Preparing To Recite the קינות On Tisha B’Av

With the commencement of the Three Weeks, some of you may have begun reviewing the Kinot of Tisha B’Av or at least, I did. First, let me recommend Yaakov Weingarten’s סדר קינות המפורש. In my opinion his ספר is a Rashi-like commentary. In other words, before you read anyone else’s commentary on any Kinah, study what Weingarten presents. His strengths are in providing a Hebrew to Hebrew translation of the words of each Kinah and his footnotes provide the Rabbinic sources for many of the words in each Kinah. In addition, his הקדמה provides a comprehensive introduction to the Kinot.


I decided to begin with the Tisha B’Av Kinot that are said on Tisha B’Av night because I do not remember ever hearing any discussion about teh Kinot of Tisha B’Av night. What caught my attention was the Kinah that is said only when Tisha B’Av begins on Motzei Shabbat which has the following refrain; וִיהִי נֹֽעַם נִשְׁבָּת. בְּמוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת. It is quite unusual to recite a Piyut whose theme is the omission of a prayer. When Tisha B’Av begins on Motzei Shabbat we omit the פסוק of וִיהִי נֹֽעַם and Tehillim Chapter 91 after reciting Shemona Esrei. Why? I am attaching an excerpt from Weingarten, and the comments of the מטה משה and the לבוש which summarize the reasons given for omitting these Tephilot when Tisha B’av begins on Motzei Shabbat.