Tisha B'Av

Tisha B’Av, observed on August 11, is a solemn Jewish day of mourning and reflection. Its name means “the ninth of Av,” referring to the Hebrew calendar date traditionally associated with several tragedies in Jewish history, most notably the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.

The day is marked by fasting, prayer, reading from the Book of Lamentations, and quiet remembrance. Tisha B’Av also offers an opportunity to reflect on loss, resilience, and the hope of renewal, inviting people to honor the past while looking toward healing and a more peaceful future.

Tisha B’Av, observed on August 11, is a major day of mourning in Jewish tradition. Its name means “the ninth of Av,” referring to the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av. The observance commemorates a series of calamities associated with Jewish history, especially the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem by the Babylonian forces in 586 BCE and the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE. Because the two Temple destructions are understood to have occurred on the same traditional date, Tisha B’Av became a powerful symbol of national loss, exile, and religious upheaval.

The observance developed from the biblical and post-biblical practice of mourning the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. After the Second Temple’s destruction, Jewish communities expanded the day’s focus to include other tragedies remembered as having occurred around the same period. These include the expulsion of Jews from England in 1290 and from Spain in 1492, as well as other episodes of persecution and displacement. Over time, Tisha B’Av therefore evolved from a commemoration centered primarily on the Temple into a broader day of remembrance for suffering throughout Jewish history.

Traditionally, Tisha B’Av is marked by fasting, mourning, and the public reading of the Book of Lamentations, also called *Eikha*. Many communities hold services in a subdued atmosphere, with participants sitting low or on the floor and limiting ordinary forms of comfort. Practices associated with the day commonly include refraining from eating and drinking, bathing for pleasure, wearing leather shoes, and other activities viewed as inconsistent with mourning. The tone of the observance is intentionally solemn, encouraging reflection on loss, communal responsibility, faith, and endurance.

Culturally, Tisha B’Av remains significant because it connects ancient events with later experiences of persecution, exile, and survival. For some Jewish communities, the day also invites reflection on internal divisions and the consequences of social injustice, themes often linked to rabbinic explanations for the destruction of Jerusalem. Although centered on grief, Tisha B’Av can also express continuity: by preserving collective memory on August 11, Jewish communities maintain a historical connection to Jerusalem, the Temple, and generations who endured upheaval while sustaining Jewish religious and cultural life.