The Tisha B'Av fast, considered the second most important fast of the year, will begin this evening at sunset. This is a day when, according to tradition, the two Temples, which symbolized the beginning of the exile, were destroyed, and quite a few other unfortunate events took place throughout Jewish history.
"The fast of Tisha B'Av is meant to remember and mourn the destruction of the Temple, to awaken us to the importance of building the land and the nation in our day and to awaken us to repentance," explains Rabbi Baruch Efrat. "In the grief of destruction we also include our own personal pains, and ask the Almighty to help us emerge from darkness into a great Light."
Reading the Book of Lamentations at the Western Wall, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Highlights of the day
On this day, believers observe five main prohibitions - eating and drinking, wearing leather shoes, washing, lubricating and using the bed. It is also customary not to study Torah on this day. Unlike the lighter fasts, if a person feels weak during this fast, he continues to be tortured. However, a patient who is in danger or doubt is forbidden to fast. Rabbi Efrati says that if Lent is very difficult for a person, such as one whose head hurts from illness or who has dizziness and fever, or a person who lies down because of his weakness, he is allowed to eat and drink.
As the stars come out tonight, hundreds of thousands of believers will come to synagogues and various points in Israel to read the Book of Lamentations, in which the prophet Jeremiah describes the terrible scenes of destruction, and then to read lamentations. Every year, tens of thousands are expected to come to the Western Wall, the remnant of the Temple, to read the Book of Lamentations. The next day, Thursday evening, towards the end of the fast, many are expected to participate in a circle of songs of unity and consolation at the Western Wall.
President Herzog at a synagogue in Ramesh last year,
On the eve of Tisha B'Av, quite a few talks are expected to take place on the subject of unity, certainly in light of the polarization in the country. The Sderot Conference for Society and Kaye Academic College will hold several "Tonight Don't Learn Torah" events across the country for the 24th time, and this year under the theme "Unite or Collapse?!" with the participation of personalities from across the social, political and ideological spectrum. Maj. Gen. (res.) Uzi Dayan says: "The Kingdom of Israel was destroyed twice in the eighth decade of its existence, and we must prevent the third time. We will gather together, all parts of Israeli society, in 20 localities, for an open and instructive dialogue. We won't learn Torah, but how to save ourselves from ourselves - we will learn as well."
Special to the 9th of Av: Israeli Ambassador to Rome at the Arch of Titus || Photo: Dario Burgerta / Embassy of Israel in Italy
"Creating a conversation"
In Zion Square in Jerusalem, a "Creating a Conversation" event will be held in memory of Shira Banki, in which dialogue circles will be held on significant issues in Israeli society. The reading of the Book of Lamentations will also take place at Yitzhak Rabin's grave on Mount Herzl, under the title "Remembering the Destructive Consequences of Ideological Hatred and Incitement."
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us