Why we cry on Tisha B'av

On Tisha B’av at night, the spies returned

With a critical report about the land

They said it couldn’t be conquered

They denied Hashem’s strong hand

The Holy One, Blessed is He

Saw our weeping in vain

And established this day forever

As a time of weeping and pain

On this night, we weep and wail

For both Temples that were destroyed

We were exiled from our Father’s house

By a consuming fire we could not avoid

That Bnei Yisrael would die in the Midbar

It was decreed this day

A massacre happened at Beitar

And Jerusalem was razed, empty it lay

For many troubles this day was destined

So Hashem had designated

On this day, the jews of Spain were exiled

For the jews in Warsaw, deportation waited

We lament over King Yoashiyahu

Who tried to destroy idols of every kind

But they concealed their idols, behind their doors

His efforts to purify Israel were undermined

When Pharaoh asked to march his troops

Through Yoashiyahu’s land

Yirmiyahu said let him, he didn’t listen

Against Pharaoh’s army he took a stand

The archers shot at Yoashiyahu

And sent 300 arrows into him

His last words were, Hashem is righteous

Israel’s hopes for the future grew dim

We mourn because of a wicked man’s evil plans

Against G-d, he stretched out his hand

Titus entered the Holy of Holies, he slashed the curtain

Blood began to flow, at Hashem’s command

Hashem’s presence had departed in anger

Unlike Aaron’s sons, Titus was unharmed

He emptied the Temple of its contents

The Elders were alarmed

He took 400 children, and sent them away

In three ships, daughter and son

They united in a solemn pact

To cast themselves into the sea as one

We cry over the deaths of 10 martyrs

Giants of Torah, Mishnah and Gemara

For these we weep, our eyes overflow

The Harugei Malchus Asara

Each asked to be executed first

Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel and Rabbi Yishmael Cohen Gadol

Rabbi Shimon cried, when he heard the decree

For the sale of Joseph it was decreed, by heavenly tribunal

Rabbi Yishmael placed Rabbi Shimon’s head on his lap

And lamented “ Oh Pure Menorah”

He placed his mouth upon his mouth in love

And cried “ O mouth that strengthened itself in Torah”

They stripped the skin off of Rabbi Yishmael’s head

When the place of the tefillin they did reach

The earth trembled, and the whole world quaked

From the sound of Rabbi Yishmael’s shriek

After him they brought Rabbi Akiva

Who expounded Torah, unequal to anyone

They combed his flesh with an iron comb

His soul departed saying “Hashem is One”

At 70 they killed Rabbi Yehuda Ben Bava

To continue the chain of semicha, he did aspire

Next Rabbi Chanina Ben Teradyon, who sat and learned Torah

They surrounded him with branches, and set him on fire

Rabbi Yeshavav observed every detail of the Torah

They flung him to the dogs, and sent him to his death

Then they killed Rabbi Chutzpis, who taught with such fire

A bird flying above was burnt by his breath

Last came Rabbi Elazar Ben Shamua

It was Erev Shabbos, the words of Kiddush he stated

They unsheathed a sword and stabbed him

His soul departed with the words “when G-d created”

Hashem seek revenge for all the spilled blood

Avenge Your Torah, which our enemies have burned

Bring our days of mourning to an end

Bring us Moshiach, for whom we’ve so long yearned

Remember Hashem what has befallen us

Look and see our disgrace

Because we pursued purposeless hatred

We are without a home without a place

Har Zion lies desolate

The Bais Hamikdash is no more

Bring us back Hashem

As in days before