Congregation Anshei Israel-Holiday Info

Holiday Information

Tisha B’Av

The ninth day of Av, mentioned in Zechariah 8:19 as the “Fast of the Fifth” month, commemorates such national calamities as the destruction of both Temples, the fall of Bar Kokhba’s fortress, Bethar, and the expulsion from Spain in 1492. According to tradition, both the First and Second Temples were destroyed on the ninth of Av, the dayreferred to as predestined to misfortune. Tisha B’Avresembles Yom Kippur in its restrictions upon eating and bathing, maintained from sunset to sunset.
The three weeks between the 17th of Tammuz and the ninth of Av are observed by abstaining from all festivities and joyous celebrations. But when the month of Av hasbegun, all enjoyment should be reduced. It has long been the custom in Israel to eat no meat (except on the Sabbath) from the first day of Av until after the fast.
On the ninth of Av, when the Book of Lamentations and other dirges (kinot) are recited, before congregations seated on low stools as a sign of mourning, the curtain (Parokhet) is removed from the Ark (Aron Ha-Kodesh), and visits are made to cemeteries, in order to stress the sense of mourning. The morning service is recited without tallit or tefillin; these are worn during the Mincha service. Theelegies known as kinot are descriptive, not only of thecalamities connected with the destruction of Jerusalem, but also of the Jewish catastrophes that occurred in various lands of persecution.

This year, the Ninth of Av observance/fast begins on the evening of Monday, July 19 and continues through Tuesday, July 20.

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