Tisha B'Av Eve in Israel

Tisha B'Av (the Ninth of Av) is an annual fast day in Judaism, marking the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, which occurred about 656 years apart, but on the same Hebrew calendar date. Tisha B'Av falls in July or August in the Gregorian calendar.

History and Significance:

• First Temple: Destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE, leading to the Jewish exile.
• Second Temple: Destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE, a pivotal event that spread Jews throughout the diaspora.

Tisha B'Av has since become a symbolic day of mourning for other major calamities that have befallen the Jewish people throughout history.

Traditions:

On Tisha B'Av Eve:

• Fasting: Commences at sunset and lasts about 25 hours. It is a total fast from both food and drink.
• Reading Eicha (Book of Lamentations): The book describing the destruction of Jerusalem is traditionally read in synagogue during the evening service.
• Sitting on low stools or on the floor: As a sign of mourning, similar to customs during shiva (the seven-day mourning period after a funeral).
• Restrictions: These include abstaining from study of Torah (except for sections related to Tisha B'Av or mourning), refraining from greeting others with pleasantries, and avoiding wearing leather shoes.

Observance:

People across Israel observe this solemn day by participating in various traditions. Many attend synagogue services where Lamentations are chanted with a mournful melody. Non-religious cultural events might also be curtailed out of respect for this period of national sorrow.

The day holds great meaning as it emphasizes both historical reflection and collective mourning for past tragedies. It's observed by secular and religious Jews alike as a moment for considering historical suffering as well as contemporary challenges facing Jewish people globally.