By Allan Schwartz

With a little help from Rabbi ElizaBeth Beyer

July 19, 2010 • 5770 Av 8

Literally, the Ninth of AvThe saddest day in Jewish History

We recall (or mourn) the destruction of both Temples, and several other calamities

Introduction1st Temple

Destruction of the 1st TempleNebachadnezzer, ha rasha

2nd TempleDestruction of the 2nd TempleRoman Empire, tzurisHistorical Context

Biblical disasters of Tisha B’av

Other calamities associated with Tisha B’av

Tisha B’av in the TalmudTraditional observance of Tisha B’av

Other observances of Tisha B’avEikha

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Time of King Jehoiakim, (slain 598 BCE)then his son Jeconiah, reigned for 3 mo.

Nebuchadnezzer put Zedekiah (Jeconiah’s uncle and a captive King) on throne in 597

Neb. reacted to Jews rebellion and league with the Egyptians

Neb. laid seige to Jerusalem for 30 months — fell in 587/6 BCE

Temple vessels carried away to Babylon

Ruler of Babylon in Chadean Dynasty

reigned c. 604 BCE - 561 BCEconquered Judah and Jerusalem, sent Jews into exile

featured in the Book of Daniel and in several other books of the Tenach — 90 times

See Daniel Chap 3., Chap. 4Read selections Jer. 4:7, Jer 52Saddam Hussein considers himself a reincarnation of Nebachadnezzer

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2nd temple stood between 516 BCE - 70 CE. Secular and rabbinic sources differ on the first date.

Many Temple artifacts (i.e., Ark of the Covenant) never returned to 2nd Temple. Though some were restored.

Temple renovated ~ 20 BCE by King Herod.

Romans destroyed Jerusalem and Temple in 70 CE (under Titus), after the four-year “Jewish Revolt”. The Temple fell on Tisha B’Av (29 July 70 CE)

See http://www.scaruffi.com/politics/romans.html

Rome had much unrest during the 1st century BCE and the 1st century CE

Bloody wars, uprising, assassinations, charges of regimes

Parthians (Persian) wars, multiple Jewish uprisings, Christian uprisings

Nero was insane, 5 Romans emperors involved in the Jerusalem war of 68 CE - 72 CE

Mishnah (Taanit 4:6) return of the twelve scouts sent by

Moses to observe Canaan destruction of the 1st Temple by

Nebuchadnezzer in 586 BCE

Destruction of the 2nd temple (656 yrs later) by the Romans in 70 CE

Razing of Jerusalem following the siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE

Failure of Bar Kokhba's revolt in 135 CE against the Roman Empire

Jews were expelled from England in 1290

Alhambra Decree of 1492, expelling the Jews from Spain

1914 Tisha B'Av was the day Germany declared war on Russia

On the eve of Tisha B'Av 1942, liquidation of Jews from the Warsaw Ghettobegan

The Talmud (Yoma 9b) provides theological reasons for the destruction.

Why was 1st Temple destroyed?

3 cardinal sins : 1. idol worship,

2. licentiousness, 3. murder

Why was 2nd Temple destroyed?

Because gratuitous hatred This teaches that gratuitous hatred is equal in severity to the three cardinal sins: idol worship, licentiousness, and murder.

Also, see Megillah 5b

5 main prohibitions of Tisha B’av:1. No eating or drinking

Fast 25 hrs, sunset tonight 8:19pm - nightfall tomorrow 8:58pm

2. No washing or bathing3. No application of creams or oils4. No wearing of leather shoes or

wrapping tefillin5. No marital relations

Laws in the Shulchan Aruch ("Code of Jewish Law") Orach Chayim 552-557.

Orthodox view Religious Zionist view Conservative or Masorti view Reform Jewish view Secular view

1. Temple not rebuilt, and security of the land is still not guaranteed.

2. Day of mourning for many tragedies which have left lasting effects on Jewish life, culminating in the Holocaust.

3. Not only a physical exile but also with a spiritual one. Return to the land is only beginning of the messianic age. http://www.oztorah.com/2010/07/tishah-bav-a-guide-to-the-service/

Believed to be written by Jeremiah(next page) “Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem” by Rembrandt

Eikha also read in Christian traditions

Also read, on Tisha B’av is Kinnot a series of liturgical lamentations

Book of Job (in Sephardic communities)

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Structure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=eYKeaB5kU4g&feature=related

Chap. 1Chap. 2Chap. 3Chap. 4Chap. 5

http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt3201.htm

http://www.neohasid.org/resources/laments/