Tisha B’Av – mourning, marked by fasting

SUZANNE BELLING

This is a day of mourning, marked by fasting. Although Jews drive and use electricity, it is advised not to work, but if this cannot be avoided, work should not commence before noon.

Tisha B’Av, first and foremost, commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples, both of which were destroyed on the ninth of Av – the first in 586 BCE and the second in 70 CE.

It is also advised to remember other tragedies which have befallen the Jewish people on the 9^th of Av, including the expulsion of the Jews from Spain and from England.

The Mishna tells us that five specific events occurred on this date:

• The spies sent by Moses to report on the Land of Israel returned with negative reports, save for Joshua and Caleb, which made the Children of Israel despair of entering the Promised Land
• The destruction of the first Temple by the Babylonians
• The destruction of the second Temple by the Romans
• The defeat of the Bar Kochba revolt by the Romans which destroyed over 500 000 Jews
• The ploughing of the site of the Temple and the surrounding area

This year Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbos, when no mourning is permitted and usual eating and drinking take place during the Sabbath day. The fast, which begins this Saturday in Johannesburg at 17:35 means that the pre-fast meal has to be consumed before this time. The fast ends at 18:02 on the Sunday. (See Shabbat times on Page 2 for times in other centres.)

Tisha B’Av is preceded in Ashkenazi tradition by three weeks of mourning when no parties or simchas should take place and when meat is not eaten for nine days before Tisha B’Av except on Shabbos. The Sephardim refrain from eating meat only in the week preceding the 9^th of Av.

Rabbi Ari Shishler, spiritual leader of Chabad of Strathavon, says that Jews should try and inject something new into the observance of Tisha B’Av. “This year we should endeavour to better our connection with Hashem in the absence of the Beit Hamikdash.”