Tisha B’Av
Tisha B’Av is the saddest day in the Jewish calendar, marked through readings, prayer, reflection and exploration. On this day, Jews come together to remember the tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people throughout our history.
Tisha B’Av falls in July or August. It is the saddest day in the Jewish calendar – a 25-hour period of mourning and reflection on the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people over the past 2,500 years.
Traditions associated with this solemn day include:
- Taking part in a service, talk or screening at a local Progressive Jewish community.
- Reading from The Book of Lamentations (Eicha in Hebrew).
- Attending events, reading books, or watching films that explore historical tragedies.
- Fasting – refraining from food and drink as a sign of mourning.
At the heart of Tisha B’Av is the memory of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem – first in 586 BCE, and again in 70 CE after it was rebuilt. The name Tisha B’Av refers to the date on which these events occurred: the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av.
Yet today, our collective mourning often centres on more recent tragedies, such as the Holocaust and the October 7 2023 attacks in Israel.
These events are closer to our lived experience, and their impact continues to shape our communities and our consciousness.
In contrast, the ancient Temple period, with its sacrificial system, can feel distant and unfamiliar. And while the loss of the Temple was devastating, it also marked the beginning of a rich and resilient tradition of Jewish thought and practice that continues to thrive.
At its essence, Tisha B’Av is not about mourning the loss of a building. It is a day to reflect on the deeper consequences of disconnection – our failure, time and again, to recognise our interconnectedness with one another and with the Divine.
We may not yearn for the Temple to be rebuilt, but we do long for a world in which humanity lives in greater harmony, compassion, and spiritual closeness.
If you want to commemorate Tisha B’av in a welcoming, inclusive, and egalitarian setting, please contact one of our Progressive congregations.
