The Saddest Holiday, The Most Ignored

In lieu of the upcoming Tisha B'av beginning sunset Saturday night, I'd like to devote this entry to important points about the holiday rather then the weekly Torah portion. Because this is my first year fully observing this most important, but upsetting occasion, I've done much research on it and would like to share what I have learned that I didn't know before.

The Many Events that Are Commemorated on the Ninth of Av
(and its more then just the destruction of the first and second temples)

*The first deportations from the Warsaw Ghetto took place
*The first World War began on Tisha B'av
*The expulsion of Jews from England in 1290,
*The expulsion of Jews from France in 1306
*King Ferdinand of Spain issued the expulsion decree in 1492, setting Tisha B'Av as the final date by which no Jew would be allowed in Spain.
*The sin of the spies caused Hashem to decree that the Israelites who left Egypt would not be permitted to enter Eretz Israel.
*The rebel Jewish forces at Betar, the last fortress to hold out against the Romans during the Bar Kochba revolt in the year 135 were annihilated by the Romans
*One year after Betar, the temple area was plowed

And of course, the main reason we mourn on Tisha B'av is the destruction of our Temple, by the Babylonians in 586 BCE and the Romans in 70CE. Though the destruction of the first Temple was a catastrophe, leading to 50 years of exile in Babylon before the return to Israel and the building of the new Temple, the catastrophe that was the destruction of the second Temple was much, much worse.

The Romans destroyed the Temple, salted the land to prevent any future growth and the Jewish people began their almost 2000 year exile from Israel.

The hope that the 3rd Temple will be rebuilt remains our daily prayers---as does the hope that the Jews will live in utter utopia in the land of Israel when Moshiach comes. Moshiach Now!

Prohibitions and Observances of Tisha B'av

*No eating or drinking
*No washing
*No wearing leather shoes
*Only allowed to study certain portions of the Torah and Talmud

No Seudah HaMafseket (meal before fast) this year because the fast begins at sundown after Shabbat

The morning of Tisha B'Av is the saddest part of the day. We recite Kinot, and the men do not don Tefillin at Shacharit, because Tefillin are called "Pe-ar," "Glory," and this is definitely not a day of glory for the Jewish People.

Until Mincha on Tisha B'Av one should try to avoid sitting on a chair or bench. Instead, the custom is to stand or sit on the floor, just like a mourner during the Shiva (traditional seven days of mourning a loved one).

Beginning at Mincha sitting on chairs is permitted, and we reduce the intensity of the grief that has pervaded us so far. Also, men put on Tefillin and recite those Tefillot that were omitted at Shacharit.

It is forbidden to greet friends or acquaintances on Tisha B'Av. However, if greeted first, one should answer, but in a low tone in order not to arouse resentment.

At the evening Ma'ariv service, the entire congregation sits on the floor and recites the Book of Eicha (Lamentations) where the prophet Jeremiah weeps the destruction, and we weep with him.

As it is written in Isaiah (Chapter 66, verse 10), "rejoice greatly with her, all who mourn her." If you mourn Jerusalem, you will celebrate her future joy.