Dear Chaverim,
Tisha B’Av (9 of the Hebrew month of Av) is the saddest day on the Jewish Calendar. It commemorates the tragedies of the sin of the Spies in the desert and the decree of forty years of exiled wandering before entering The Land of Israel, the destruction of both the first and second Temples, the fall of Beitar and the terrible violence following the Bar Kochba rebellion, the Romans plowing under and renaming of Jerusalem as Aelia Capitolina and Judea as Palestina, as well as the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. Furthermore, the day has become a day to mourn many other tragedies in our history, including the slaughter of Jews during the Crusades, the burning of the Talmud in Paris in 1242, the fall of the Mishkan at Shiloh (see I Samuel ch 4), and most recently, the Shoah. As such there are many mourning practices that are observed on this day and the days leading up to the 9th of Av.
The Month of Av
Traditionally, we observe some customs of mourning from the beginning of the Month of Av. This includes Rosh Chodesh itself. This year Rosh Chodesh Av is Wednesday July 19.
- We abstain from eating meat and drinking wine (or other spirits) except for on Shabbat.
- Unless it is necessary for our profession, men abstain from shaving.
- We do not purchase or wear new clothes.
- We do not celebrate weddings or lifecycle events except for a Bris on the eighth day.
- We do not listen to music
- We refrain from new luxury products or projects such as building a new deck or pool
- We do not swim or bathe for pleasure, and shower colder than we usually would.
- We generally refrain from laundering clothes except as minimally necessary.
On Shabbat
We do not observe public aspects of mourning on Shabbat.
- We wear our normal Shabbat garments, we have meat and wine, and even sing the regular Shabbat songs.
- There are special Haftarah readings along the theme of impending doom which are taken from the prophecies of the coming destruction of The Temple.
- Havdalah should not be made on wine during the first Nine Days of Av.
Before the Fast
The fast of Tisha B’av is considered as weighty and important as Yom Kippur. Even Pregnant and nursing women are required to at least try to fast. Anyone with a medical condition which might make fasting dangerous should consult their doctor. If a doctor instructs you not to fast you are excused from fasting.
- It is wise to begin hydrating yourself several days in advance
- The final meal before the 9 of Av begins should be a full meal with washing over bread.
- It is customary to conclude the pre-fast meal with a hard boiled egg dipped in ashes.
- The meal should conclude before sunset (in Vancouver the fast begins at 9:02 PM).
- Please Note that Mincha begins at 8:40 PM.
During The Fast
- The Five afflictions or Inuyim
Once the fast begins, there are five categories of prohibited pleasures. These five categories are the formal actions of the most intense fast days of the year. On the 9th of Av they are for mourning, and on Yom Kippur they are the agents of atonement and an attempt to live like angels, free from the material needs of this world. They are:
- Eating and drinking is prohibited from sundown to stars-out. One who is ill, pregnant or nursing should consult their Rabbi and doctor to determine if fasting is required or for an appropriate contingency plan.
- Bathing is prohibited except in cases of obvious and obstructive dirt. More to the point, you can wash your hands after the washroom. You can also do the ritual washing of your hands up to the finger joints, as well if your hands or another part of the body gets extra dirty. Sadly, washing the face, or other parts of the body is prohibited.
- Wearing leather shoes; in cases where one might be exposed to danger and protective footwear is required, should consult their Rabbi to determine the right course of action.
- Marital relations including the “Harchakot.” or measures of separation observed during the Nida period are also observed. Frankly, this one is too complicated to explain in short or in public. Feel free to inquire further of your Rabbi or Mikveh teacher for more information.
- The use of creams, oils and perfumes is prohibited. One who has a dermatological issue is likely exempted from this prohibition when using medication, however a consult with a Rabbi is wise.
- Other Prohibitions
- We also refrain from extending greetings of even “hello,” or even “ how are you?” on the 9 of Av. This accentuates our feelings of loneliness, mourning and the importance of courtesy and connection for after the fast.
- The study of Torah is considered extremely joyous, thus on the 9 of Av we only permitted to study the 9 of Av related material, including descriptions of the tragedies in the Bible, Talmud and Josephus, the Book of Job and as well the laws of mourning.
- Prayers
- At night we read the scroll of Lamentations or Eicha in its unique tune.
- The Curtain or Parochet is removed from the Ark and the lights are dimmed.
- In the morning, we read the Kinot, the poem/ prayers recounting tragedies.
- We do not wear Talit and Tefilin until after midday and repeat the Shema while wearing Tefilin.
- After the fast
- The Fast ends at 9:42 PM Thursday evening, July 27.
- We do not have meat or drink wine until Friday morning.
- The other prohibitions of the week leading to the 9 of Av are lifted after the fast.
- Kiddush Levanah (weather permitting) is typically said after maariv before breaking the fast.
Tisha B’Av Schedule
Wednesday, July 26
8:40 PM – Mincha
9:02 PM – Fast begins
9:05 PM – Maariv and Eicha
Thursday, July 27
8:00 A.M. – Shacharit followed by explanatory Kinot
6:30 PM – Movie and discussion
8:35 PM – Mincha
9:00 PM – “What was lost? Our Sages understanding of exile” With Rabbi Schachter
9:30 PM – Maariv
9:42 PM – Fast ends. Light refreshments will be served
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