Tisha B'Av

Tisha B'Av (|תִּשְׁעָה בְּאָב), lit. "the Ninth of Av") is an annual fast day in Judaism that is regarded as the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It is a day of profound mourning, primarily commemorating the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, alongside several other major historical tragedies suffered by the Jewish people.

History and Meaning

The primary events commemorated on this day are:

• The Destruction of the First Temple: Built by King Solomon, the First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BCE. This event led to the Babylonian Exile.
• The Destruction of the Second Temple: The Second Temple was destroyed by the Roman Empire under Titus in 70 CE. This began the diaspora, scattering Jews across the globe.
• Other Tragedies: The day also marks the fall of the city of Betar during the Bar Kokhba revolt (135 CE), the expulsion of Jews from England (1290), and the Alhambra Decree expelling Jews from Spain (1492).

Observances and Traditions

Because Tisha B'Av is a day of major communal mourning, it features several severe restrictions. These guidelines are similar to those followed on Yom Kippur.

Synagogue Customs

During evening services, the atmosphere in synagogues is somber. The lights are dimmed, and congregants traditionally sit on the floor or on low stools instead of standard chairs. The biblical Book of Lamentations (Eicha) is chanted aloud in a unique, weeping melody.

The Three Weeks

Tisha B'Av serves as the culmination of a progressive three-week mourning period that begins on the 17th of Tammuz. The intensity of mourning increases during the final nine days of this period.

Hope

Tisha b'Av is also a day of hope, as promised, in Jeremiah 31:12 "and I will turn their mourning into joy and will comfort them and make them rejoice from their sorrow".