Tisha B'Av

Israel Dog Unit brings joy on saddest day of the year

The IDU’s dog handlers hosted a special demonstration for children from the BeLev Echad organization during Tisha B'Av.

Governor Sanders visits Western Wall with Ambassador Huckabee

Joined by her father, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, Sarah Huckabee-Sanders prayed at the Western Wall, voicing support for Israel and honoring the site’s sacred legacy.

On night of Tisha B'Av

Break-in at yeshiva causes extensive damage

A severe act of vandalism on the night of Tisha B'Av at a yeshiva in Modi'in Illit, as unidentified individuals break in and cause significant damage.

Mike Johnson at the Western Wall:

'May America always stand with Israel'

As the fast of Tisha B’Av drew to a close, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Mr. Mike Johnson, led a delegation of Congress members on a visit to the Western Wall.

Watch:

Prayer for unity and hostages' return at the Western Wall

Tisha B’Av, a solemn day of mourning for the destruction of the Temples and the consequences of baseless hatred, will conclude with a communal moment of reflection and hope.

Defense Minister prays at Western Wall on Tisha B'Av

On Tisha B'Av, Defense Minister Israel Katz prayed at the Western Wall for the return of the hostages, the safety of IDF soldiers, and victory over Hamas terrorists.

As one home was being destroyed, another was being built

When cracks appear in your life, surrender to the new light.

Why we fight and fast: Evyatar and Rom

How can we consider food when Evyatar and Rom starve, imprisoned, suffering beyond imagination? They are why we fight on. Op-ed.

First time in thousands of years:

Jewish minister leads prayers on the Temple Mount

Thousands ascend to pray; Jews allowed to sing, prostrate under new policy hailed as historic change in worship rights at Judaism’s holiest site.

Building the Beit Hamikdash now

Join the OU on a powerful journey through Jerusalem's holiest sites as it uncovers the deeper meaning of Tisha B’Av—not only as a day of reflection, but as a vision for the future of Am Yisrael.

The sin we keep repeating:

A Tisha B’Av reflection on Jewish division

Tisha B’Av is not a history lesson. It’s a mirror. And the reflection we see this year should shake us. Opinion

Revivim:

When Tisha B'Av falls on Sunday - Laws and Customs

From sunset until the time of the departure of Shabbat is a time shared by Shabbat and the fast. Before sunset one stops eating and drinking.

Tragedies that occurred on Tisha B'AV

Major tragic events that happened to the Jewish people either happened on Tisha B’Av, or had roots on Tisha B'Aav.

Released Hostage:

'I chose to fast in the tunnels on Tisha B'Av'

At a Tisha B’Av night event in Tel Aviv, former hostage Agam Berger delivered a powerful speech, recounting her experience in captivity and reflecting on the resilience of the Jewish people throughout history.

Tisha B'Av and anticipating Redemption

The question צָפִיתָ לַיְּשׁוּעָה? Did you anticipate Redemption? is an important measure of one’s life.

President Herzog at Eicha:

'Our hearts burn with pain for the hostages'

Attending Tisha B’Av reading of Eicha, President Isaac Herzog refers to disturbing video of hostage Evyatar David, calls on Israelis to fast and pray for the captives’ safe return. 'They are everyone's sons.'

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Tisha B'Av night at the Western Wall

Large crowd gathers to read the Book of Lamentations and recite 'Kinot' prayers at the Western Wall. Watch.

Tisha B'av - the destruction of the Temple

Israel marks the day when both Holy Temples were destroyed; tens of thousands recite prayers of mourning at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Tisha B'Av:

They wept for no reason that night and we weep for generations

We must rectify the sin of the Spies and of the Generation of the Wilderness by cancelling the cause of our ancestors’ baseless weeping. We must increase love and faith, instilling in our hearts that God truly loves us.

This Tisha B'Av:

Much of the world would love to add to the day's catastrophes

Thankfully, our rootedness back in the Land of Israel gives us the strength to confront growing adversity. Op-ed.

