Eicha and Kinnos:
From Sorrow to Hope
Overview of Kinnos

The mournful Kinnos are not just prayers; they’re piyutim, or poems, and they occupy a distinct place in Jewish tradition. Rabbi Wein traces the origins of the piyutim in general and the Kinnos in particular. Between Eicha, the influence of the great Spanish poets, and the tragic episodes of our history, we can feel both the pathos and the hopes and aspirations of our people.