Our Sages (Yoma 9) reveal that the Temple was destroyed because of the sin of sinas chinum – “baseless hatred.” The Talmud (Gittin 56) gives an example of the sinas chinum that occurred during that time: A man had a friend named Kamtza and an enemy named Bar Kamtza. He made a party and asked his servant [...]
Lectures on Tisha B’Av, Recitation of Kinot and Eicha by Rabbi Joshua Maroof. Rabbi Joshua Maroof received his baccalaureate degree with honors from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and his masters degree in Educational Psychology from the City University of New York (CUNY). He received semicha (ordination) from Rabbi Yisrael Chait, Rosh Yeshiva [...]
Eichah (Lamentations), fully-pointed Hebrew with English translation (איכה עם נקודות וטעמים תרגום באנגלית). Eichah (Lamentations) cries out through time, engulfing the reader in the loss of a city and her people. This ancient poem transcends history, connecting the human tragedy with a call to remember, and to renew faith. The fully pointed Hebrew text is accompanied [...]
We mourn and fast on 9 B’Av since the Beit Hamikdash was burned to the ground. The fire was ignited on 9 B’Av in the afternoon and burned throughout the 10th of Av. Therefore the restrictions of ”the 9 days” continue until after midday on the 10th of Av (July 21, Wednesday). The custom is [...]
On 9 B’Av (from sunset Monday afternoon – until nightfall on Tuesday evening) almost everybody needs to fast. Pregnant and nursing mothers need to fast on 9 B’Av even if it causes them discomfort, unless it’s dangerous to their health. During the first 7 days after childbirth, a mother is not allowed to fast. When in [...]
On the fast of 9 B’Av it is customary not to sit on chairs from the time the fast begins (Monday afternoon before sunset) until noon the following day (Tuesday). Instead, one sits on the floor. Anything within 3 tefachim (about 9″ – 24 cm) of the floor is considered as being on the floor. [...]
One makes Havdala as usual this week using wine (and spices and a candle). If there is a small child who can drink most of the cup of wine, then one gives it to him to drink. If not, then the person making Havdala drinks the wine. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 122:8 Some people have [...]
The “Seudat Mafseket – final meal” before the fast of 9 B’Av – is eaten while seated on the floor. However, one may wear ones leather shoes during this meal. The meal typically consists of only a cold hard boiled egg and bread which is dipped into ashes (one does not have to eat the [...]
One may do “minor” work on the fast of 9 B’Av, such as turning on lights and driving. Any work that takes times, as well as all business dealings, should not be done until noon, so as not to get distracted from mourning the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash – the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. [...]
Unless Moshiach comes first, the fast of 9 B’Av will start on Monday, 19 July, afternoon and will last for about 25 hours until after nightfall on Tuesday, 20 July. The fast of 9 B’Av commemorates 5 tragedies that befell the Jewish people on that date: – It was decreed that the generation which left [...]
From Rosh Chodesh Av (11 July, 2010) until midday on 10th Av (21 July, 2010) is the period known as the “9 days“. The custom is to not eat meat and chicken and to not drink wine during the “9 days”, except on Shabbat. Food cooked together with meat should not be eaten – even if [...]
Lectures on Tisha B’Av, Recitation of Kinot and Aicha by Rabbi Joshua Maroof. Rabbi Joshua Maroof received his baccalaureate degree with honors from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and his masters degree in Educational Psychology from the City University of New York (CUNY). He received semicha (ordination) from Rabbi Yisrael Chait, Rosh Yeshiva [...]