D’var Torah for Tisha B’av

Picking up the pieces

The pendulum of Jewish fate swings very swiftly from one extreme to the other.

Just another day

Daily, I mourn the Death of Reason in the West and the re-emergence of Jew-hatred on a level starting to challenge the German Nazi Era. Opinion.

Every day is a Kinah

I am already reciting Kinot with every headline, every funeral, every fallen soldier. Opinion.

Watch:

Arab arrested after damaging Jewish cars at Western Wall

Arab filmed during Tisha B'Av damaging tires of Jewish-owned vehicles parked near the Western Wall.

'Traumatizing'

JVP ridiculed for instruction not to pray in Hebrew on Tisha B'Av

Jewish Voice for Peace under fire after organization's Tisha B'Av guide found to contain instructions to pray in English or Arabic because Hebrew is 'traumatizing to Palestinians.'

Is it selfish to turn away from collective tragedy?

I find myself avoiding reminders of October 7. Op-ed.

Yad Vashem Zoom Tisha B'Av symposium disrupted by ISIS hacker

A Yad Vashem online Zoom seminar, marking the solemn Fast of the 9th of Av (Tisha B'Av), was interrupted by someone claiming to be ISIS.

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Special Tisha B'av prayers at the Western Wall

Special prayer and call for unity held to mark the end of Tisha B'av begin at the Western Wall, with thousands in attendance and broadcast live to viewers in Israel and around the world. Watch.

Finding G-d

G-d’s Name begins with a tiny letter because G-d’s greatness is unfathomable to us. What we can know of G-d is infinitesimal like a dot.

The New Jerusalem

Yesha Council Chairman Yisrael Ganz issues call for unity at "United for Their Return" held at Hostages Square on Tisha B'Av.

'Fanatics will lead us to destruction if we don't eradicate them'

'Jerusalem was conquered not by the strength of the enemy on the walls, but by Israel's weakness. Internal battles between fanatical factions weaken us from within,' says Prof. Elbashan, Dean of Ono College.

International controversy:

Ben-Gvir recites Tisha B'av prayers on Temple Mount

Ministers Ben-Gvir and Waserlauf were part of a large group of Israelis who recited prayers and Hatikva on the Temple Mount today, drawing criticism from both fellow coalition parties and opposition members, as well as from other nations.

Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman:

'Tisha B'Av isn't just history, it's personal'

President and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva University reflects on the influence the war has had on the fast of Tisha B'Av.

Hearts broken, ready for redemption

Hundreds gather in Efrat to prepare for Tisha B’av with OU Israel’s Torah Efrat in partnership with Kehilat Shirat David.

Watch:

'Hatikva' and Israeli flags on the Temple Mount

Hundreds of worshipers ascended the Temple Mount on Tuesday morning, marking the day when the two Holy Temples, located on the Mount, were destroyed.

Tisha B'av: Moshiach, we are ready

Join Rabbi Avi Berman, Exec. Dir. of OU Israel, on a journey back in time to when the Jews entered the Beit Hamikdash, and how it relates to us, on Tisha B'av 2024.

Unique footage:

Tisha B'av at the Western Wall

Photographer Dov Ber Hechtman captures the Tisha B'av atmosphere as thousands arrive to mark the saddest day of the year at the Western Wall and read Lamentations.

In less than an hour: 800 worshipers ascend Temple Mount

Police increase number of pilgrims allowed to ascend Temple Mount at once, shortening wait times. 'Thanks to the pilgrims, Zion is no longer desolate.'

Fasting on Tisha B’Av this year

There are two types of tears...

On the eve of 9 Av:

Mediation agreement between MK Rothman and Brothers in Arms

A mediation agreement between MK Simcha Rothman and Eyal Nave of Brothers in Arms, in which the two apologized to each other and reconciled their differences, was submitted to the court.

