On Tishah B’Av, this day of mourning for the loss of the Temple in Jerusalem, our hearts also go out to the family and friends of Sinéad O’Connor, whose passing was reported yesterday. A sad and tormented soul, she produced some of the most poignant songs and soul-wrenching lyrics of her generation. She sang of love and loss, joy and pain, angst and anger. The beauty of her voice, the power of her lyrics, and the nephesh she expressed will live on in her work, but sadly not her life.

One of my favourite albums was “Theology”, a two-volume cover of many biblical passages and prayers. If you have not heard it here is her “If you had a vineyard” mourning the failure of Israel/Jerusalem to bear the good grapes of righteousness, instead producing wild grapes. She relates this back to Hashem’s covenant with Israel, with the tone of grief and sadness that speaks of God’s own pain at the unfaithfulness of the people.

Another song from the same album, “Watcher of Men” speaks of Job’s suffering when he curses the day that he was born, and yet acknowledges Yah’s presence (her preferred term for God).

Why did I not die at birth?
Expire as I came from the womb?
Why were there knees to receive me?
Or breasts to feed me?
Why was I not like babies
Who never saw the light?
Who lie with kings and counsellors
Who rebuild ruins for themselves
And where rest
Those whose strength is spent
Where small and great are alike
And the slave is free of his master
Oh watcher of men
Do you have eyes of flesh?
Is your vision like man?
Are your years the years of man?
You know that I’m not guilty
And that none can deliver from your hand
Also u know that u have deeply wronged me oh
And u have hedged me in
You made it so nobody knows me
And I’m an outsider to them
When I accused you, you wouldn’t speak
I said you tore up my hope like a tree
But I spoke without understanding
Of things beyond me which I did not know
And now I’ve heard you with my ears
And I’ve seen you with my eyes
Therefore I recant and relent
Being but dust and ashes

May the LORD comfort those who mourn Sinéad’s passing, and may her soul rest in eternal peace.

Irish singer and activist Sinéad O’Connor has died at the age of 56. (BBC news reports)

Her family announced the news “with great sadness”, saying “her family and friends are devastated”. The cause of death has not been made public.

She was best known for her single Nothing Compares 2 U, released in 1990, which reached number one and brought her worldwide fame.

Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar said her music “was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched”.

Irish President Michael D Higgins praised O’Connor’s “authenticity” as well as her “beautiful, unique voice”.

“What Ireland has lost at such a relatively young age is one of our greatest and most gifted composers, songwriters and performers of recent decades, one who had a unique talent and extraordinary connection with her audience, all of whom held such love and warmth for her,” he said.

Born Sinead Marie Bernadette O’Connor in Glenageary, County Dublin, in December 1966, the singer had a difficult childhood.

As a teenager, she was placed in Dublin’s An Grianan Training Centre, once one of the notorious Magdalene laundries, originally set up to incarcerate young girls deemed to be promiscuous.

One nun bought her a guitar and set her up with a music teacher – which led to the launch of O’Connor’s musical career.