Fasting & Mourning Customs
Like Yom Kippur Tisha B'Av is a Major Fast Observed from Sunset to Sunset. The Ancient Rabbis Said 'When Av Comes in all Merriment Goes Out.' & They Meant it. Starting with the First day of Av it's no Meat no Wine {Except on Shabbat} No Clean Clothes or Celebrations. The Meal on the Eve of Tisha B'Av is Modest.. Hard Boiled Eggs & Noodles {Some Sprinkle Ashes on the Food} & the very Pious Sleep on the Floor with a Stone for a Pillow.
On Tisha B'Av as on Yom Kippur You can't Eat Drink Bathe Wear Perfume or Leather Shoes or Engage in any kind of Physical Pleasure. It's Also Customary to Abstain from Work Since on this Unlucky day Your Labors will Probably turn to Dross Anyway so why Bother?
Unique to Tisha B'Av is The ban Against Torah Study {a joyous Activity} Except for the Reading of the Book of Lamentations Job & Certain Chapters from Jeremiah.
Another Old Tisha B'Av Custom is Cemetery Visits which Probably Stems from Jeremiah's Trip to the Grave of the Patriarchs in Hopes he Could Convince God to let the Israelites Enter the Promised Land.
According to Legend all the Great men of the Past rise From their Graves on Tisha B'Av to Mourn the Lost Glory of Israel & in Polish Villages Little Boys left wooden Swords on the Graves so the Dead when they Arose could give Israel's Enemies a Good zetz. {Kids Underst& these Things..}
* Synagogue Customs & Observance
On Tisha B'Av the Synagogue Changes from a joyous House of God to a House of Mourning. Traditionally the Lights are Dimmed the ark & Torah Scrolls are Draped in Black & the Congregation Sits on Low Benches or on the Floor. Words of Greeting are Discouraged but if Someone says 'Hello' you may Respond out of Courtesy.
In the Evening the Book of Lamentations {Echah} is Chanted. This Powerfully Written Little book Laments the Loss of the Temple & Describes the Desolation of Jerusalem & the Suffering of the Jewish People. Still it is Customary to End the Reading on a Positive note by Repeating the Next to last Verse 'Turn us Unto Thee Oh Lord That we may be Turned! Renew our Days as of Old!' {Who wrote Lamentations? Many Scholars give the Nod to Jeremiah & Since his Birthday is.. You Guessed it.. on the 9th of Av he Seems an Appropriate Choice.}
Sad as Tisha B'Av May be the Month of Av is not Only Mourning & Fasting. After the 9th of Av Comes the Anticipation of Comfort & Consolation Reflected in the Rabbinic name for the Month itself.. Menachem Av.. He who Comforts Av.
On the Saturday After Tisha B'Av {Shabbat Nachamu.. the Sabbath of Comfort } We Read the Haftarah From Isaiah that Begins 'Comfort ye My People.' Then the Mood Changes from Despair to Hope. In the Shtetl Shabbat Nachamu was a Festive Time & Many a Happy Bride & Groom Tied the knot on that Weekend.
The Month of Av also Brings us Tu B'Av.. 14 Av.. An Ancient Festival Almost Totally Ignored Today.
The Festival Originally Marked the End of the Wood Chopping Season. Apparently this Work Stoppage gave the Young men of Israel Time to go Hunting for Wives &.. Ever Helpful.. the Maidens of Jerusalem {According to the Talmud} Dressed Themselves in White on the 14th of Av & Went to the Vineyards Singing & Dancing & the Young men Followed after Them. Result? Tu B'Av Became a Festival of Matrimony Creating new Generations Ready to Sustain Jewish Life.
Now if Tisha B'Av is gloom & Destruction then Tu B'Av is the Antidote.. a Time of joy & New Beginnings. So on July 23 {Tu B'Av this Year} do What Michael Strassfeld Suggest in his Book The Jewish Holidays. Go have a Good Time..
This July Rediscover the Month of Av.
Rediscover the Truth in the Adage that Out of Sorrow Can Come Joy!
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