President Herzog:

'Winds of divisiveness are back. Bring the hostages home'

President Isaac Herzog’s special message screened at the Tisha B’Av Hostage Square rally in Tel Aviv: 'I will support any deal that will bring our hostages home and protect our security interests.'

Tisha B'Av fast begins

The Jewish people mark the day of mourning for the destruction of the Holy Temples and the massacres and expulsions that accompanied them.

Gantz's message for 9 Av:

'If we don't come to our senses, we will have a civil war here'

Chairman of the National Unity party calls on Israeli society on the eve of Tisha B'Av: 'We are facing enormous challenges against our enemies. We must prevent a civil war between us.'

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi:

Tisha B'Av: Seeing Jerusalem in its joy

“The people’s joy in sparks of redemption will rebuild what was destroyed by baseless weeping.” 

Tisha B'Av 5784:

Day of disaster, day of redemption

Our current reality of the ninth of Av as a day of mourning is an anomaly – even though it has persisted for most of our history.

Tisha B'Av 5784:

Birth of the Mashiach

We request that this year all of our wounds be treated. We ask of Hashem that he repair our broken hearts and heal the wounds of our soldiers and injured citizens.

Rabbi David Stav:

Don't repeat the sin that led to the destruction of the Temple

Ahead of Tisha B'Av and amid the war, Rabbi David Stav appeals to the Jewish people not to allow arguments to turn into hate: 'When we see a dispute causing hatred, I'm asking everybody including myself - please, pull back.'

Tisha B'Av 5784:

Listen for the footsteps, listen to the notes

A feeling of almost palpable yearning fills our hearts. For a time of peace, of tranquility, of otherworldliness. Can we keep the music within us, as a reminder?

Ahead of Tisha B'Av event:

Areas in Gaza envelope declared closed military zones

Due to fears that participants in a Nachala Movement Eicha reading event will attempt to infiltrate into the Gaza Strip

Tisha B'Av 5784:

Mourning and consolation

Condolences and mournign are interwoven: nechama is part of the observance, the kiyum, of avelus.

Tonight: Tisha B'Av begins at sundown

The Tisha B'Av (9th of Av) fast day, marking the destruction of the first and second temples will begin on Monday at sundown and will end on Tuesday night.

OU Executive VP pens new lamentation for October 7th

The lamentation composed by Rabbi Moshe Hauer for Tisha B’Av in the wake of the events of the last year has been sent to Jewish communities around the world.

Tisha B'Av 5784:

The root and message of Jewish suffering

How should we transition from the mourning of the past ten months to the mourning of Tisha B’Av? What relationship, if any, exists between our suffering and the Churban HaMikdash?

IDF Rabbinate:

Combat soldiers prohibited from fasting on Tisha B'Av

After two soldiers found themselves in a life-threatening condition after they fasted during the 17th of Tammuz, the Military Rabbinate reiterated its call for soldiers performing operational activities to eat and drink during the upcoming fast day.

New Tisha B'Av kinah laments October 7th massacre

Chairman of 'Sulamot' Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon has composed a special kinah (elegy) in light of the events of October 7 and Swords of Iron.

Lamentations at the entrance to the Netzarim Corridor

Organizations calling for the resettlement of the Gaza Strip appealed to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, requesting that he allow the reading of the Book of Lamentations on the night of Tisha B'Av at the entrance to the Netzarim corridor.

Tisha B'av in Israel's earlier years: Rare photographs revealed

Ahead of Tisha B’av: Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund unveils rare photographs of the day of mourning, from the years following Israel's War of Independence.

Due to the war:

Soldiers permitted to train on Jewish fast days

Ahead of the upcoming fast days and amid the war, the IDF Rabbinate published a booklet with special instructions for soldiers in the field.

Finding commonality between the Rav and the Satmar Rebbe

Where do we see any nechama after Tisha B’Av? Year after year another Tisha B’Av passes, and we are left bereft of a Third Temple.

Special dog show for Tisha B'Av

The Israel Dog Unit held a a show for special needs children in Modi'in Ilit over the fast of Tisha B'Av.