Source: htt://www.funnytimes.com

After five years of determined city living, this week I’m going back to my roots: the suburbs.  That’s right.  Quiet, uncrowded streets, picket fences, and Donna Reed look-alikes everywhere!  Now, this is only a two-week stint of house (and dog and teenager)-sitting, but it’s already had a dramatic impact on my daily routine.  There’s the dog-walking and the much, much longer walk to the nearest coffee shop.  There’s also the longer morning commute – no more walking to work, or hopping on a bus.  But therein lies something truly wonderful.  In my five years of living a city life, I had almost completely forgotten something integral to my personality: I. Love. Driving.  I love it!  The freedom to go wherever I like, whenever I like – bus schedules be darned.  There’s the thrill of doing 60mph on the expressway, singing along to the radio…

… Wait.  Problem. This week isn’t just any old week.  Thursday marks what is perhaps one of the most somber days in the Jewish calendar: Tisha B’Av.  It’s a day of fasting and mourning, a day that marks not only the destruction of the First and Second Temples, but also the many other major disasters that have befallen the Jewish people.  It’s such a serious day that a tradition has arisen to extend the mourning period for the three weeks (or nine days) prior to the holiday.  For many people, that means three weeks of no weddings or parties, no new clothes… and no music.

So what’s a driver to do?  I can’t just drive in silence!  That’s when it hit me: Hey!  I work for a Jewish Publisher!  What about Jewish books – audio books?!  I can simply combine two of my favorite things – driving and Jewish learning – into one super-awesome activity!

JPS, in cooperation with the Jewish Braille Institute, has an audio Bible in the works.  In the meantime, here are some great Jewish audio book resources for you to enjoy during the Three Weeks and beyond:

Source: http://i.ehow.com

● Audible.com offers about 60 Jewish-content audio books, ranging from “Maimonides and Medieval Jewish Philosophy” to “Yenta Unplugged (Excuse Me, I’m Talking).”
● ClassicSinai.com has 26 fascinating (and free!) mp3 downloads on topics like “Genesis and the Big Bang,” “The Matrix and Jewish Reality,” and “Crash Course in Jewish Holidays.”
● Want to learn about Judaism from the best the academic world has to offer?  The Teaching Company offers entire audio courses by renowned professors on subjects such as “Beginnings of Judaism,” “Jewish Civilization from Mohammad to Spinoza,” and “Jewish Intellectual History: 16th to 20th Century.”

Happy driving!
-Naomi