Hundreds of thousands of Jews in Israel and around the world will celebrate Tisha B'Av with fasting and mourning on Saturday night, the second most important fast of the year, in which we remember the destruction of the Temple and the exodus of the people of Israel into exile of nearly 2,000 years.
This is a 25-hour fast, during which eating, drinking, bathing, wearing leather shoes, using perfumes, and using the bed are prohibited.
This year, the 9th of Av falls on Shabbat, but there is a prohibition on fasting on Shabbat except for Yom Kippur, and therefore it is postponed for a day.
In practice, the fast will begin after sunset on Shabbat, when, unlike normal years, it is permissible to eat a meal that excludes meat.
When Shabbat ends, the Shabbat clothes must be changed, and many will come to the synagogues to read the Book of Lamentations, in which the destruction of Jerusalem is described, while sitting on the floor.
Thousands are expected to reach the Western Wall, near where the Temple was.
Also on Mount Herodion in Gush Etzion, which Herod built, chants of "Lamentation" will take place.
Throughout the country, on Shabbat evening, the events "Tonight do not study Torah" and various lectures will be held with the participation of politicians and public figures.
Eve of Tisha B'av at the Western Wall, archive, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
"The 9th of Av is a day of national soul-searching," explains Rabbi Yitzhak Naria, head of Yeshiva Torah in Zion and chairman of the Ahad La Ahad Foundation. Jewish and Israeli.
Instead of looking outside, each person should look inside himself to see how he can be a better person, a better neighbor and a better friend and only in this way will society be built and progress.
On this day they stop.
They don't eat, they don't drink, and they don't go to work.
Because on this day the work is personal, internal and not extroverted and that's the only way we can be better.
And the temple that was destroyed because of gratuitous hatred.
Yavneh will be built because of free love."
Rabbi Baruch Efrati explains that it is permissible to use deodorant during the fast and it is permissible to wash a dirty face, but it is forbidden to refresh yourself with water.
It is customary not to work on Tisha B'av, at least until midnight, and it is also customary to sit on a stool or a low step.
Do not study Torah on Tisha B'av.
As a matter of principle, it is permissible to wear crocs and root sandals, even though they are comfortable, but it is better to avoid this, says the rabbi.
Since the fast is postponed, a sick person who is unable to continue fasting can eat and drink.
At the end of the fast, since it is postponed, it is permissible to bathe, cut hair and do laundry.
Fast entry and exit times:
Jerusalem - entry of the fast: 19:36, departure of the fast: 20:00
Tel Aviv - Entering the fast: 19:34, Leaving the fast: 20:02
Haifa - Entering the fast: 19:37, Leaving the fast: 20:03
Beer Sheva - Entering the fast: 19:35, Leaving the fast: 20:01
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