The "Three Weeks" between the fast days of 17th of Tammuz (July 23, 2024) and Tisha B'Av (August 13, 2024) have historically been days of misfortune and calamity for the Jewish people, in which God is so to speak more distant from His people. On the 17th of Tammuz Moses broke the Tablets after the Sin of the Golden Calf, and the Roman breached the walls of Jerusalem, among other tragedies. On the 9th of Av, the nation of the Exodus cried as a result of the negative report of the Spies, and both Temples were destroyed, among other tragedies. We observe various aspects of mourning during this time, such as not celebrating weddings or cutting our hair. The mourning becomes more intense as it gets closer to Tisha B'Av.

Editors' Blog: My Tisha B'Av Fantasy

Chief Editor's Blog

Understanding the Spiritual Roots of the Destruction of the Temple

How to repair the dissolution of the Temple and its subsequent exile.

To Be Holy in Our Land

After returning to Israel, why continue to mourn the destruction of the Temple?

The Strength to Constrict

Understanding the power of the Tisha B’Av fast.

If Only

On Tisha B'Av I can feel the weight of thousands of years of “if onlys.”

Debt Ceiling and Tisha B’Av

Raising our personal debt ceiling for tolerance and peace will bring down the spiritual debt of our nation.

 

At the Western Wall

Jerusalem is the light of the world.

 

All for One

Tisha B'av and the secret of Jewish unity.

A House Divided

God's House will be rebuilt only when each Jew truly cares and loves his or her fellow Jew.

 

Tisha B'Av: The Root of Destruction

The meaning behind the tears.

Yearning for Redemption

Why Jews should yearn for the Messiah.

The Love-Your-Fellow-Jew Challenge

Do your part to repair the damage. Reach out to a Jew different than you.

Fissures

I've lost my connection to the past, and no matter how much time passes, there is a crevice in my heart.

The Price of Disunity

Insights into the destruction of the Second Temple.

 

Jerusalem United

Celebrating the re-unification of Israel's eternal capital.

Jerusalem in Greek and Roman Sources

The Jewish identity of Jerusalem in Greek and Roman sources.

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

Rabbi Elisha Ben Abuha became a non-believer as a result of two incidents.

Tisha B'Av Message

The dean and founder of Aish HaTorah speaks from Jerusalem.

Laws of Shoes and Chairs

Tisha B'Av is a day of mourning, and minimizing physical pleasure.

Rachel - The Story of the Redemption

"I will return the children of Israel to their homeland once again."

The Sin of the Spies

The deeper connection between the wandering in the desert and the destruction of the Holy Temple.

Tisha B'Av (9th of Av) History, Laws & Restrictions

Overview and laws of the Jewish national day of mourning.

Sara Yoheved Rigler

Déjà-Vu

A Tisha B'Av wake-up call from Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis.

My Father's Last Words

Consolation in the darkest moments.

Death March, Tisha B'Av 1944

Facing defeat, the Nazis marched 6,000 Jews. A survivor's account.

Starbucks and Tisha B'Av

Taking the risk for greatness.

Star Trek and the Three Weeks

Losing our "mother ship," we are all vulnerable.

 

A Day at the Western Wall

Exploring the depth of Jewish connection to this eternal holy site.

Mending the Bonds

Prayer is a powerful tool to repair our relationship with God and man.

Rebuilding after Destruction

How one man reacted when his only son was murdered.

Sara Yoheved Rigler

When God Moved Out

Tisha B'Av and the truth of consequences.

Personal Mourning

After the sudden loss of my father, Tisha B'Av took on new meaning.

Holocaust Lamentations

With survivors in mind, the Book of Lamentations comes hauntingly alive.

Festival of Sadness

Longing for a better future.

Celebrating Jewish Sadness

Tisha B'Av teaches that through pain and sadness, we can truly know pleasure and joy.

Stranger on the Hospital Stairs

As the Jewish nation defends its very existence, grief and pain surround us. It all stems from one source.

Destruction on the Tenth of Av

After Tisha B'Av, the burning of the Temple continued for another day. Its effects continue to be felt throughout Jewish history.

Her Name was Patience

She was unusual and the kids knew it. The time has come to ask her forgiveness.

Sara Yoheved Rigler

My Home, My History, My Heart

My house in the Old City of Jerusalem is a portal to the long chain of Jewish history.

Reclaiming Biblical Jerusalem

The world of archeology is rocked by evidence of King David's palace unearthed in Jerusalem.

Building Your Own Temple

My 11-year-old daughter came a lot closer than most of us ever will to really understanding the true meaning of Tisha B'Av.

The Roots of Destruction

The tragedy of Tisha B'av has its roots literally in the oldest mistake in the book.

How Nachmanides Rebuilt Jerusalem

Forced to flee from Spain at age 72, the great sage restored Jerusalem's ruins.

Return to the Palace

A love story of a People and their Land.

Why Do We Still Mourn

Why is there so much emphasis on remembering Jerusalem in our lives?

When Tisha B'Av falls on Shabbat or Sunday

Special laws that apply when the Tisha B'Av observance begins on Saturday night.

The Heart-Rending Cry

How is it possible to mourn something that happened 2000 years ago?

Connecting Through Fasting

How can being hungry help us create a spiritual connection?

Overview: Book of Lamentations

Jeremiah describes the tragedy of the Temple's destruction. The lessons are true still today.

Rebuilding the Temple

We must feel the pain of exile if we have any hope of reversing it.

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