Tisha B’Av  – A Day Destined for Tragedy

By: Dr. Alex Sternberg

Tisha B’Av, the Fast of the Ninth of Av, is a day of mourning to remember the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem. But this day is more than just about the two temples. It is a day to mourn all the tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people on that day. This year, 2025 Tisha B’Av will start on August 2 and end on the 3rd. Five major tragedies have happened on this day throughout our history.

When the Jewish nation was about to settle in the land of Israel, Moses sent 12 leaders from the tribes to explore the territory. Led by Joshua and Caleb, the spies traveled through the land. They returned to Moses on the Ninth of Av to report their findings. But only Joshua and Caleb gave a positive report, showing faith in G-d’s promise to inherit the land. The other 10 spies spoke negatively, casting doubt on the ability of the Jews to conquer it. Alarm and panic spread among the people, and they began to weep and wail. This angered God, who said: “You wept in vain. I will make this a day of mourning for all generations.” (Taanis 28b). As a result, Tisha B’Av has become a day dedicated to mourning and repentance through the ages.

The first Temple built by King Solomon took seven years and was completed in 960 BCE. This Temple existed for 373 years, from 587 BCE until its destruction by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 587 BCE. Thousands of Jews were killed during the Babylonian siege, and many others were carried into slavery to Babylon. In 538 BCE, the Prophet Ezra led Jews from the Babylonian exile back to Jerusalem, and the rebuilding of the Temple began. After close to six centuries, King Herod came to power and renovated the Temple. The Herodian Temple was renowned for its beauty and splendor. This temple was destroyed on Tisha B’Av in 70 CE by the Romans.

Sixty-five years later, the Romans crushed the last Jewish uprising with the defeat of the Bar Kokhba Revolt in 135 CE. Over 500,000 Jews were murdered as the city of Betar was destroyed on Tisha B’Av. This event led to the dispersion of the Jews throughout the world. After the Bar Kokhba revolt, Roman commander Quintus Tineius Rufus plowed over the site of the Temple in Jerusalem and the surrounding area. Israel was renamed Palestine in an effort to cut all Jewish ties to the land.

Jews have mourned the loss of the two temples for thousands of years. Two independent accounts in non-Jewish sources, written in the 4th and 5th centuries CE, describe how Jews made pilgrimages to Jerusalem each year to mourn their ruined Temple. At that time, the Byzantine Empire—which had recently adopted Christianity as the state religion—controlled Jerusalem and forbade Jews from entering the city. The only exception, apparently, was on a day of mourning, likely the annual commemoration of Tisha B’Av.

In 1492, one of history’s most infamous deadlines arrived. On Tisha B’Av, the Jews of Spain had to convert, leave the country, or face execution by the Church. Due to the magnitude of this expulsion, the rabbis decreed that the 75,000 Jews fleeing Spain should play musical instruments to lift their spirits and reaffirm their faith in G-d.

Over time, many more calamities happened on this day. The First Crusade started on August 15, 1096, during Tisha B’Av.

The Jews of England were expelled on July 18, 1290, on the 9th of Av.

The Jews of France were expelled on July 22, 1306, Tisha B’Av.

Germany started the First World War on August 1, 1914, coinciding with Tisha B’Av. This war triggered a significant upheaval among European Jews, leading to WWII and the Holocaust.

Jewish communities observe a 25-hour fast on Tisha B’Av. The restrictions on Tisha B’Av are similar to those on Yom Kippur: food and drink are forbidden, as are bathing and washing. No application of creams or oils is allowed. Wearing leather shoes and engaging in marital relations are also prohibited. Tisha B’Av is never observed on Shabbat. If the 9th of Av falls on a Saturday, the fast is postponed until the 10th of Av.

The reading of Eichah, the Book of Lamentations, written by the Prophet Jeremiah, an eyewitness to the destruction of the First Temple, is the highlight of the synagogue service. According to Moses Isserles, the 16th-century Polish rabbi, it is customary to sit on low stools or on the floor, as during shiva (the first week of mourning), from the meal immediately before the fast until midday (chatzot hayom) of the fast itself. It is customary to eat a hard-boiled egg dipped in ashes and a piece of bread dipped in ashes during this pre-fast meal. Following the Six-Day War, the religious community in Israel viewed the territorial gains as almost messianic. Controlling land with deep religious significance, including Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and the Temple Mount, was seen as highly important; however, only the complete rebuilding of the Temple would provide enough reason to cease observing the day as one of mourning and turn it into a celebration.

Many Jews believe the Third Temple is prophesied in the Bible and that its construction is essential for fulfilling religious obligations and bringing in the Messianic Age. They point to prophecies in the books of Daniel and Zechariah. Institutions have been established to study the laws related to the Temple service, and vessels used in the Temple as well as the clothing worn by the ministering Kohanim (Priests), have also been produced.

According to our rabbis, the Jewish Messiah would be born on Tisha B’Av.