Israelis are preparing for a possible attack by Iran or its proxy, Hezbollah, on Tisha Bau, an annual Jewish day of mourning that begins Monday night.
According to Jewish tradition, Tisha Bau, or the ninth day of the month of Ab, marks the anniversary of the destruction of the First Temple (586 BC) and Second Temple (70 AD) in Jerusalem, first by the Babylonians and then by the Romans.
The day also serves as a memorial for all the calamities in the long and tragic history of the Jewish people. Although there are other tragic dates, such as October 7, 2023, Tisha Bau is seen as a day to mourn all of them, and some denominations refuse to have a separate Holocaust Memorial Day and use Tisha Bau to commemorate that period in history as well.
According to custom, Tisha Vau is a “major” fasting day, meaning it begins just before sunset on the eve of the holiday and continues until just after dawn approximately 25 hours later, during which time eating, drinking, sexual activity, bathing, and wearing leather shoes (traditionally considered more comfortable than other footwear) are prohibited.
Traditions of mourning and mourning are also observed, which means people sit on low stools and refrain from wearing prayer shawls during the first prayer of the day. No Torah can be studied on Tisha Vau, except on topics that directly relate to the day.
In recent weeks, there have been reports that Iran is planning an attack on Tisha Ba’u. This could be seen as a form of psychological warfare, because the idea of an Iranian attack on the day the two temples were destroyed also evokes the idea of the destruction of Israel, a professed goal of the Iranian regime and anti-Israel protesters around the world.
The period after Tisha Bau is a time of renewal: the 15th day of the month, Tu Bau, is the “Jewish Valentine’s Day,” and Shabbat readings for the coming weeks will include uplifting, hopeful passages from the prophet Isaiah.
Israeli national morale is estimated to have hit a low on Tuesday but will likely recover in the coming weeks.
Joel B. Pollack is executive editor of Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday The show airs Sunday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. (4 to 7 p.m. ET) on SiriusXM Patriot. He is the author of “Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days,” which is available for preorder on Amazon. He also wrote,Trumpian virtue: The lessons and legacy of Donald Trump’s presidency” is available on Audible. He is the 2018 recipient of the Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter. Joel Pollack.
