Tisha B'Av

Today is Tisha B'Av in the Jewish world--the ninth of Av on the Jewish calendar. It is a day of mourning and fasting. It just so happens that several tragedies have happened to the Jewish people on this day. The first Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians on the 9th of Av in 586 B.C.E. Herods Temple, the second Temple, was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E. on this day. The Bar Kochba rebellion was crushed in 135 B.C.E. on Tisha B'Av. In 1290 King Edward I signed an edict compelling the Jews to leave England, and on this day in 1492 the Jews were forced from Spain. The outbreak of World War I took place on Tish B'Av, which many Jews consider to begin a long period of suffering for them (marked by pogroms and mass executions in Russia, Poland, and other Eastern European countries) that culminated with the Holocaust of World War 2. On the eve of Tisha B'Av 1942, the mass deportation began of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto, en route to Treblinka. (Of course, many modern settlers in Israel also find it to be no coincidence that the withdrawal from of the Gaza Strip is scheduled for this week starting today.)

Interestingly, well before many of the modern tragedies, the rabbis held that Tish B'Av was marked as a day of tragedy for the Jewish people by God because of the Israelites' refusal to enter the Promised Land on the 9th of Av in Numbers 13-14. According to the Talmud, God declared: "You wept without cause; I will therefore make this an eternal day of mourning for you." (B. Ta'an, 29a)

As part of the commemoration of this day, from sunset on the 8th of Av to the appearing of the stars in the evening of the 9th, practicing Jews (if their health permits) fast from both food and water, taking baths, shaving, or wearing makeup. They even fast from studying Torah. It is a day of mourning--they do no ordinary work and keep themselves from smiling, laughing, and idle conversation. The book of Lamentations is read in the synagogue and the prayers of mourning are recited.

During this time Jewish people are also encouraged in their remembrance of suffering to also think about its causes, spurring them to consider how they can work towards tikun olam...the repairing of the world. Many Jewish materials from the medieval Period maintain that the Messiah would be born on this day.

Mourners Kaddish
Glorified and sanctified be God's great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen.

May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.

Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.

May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us
and for all Israel; and say, Amen.

He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.

posted by Jimmy at 9:18 AM | |