The saddest day of the year in Judaism is Tisha B'Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, a solemn fast day commemorating the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, as well as numerous other tragedies and exiles throughout Jewish history, including the Holocaust. Observances include a 25-hour fast from food and drink, refraining from bathing, wearing leather shoes, and engaging in joyful activities, focusing instead on mourning, study, and reflection on loss and resilience.
Key Aspects of Tisha B'Av:
Date:
The 9th of Av (usually in July or August).
Commemorates:
Destruction of both Temples, Crusades, Inquisition, expulsions, and the Holocaust.
Practices:A full fast (no food or water), avoiding luxuries like music, bathing, and leather shoes; reading Lamentations (Eichah) and dirges.- Significance:A day to remember historical pain, reaffirm Jewish identity, and commit to rebuilding and learning from the past.
Why It's So Sad:
- The loss of the First Temple (Babylonians, 586 BCE) and Second Temple (Romans, 70 CE) were catastrophic events, leading to massive loss of life and exile.
- Historical Tragedies:Many other calamities, from expulsions to the Shoah (Holocaust), are linked to this date, making it a focal point for collective Jewish grief.
- Spiritual Loss:The Temples represented the heart of Jewish spiritual and national life, and their destruction marked a profound spiritual void.
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Today is Tisha B’Av, the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. A day when tragedy after tragedy struck our people. The First Temple. The Second Temple. The Crusades. The Inquisition. Expulsions from England and Spain. Deportations to death camps. All of it, again and again, on this day. Tisha B’Av is a day shaped by grief, a date when generation after generation faced destruction, exile and loss. But the Jews don’t let tragedies define us. We use them as a catalyst not just survive, but to thrive. We remember these events to help us preserve what others try to erase, to reconnect to our identity, to remember the pain and to powerfully commit to learning, to growing and to rebuilding with love.
Aug 3, 2025
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Noa Tishby
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