TISHA B'AV: A Day of Mourning

Tisha B'Av is a fast day that memorializes the devastation of the 1st and 2nd Temples in Jerusalem. Inaddition it also became a day of public bereavement for other great calamities that have befallen the Jewish people, from the Decree of Expulsion from England in 1290 to the mass expulsion of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto.
Tisha B'Av is the lowest day on the Jewish calendar on account of the inconceivable sequence of afflictions which occurred on that date throughout Jewish History.

HISTORY

Tragic events that occurred to our Jewish people on this day:
1. The sin of the spies caused Hashem to order that the Offsprings of Israel who left Egypt would not be allowed to go in the land of Israel;

2. The 1st Temple was destroyed;

3. The 2nd Temple was destroyed;

4. Betar, the last stronghold to hold out against the Romans during the Bar Kochba rebellion in the year 135, fell, determining the destiny of the Jewish people.

5. One year subsequent the fall of Betar, the Temple area was ploughed.

6. In 1492, King Ferdinand of Spain released the exile order, setting Tisha B'Av as the final date by which not one Jew would be permitted to stroll on Spanish soil.

7. World War I – which began the downhill slide to the Holocaust – began on Tisha B’av.

Prohibitions

The injunctions on Tisha B'Av itself are alike those of Yom Kippur. In inclusion to not consuming food or drink, we are not permitted to wash, anoint oneself or put on leather shoes. In a forbiddance more strict than on Yom Kippur, we are only permitted to read particular portions of the Torah and Talmud on Tisha B'Av.
OBSERVANCES
The observation of Tisha B'Av commences with the Seudah HaMafseket, the last meal before the fast begins.

NOTE: In the course of years when the fast commences on Saturday night we do not have a SeudahHaMafseket.



Unlike the feast, we have in front Yom Kippur, this meal is normally one course, generally comprising of a hard-boiled egg and bread. In addition, this meal is mostly not consumed in the company of others to avert having a Zimmun (quorum for public blessing) at Birchat HaMazon. Zimmun shows constancy, habit and longevity. We evade the Zimmun since we would prefer not to make this grief-stricken meal a repetitive event. It is traditional to eat this meal positioned on the floor or a low stool.

Up to the time of Mincha on Tisha B'Av one should try to evade sitting on a chair or bench. Alternatively, the tradition is to stand or sit on the floor, just like a griever throughout the Shiva.

Starting at Mincha sitting on chairs is allowed, and we decrease the strength of the grief that has affected us so far. In addition, men put on Tefillin and tell those Tefillot that were left out at Shacharit.

It is prohibited to hail friends or familiarities on Tisha B'Av. Nevertheless, if hailed first, one should reply, but in a low tone in order not to arouse spite.

At the nightfall Ma'ariv ceremony, the entire assembly sits on the floor and reads the Book of Eicha (Lamentations) where the prophet Jeremiah weeps over the devastation, and we weep with him.
The daybreak of Tisha B'Av is the saddest part of the day. We read Kinot, and the men do not put on Tefillin at Shacharit, since Tefillin are called "Pe-ar," "Glory," and this is surely not a day of glory for the Jewish People.