What is Tisha B’Av?

As we approach the solemn observance of Tisha B’Av—which begins at sunset on August 2nd and ends at nightfall on August 3rd (this year)—our hearts turn toward one of the most significant days in the Jewish calendar. This day calls us to remember, to mourn, and ultimately to hope in the promises of our God. It invites us into a deeper understanding of God’s sovereignty over history and His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people…

Understanding Tisha B’Av

Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, stands as the most mournful date in the Jewish calendar—a time when we enter into fasting, prayer, and contemplation. This observance serves as the conclusion of a three-week period of reflection, during which we remember the catastrophic loss of Jerusalem’s Holy Temple and contemplate its meaning for our lives today.

However, Tisha B’Av serves as more than mere historical remembrance. It stands as a testament to divine providence, revealing how Adonai weaves even the darkest moments into His purpose. Through the lens of this day, we see that no event, even the most devastating, falls outside of God’s plan.

Seven Calamities: The Divine Pattern in History

Throughout history, we see seven pivotal tragedies which have occurred on the Ninth of Av, revealing something far beyond coincidence, the very hand of God… These events demonstrate that God remains actively involved all throughout human history, orchestrating events according to His eternal wisdom.

Rebellion in the Wilderness (1313 BCE)

Following their miraculous deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites tasked twelve men with the mission to survey the Promised Land. These scouts returned on the eighth of Av with a report that struck fear into the hearts of Bnei-Yisrael, that the land was unconquerable…On the ninth of Av, the people erupted into weeping and complaints, declaring that they would prefer slavery in Egypt to conquest at the hand of the Canaanites. This faithless response so grieved the Lord that He decreed that this generation would perish in the wilderness, never entering the inheritance He had promised them…condemning them to wander in the desert.

Two Temples, One Fate

Tragically, the Temple which Solomon had built fell to Babylonian forces on the Ninth of Av in 423 BCE, marking the end of the First Temple period. Then, a total of five centuries later, when Roman armies besieged Jerusalem in 69 CE, the Second Temple also met its destruction on this same exact date. This extraordinary parallel definitely points to a divine orchestration.

The Betar Tragedy (133 CE)

During the Bar Kokhba revolt, the Jewish people’s hopes for deliverance from Roman oppression centered on the figure of Simon bar Kokhba. These dreams were then tragically shattered when the final stronghold of Betar fell on the Ninth of Av, resulting in the massacre of countless Jewish fighters and the following collapse of the rebellion.

The Desecration of the Temple Mount (134 CE)

The Romans’ humiliation of the Jewish people continued after the conquest of Betar, when they deliberately desecrated the Temple Mount—the site where God’s presence had once dwelt among His people—by plowing over it like a common field.

Exile from England (1290 CE)

In medieval England, Jewish communities had begun to flourish, when suddenly they were faced with expulsion at the hand of King Edward I. The royal decree forced them to abandon their homes and livelihoods; and once again, the date on which this next tragedy occurred… the Ninth of Av.

Expulsion from Spain (1492 CE)

Spain’s thriving Jewish communities experienced their greatest catastrophe when the monarchs, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, ordered the exile of all Jews from their country. On March 31st, 1492, the edict was signed, giving them only four months to settle their affairs and leave. The date on which no Jew could remain in the land where they had once again begun to prosper…the Ninth of Av.

What Began in World War I (1914)

Modern scholars recognize that the Second World War and Holocaust represented the culmination of conflicts initiated during World War I. Germany’s fateful declaration of war against Russia in 1914—the action that launched the Great War—occurred on the Ninth of Av, setting in motion the chain of events that would bring unprecedented suffering to the Jewish World.

How We Observe Tisha B’Av

Our observance of this solemn day follows traditions that connect us to generations before us who have mourned these same losses:

Fasting and Abstinence

We abstain from food and drink, along with other physical comforts, allowing our bodies to reflect the mourning of our souls. This physical deprivation helps us focus on the spiritual significance of the day and connect with the suffering of our ancestors. Read more on the specific aspects of this fast.

Sacred Study

Our Torah study is deliberately limited to texts that reflect the somber nature of Tisha B’Av. We focus on passages that speak of the Temple’s destruction and the Jewish people’s exile. We particularly immerse ourselves in the Book of Lamentations (Eichah), where we read Jeremiah’s prophetic words about the destruction of the First Temple and the subsequent exile of the Jewish nation. These ancient words of mourning form the centerpiece of our Tisha B’Av observance…

Acts of Charity

As on all fast days, we increase our charitable giving (tzedakah) on Tisha B’Av. Even in our mourning, we remember our responsibility to care for others and to be instruments of God’s compassion and hope in the world.

From Mourning to Hope: The Messianic Vision

Even as we mourn, there is an element of joy and comfort woven throughout this day. Our grief is not without purpose, and our tears are not shed in vain. The prophet Jeremiah, whose words we read on this day, spoke words of hope that sustain us:

“Because of the mercies of Adonai we will not be consumed, for His compassions never fail.”

Lamentations 3:22 TLV

This verse reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God’s mercy endures. His compassion is new every morning, and His faithfulness is great. The same God who allowed these tragedies in His sovereign plan is the God who promises restoration and redemption.

As followers of Yeshua, we understand that our Messiah himself wept over Jerusalem, seeing the destruction that would come upon the city He loved (Luke 19:41-44). He shared in our mourning, and He shares in our hope for restoration!

A Call to Participation

Why should we, as a Messianic community, participate in the observance of this mournful day? Because Tisha B’Av connects us to the Jewish people’s story, to the reality of divine judgment and mercy, and to the hope of ultimate restoration. It reminds us that we are part of a people chosen by God, disciplined by God, and ultimately redeemed by God! It connects us to the suffering we see throughout history while pointing us toward the hope of restoration that comes through Messiah.

As we fast and pray on Tisha B’Av, we join our voices with Jeremiah’s closing plea:

May this day of mourning strengthen our faith, deepen our connection with our brothers and sisters, and intensify our longing for the day when Yeshua will return to establish His kingdom, when mourning will be turned to joy, and when all the tears of history will be wiped away. 

Until that day, we remember, we mourn, and we hope.