The holy day of Tisha B’Av — which Jews worldwide marked earlier this month — is without a doubt the most sorrowful, most somber day in the Jewish religious calendar: It commemorates the destruction of the two Jewish Temples in Jerusalem. In addition, a number of other Jewish tragedies have clustered around the day, from the expulsions of the Jews from England and Spain to more localized disasters. Observant Jews mark Tisha B’Av by fasting and abstaining from pleasurable activities.
Quote: “Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the month of Av (which coincides with July and/or August), is the major day of communal mourning in the Jewish calendar. Although a large number of disasters are said to have befallen the Jews on this day, the major commemoration is of the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E. and 70 C.E., respectively.”
Source: MyJewishLearning.com (introduciton and quotation)
Read “Tisha B’Av 101” on MyJewishLearning.com. ►
Watch “A Journey Back to The Destructions of Jerusalem — Tisha B’Av Special” [25:50] ►
Watch “Uncovering the mystery of Tisha B’Av at the City of David” [23:29] ►
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