The Origins of Tisha B’Av and 9 Other Stories on the Jewish Day of Mourning

Restrictions, customs and historical significance of the day that marks the destruction of both Solomon’s Temple by the Neo-Babylonian Empire and the Second Temple by the Roman Empire in Jerusalem

Tisha B’Av, a Jewish day of fast and mourning, marks the destruction of both temples and the exile of the Jews. It is the most evocative calendar date for a people who pride themselves, above all, for their historical memory. But is it still relevant beyond the historical?

We gathered 10 stories that cast doubt and shed light on the origins and contemporary practice of the saddest day in the Jewish calendar.