Reply To: Flatbush Tisha b'Av Event

Those who do say “al mikra megillah” (the Magen Avraham, OC 490, mentions this) seem to derive it from Sofrim (14:1). The Mishna Berura says like the Gra that our practice is not to say that bracha. Eicha is more like a custom than an actual din (although Eicha is the only megilla, other than Esther, that Sephardim and some Chassidim read publicly). I did hear that the Levush was actually against Eicha on klaf, because he felt that this reflected an attitude of permanence, and instead, we should believe our galut will only be temporary, and there will soon be no need to recite Eicha (Ken yehi ratzon).