A DATE WITH DESTRUCTION Tisha B'Av- תשעה בא Why do we mourn on Tisha B’Av? A historical overview of the fast of the ninth of Av, a guide for its laws and customs Tisha B'Av
Tisha B'Av is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates many tragedies throughout Jewish history most significantly, the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE by the Babylonians and the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE. On Tisha B'Av all pleasurable activity is forbidden. The Scroll of Lamentations, which mourns the destruction of Jerusalem, is read in synagogues, followed by the recitation of kinnot, liturgical dirges that lament the loss of the Temple and Jerusalem. The day has become a day of mourning for all tragedies that have occurred to the Jewish people, not exclusively the tragedies associated with the month of Av. Therefore, some kinnot recall the murder of the Ten Martyrs, pogroms in Medieval Jewish communities during the Crusades, and the genocide of European Jewry in the Holocaust. The Five Calamities
According to the Mishnah (Ta'anit 4:6), we fast on the 9th of Av because of the following events that took place on that day:
Before the Israelites entered the land of Israel, they sent spies to scout out the land. When the spies brought back a negative report, the Israelites cried on the 9th of Av, demonstrating a lack of faith in God. This generation was therefore punished and not allowed to enter the land. God decreed this would become a day of misfortune forever (Numbers 13-14).
The First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar. According to the Talmud, it began to burn on the Ninth of Av and continued through the Tenth.
The Second Temple, built by Ezra and Nehemiah, was destroyed by the Romans. This resulted in the scattering of Judea and began the Jewish exile from the Holy Land.
The Romans suppressed the Bar Kokhba revolt and killed over 500,000 Jews, destroying the city of Betar, on July 8th, 135 CE, or the 9th of Av, 3892.
The Romans suppressed the Bar Kokhba revolt and killed over 500,000 Jews, destroying the city of Betar, on July 8th, 135 CE, or the 9th of Av, 3892.
Turnus Rufus, Roman commander who crushed the Bar Kokhba revolt, further demolished the site of the Temple and its surrounding area (135 CE).
