What is Tisha Be’av?

Tisha Be’av is a day on the Jewish calendar. The ninth (Tisha in Hebrew) day of the fifth Hebrew month, Av. On this day Jews fast in order to commemorate disastrous events that occurred on this precise date. It is quite remarkable how many tragedies relating to the Jewish people have occurred, on Tisha Be’av, throughout history.

The Main Events of Tisha Be’av

1313 BCE (approximately), 9th of Av 2448

The 12 spies returned from reconnoitering the land of Canaan. Their negative report (excluding Joshua and Caleb who were among them) caused the people of Israel to rise up against their leaders Moshe and Aharon, grumbled and showed contempt against God. As punishment, God forbade their entry into the promised land.

586 BCE, 9th of Av 3175

The destruction of the first temple by King Nebuchadnezzar. At this time, the Holy Temple was desecrated, millions of Jews were exiled from their land and tens of thousands were slaughtered. Only 70 years later were some Jews able to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.

70CE, 9th of Av 3830

The destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans, under the leadership of Titus. It is estimated that around 2 million Jews were killed and 1 million were exiled.

135CE, 9th of Av 3895

The tragic defeat of the Bar Kochba revolt by the Roman emperor Hadrian. Over 100,000 Jews, from the few that remained in the land of Israel, were killed. After this event, a new pagan city was built in place of Jerusalem, Aelia Capitolina. Jews were strictly denied access to this city.

18th of July, 1290, 9th of Av 5050

The Jews of England were ordered to leave the land by the order of King Edward the 1st. Those that stayed would face execution. Only during the mid 1600’s under the rule of Oliver Cromwell, were Jews allowed to live in England once more.

1/2nd of August, 1492, 9th of Av 5252

On the 31st of March 1492 an edict was signed banishing all Jews from Spain. All Jews were to leave Spain by the 31st of July 1492 or convert and abandon every Jewish belief and practice in order not to be executed. The execution culminated on the 9th of Av. This marked the beginning of the inquisition.

1st of August, 1914, 9th of Av 5674

Germany declared war on Russia and thus began WWI. The Jews, perceived as enemies by the Russian Tzar, were forced to leave their homes and many died in the war. It is said that WWI triggered the anti-Semitic wave that eventually led to the Holocaust.

2nd of August, 1941, 9th of Av 5701

The Final Solution, designed to eradicate the Jewish people, was approved by the Nazi party.

23rd of July, 1942, 9th of Av 5702

The Treblinka death camp started operating and the first deportations from Warsaw Ghetto to Treblinka began.

Biblical Background/ Appearances in the Bible

There are two passages in the Bible where Tisha Be’av, the fast of the fifth month, is mentioned. Both passages are found in the Book of Zechariah.

“when the people sent Sherezer, with Regem-Melech and his men, to the house of God, to pray before the LORD, and to ask the priests who were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and the prophets, saying, “Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?” Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, “Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves? Should you not have obeyed the words which the LORD proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?’“
(Zechariah 7: 2-7)

Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts:
‘The fast of the fourth month,
The fast of the fifth,
The fast of the seventh,
And the fast of the tenth,
Shall be joy and gladness and cheerful feasts
For the house of Judah.
Therefore love truth and peace.’
(Zechariah 8: 18-19)

In Zechariah 8, each fast that is mentioned is a fast of mourning. The fast of the fourth month is the Fast of Tammuz. This fast marks the beginning of three weeks of mourning for the destruction of both the first and second temple. This mourning period culminates with the fast of the fifth month, Tisha Be’av.

The fast of the seventh month is the Fast of Gedaliah. Gedaliah was a Jewish governor appointed by the Babylonians over Judah after they destroyed the 1st Temple. Gedaliah was later murdered on Rosh Hashanah. The fast mourns his death one day after the celebration of Rosh Hashanah.

The fast of the tenth month is the Fast of the Tenth of Tevet. The tenth of Tevet marks the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar’s siege on Jerusalem.

