Tisha B'Av

Tishah B'Av, observed on the 9th of the Hebrew month of Av, is a Jewish day of mourning commemorating the destruction of the ancient Temples in Jerusalem. Tishah B'Av serves as a day to remember numerous tragedies throughout Jewish history and reflect on ongoing suffering. Traditionally, it involves a 24-hour fast from sundown to sundown, the chanting of the Book of Lamentations and medieval dirges, and other mourning customs. Though its ritual importance has waned for many, Tishah B'Av remains a symbol of Jewish loss and resilience, commemorating events from the destruction of the Temples to the Holocaust.

 

Resources on Tisha B'Av

What is Tisha B'av? (from 18 Doors: Unlocking Jewish)
Do Reform Jews Observe Tishah B’Av? Answered by Rabbi Mark Washofsky, Ph.D.
Destruction and Renewal: Tisha B’Av in the modern world By Jennifer Weiner