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תִּשְׁעָה בְּאָב
Tisha B'Av 5786
The Saddest Day in Jewish History
Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av, is the most solemn day on the Jewish calendar, a day of mourning for the catastrophic events that have befallen the Jewish people throughout history. Both the First Temple (destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE) and the Second Temple (destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE) were destroyed on this date. Jewish tradition holds that numerous other tragedies also occurred on Tisha B'Av, including the decree against the generation of the Exodus, the fall of Betar during the Bar Kochba revolt, and the expulsion of Jews from England (1290) and Spain (1492). The day is observed with a 25-hour fast, similar to Yom Kippur, along with the reading of Eicha (the Book of Lamentations) and kinot (elegies). Congregants sit on low chairs or the floor, lights are dimmed, and the parochet (ark curtain) is removed, reflecting a communal state of mourning.
Tisha B'Av Traditions
How Jews observe Tisha B'Av around the world.
Reading Eicha (the Book of Lamentations) by candlelight on the evening of Tisha B'Av
Reciting kinot (elegies and laments) throughout the morning service
Sitting on low chairs or on the floor until midday, as mourners do during shiva
A 25-hour complete fast with no food or water, beginning before sundown
Dimming the lights in the synagogue and removing the parochet (ark curtain)
Abstaining from bathing, anointing, wearing leather shoes, and marital relations (the same five afflictions as Yom Kippur)
Refraining from Torah study (except for sorrowful texts), greetings, and joyous activities
Some communities walk to the Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem to pray and mourn
Tisha B'Av Food Guide
Traditional foods and where to find them.
Seudah Hamafseket (Pre-Fast Meal)
The final meal before the Tisha B'Av fast is deliberately simple and mournful. The traditional meal consists of bread and a hard-boiled egg, sometimes dipped in ashes, eaten while sitting on the floor. Some add lentils, another food of mourning.
Find nearbyPost-Fast Foods
After the 25-hour fast ends, light and easily digestible foods are recommended. Simple dairy, bread, fruit, and beverages help ease the body back into eating after a full day without food or water.
Find nearbyHard-Boiled Eggs
Eggs are a traditional food of mourning in Judaism, served at the seudah hamafseket and at meals of consolation after a funeral. Their round shape symbolizes the cycle of life.
Find nearbyKashrut Notes for Tisha B'Av
Tisha B'Av is a 25-hour fast from before sundown until nightfall the following evening; no food or water is consumed
The five afflictions of Tisha B'Av mirror those of Yom Kippur: no eating or drinking, no bathing, no anointing with oils, no leather shoes, and no marital relations
Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those who are ill should consult a rabbi about fasting obligations, as leniencies may apply
Children are not required to fast but may be introduced to shorter fasting as they approach bar/bat mitzvah age
The seudah hamafseket should be a simple meal; many eat only bread and an egg, sitting on the floor
Find Kosher Food for Tisha B'Av
Browse certified kosher restaurants, bakeries, and caterers in your city.
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Tisha B'Av FAQs
Common questions about Tisha B'Av 5786.
When is Tisha B'Av 2026?
Tisha B'Av 2026 begins at nightfall on Wednesday, July 15, and the fast continues through nightfall on Thursday, July 16 (with observances extending into the night of July 17). Eicha is read on the evening of July 15.
What happened on Tisha B'Av?
Tisha B'Av is associated with numerous Jewish tragedies. The most significant are the destruction of the First Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BCE and the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE. Other events traditionally linked to the date include the sin of the spies (when the Exodus generation was decreed to die in the desert), the fall of Betar in 135 CE (ending the Bar Kochba revolt), the plowing of Jerusalem by the Romans, the expulsion from England in 1290, and the expulsion from Spain in 1492.
What are the Tisha B'Av fasting rules?
Tisha B'Av requires a full 25-hour fast, abstaining from all food and water. In addition to fasting, five afflictions are observed (the same as Yom Kippur): no bathing, no anointing with oils or lotions, no wearing leather shoes, and no marital relations. Torah study is restricted to mournful texts only. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, the ill, and the elderly should consult a rabbi regarding leniencies.
What is Eicha?
Eicha (Lamentations) is one of the five scrolls of the Hebrew Bible, traditionally authored by the prophet Jeremiah. It is a series of five poetic laments mourning the destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple. Eicha is chanted to a mournful melody on the evening of Tisha B'Av, often by candlelight in a dimly lit synagogue, with congregants sitting on the floor or on low chairs.
Is Tisha B'Av like Yom Kippur?
Tisha B'Av shares the same five afflictions as Yom Kippur (fasting, no bathing, no anointing, no leather shoes, no marital relations) and is also a 25-hour fast. However, Yom Kippur is a day of atonement focused on repentance and spiritual cleansing, while Tisha B'Av is a day of national mourning focused on historical tragedy. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year; Tisha B'Av is the saddest.
Can you work on Tisha B'Av?
Tisha B'Av is not a full Yom Tov, so technically work is permitted. However, many rabbinical authorities discourage work, especially in the morning when mourning practices are most intense. Some communities treat the morning as a time of complete mourning and only permit work in the afternoon. Activities that bring joy or pleasure are avoided throughout the day.
Read more about Tisha B'Av
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