Interestingly, as they are all fasts of mourning to this present day, it is prophesied in Zechariah that one day they will be cheerful feasts.

Traditions Surrounding Tisha Be’av

The Three Weeks

The fast of Tisha Be’av is comprised of more than just one day of fasting and mourning . Prior to the fast, a three week mourning period takes place starting with the fast of Tamuz. The fast of Tamuz takes place on the 17th day of the fourth month. This fast represents the day when the walls of Jerusalem were breached leading to the destruction of the Second Temple. During these three weeks, observant Jews traditionally do not hold wedding ceremonies, cut or shave their hair and play or listen to any kind of music. Additionally, within the last nine days of this period, many more prohibitions fall into place.

The Fast Day - Traditions

On the 8th day of Av, with sunset, the fast begins. It ends on the following night, unless the fast falls on a Shabbat. In this case, it is delayed by one day. Throughout the fast, it is traditional not to eat or drink, wear leather shoes or sandals, cleanse oneself (except for the washing of hands, up to the knuckle, if required by halacha), have marital relations, apply ointments, sit on anything but the floor or a low chair (until midnight), study Torah (only sections that speak about the destruction of the Temples, events of mourning, may be studied), engage in the giving of gifts or greet one another, participate in activities of leisure and wear formal clothes.

Meals Before the Fast

A large meal is eaten at midday before the fast. Later in the afternoon, a “Separation Meal” called “Haseuda Hamafseket” takes place. It usually consists of bread and a hard-boiled egg dipped in ashes along with a glass of water. It is common to eat this meal alone while seated on a low stool.

Services Surrounding the Fast

Between the midday meal and the separation meal, a “Minchah”, “The Offering” service in English, is held. After the meal, additional evening services are held. In correlation with Tisha Be’av and the act of mourning, the decorative curtain is removed from the ark. After the evening prayers, the “Eichah” (lamentations) are repeated. The following morning another service is held. The main part of this service consists of the reading of the “Kinot”, elegies depicting the tragedies that occurred. Morning prayers are held without the adornments of Tallit and Tefillin, as they are considered to be fine clothing pieces.

The Ending of the Fast

First the act of “Netilat Yadayim”, the washing of the hands, takes place. Another custom at this point is the recitation of “Kiddush Levanah”. A blessing that celebrates the rebirth of the moon and represents the hope for a national rebirth. Following this a meal is eaten. However, the restrictions of Tisha Be’av, such as cleansing oneself or washing one's clothes, do not conclude until the 10th day of Av. This is because the Temple continued to burn on the tenth day.

Why is Tisha Be’av Still Relevant Today?

For observant Jews ( it is not common for secular Jews to observe the fast), the fast represents the hope of the Messiah to come. Looking back at the tragedies, mourning them once more, all as a prelude to the most joyous occasion that they look forward to. The end of all national suffering with the culmination of national redemption.

For us, as believers, we can adopt a similar view. We are not awaiting the first coming of the Messiah, but the second. When all Jews will recognise Yeshua as the Messiah and all Jews will receive redemption. We too remember how nationally we have suffered. How national suffering hits us still till today. We await in hope the day where righteousness will reign and our suffering will cease.

Another aspect as to why the fast is relevant is to show us how significant God’s calendar is. The Hebrew calendar. It is no coincidence how on this day, repetitively in history, tragic events of great magnitude happened to a specific people group, the Jews.

Aside from Tisha Be’av the Hebrew calendar has a reliability in which prophetic events occur as in no other calendar. Take the death of Yeshua on Pesach for example. Therefore, even if we live our lives in correlation with the Gregorian calendar, one would be wise to keep in mind the Jewish calendar as well in expectation that more prophecies would take place aligned with its dates and months.

In general, for all of us, we should remember why these events took place. It is clear, according to the Biblical narrative, that the Tisha Be’av events that took place within its time, occurred as a direct result of the sin of the people. Sinful deeds hold consequences.

Let us search our hearts on this day and reflect on our own deeds in awe of our Maker. Remembering and learning from the past and not repeating the same mistakes.