faith is included in “The precepts of the Lord are upright, rejoicing the heart.” (Of course, this refers to a book that follows the Sages and our rabbis among the medieval authorities and later authorities.)

In any case, according to the halakhic decisors who permitted studying ethical works during the days of mourning, there is strong reason to say that it would be permitted on Tisha B’Av to study books that strengthen faith, for that is the very point of the fast: to lead to strengthening in awe of God. That is how it seems to me at first glance, but in practice it requires clarification.