This year, Tisha B’Av (9th 0f Av) is on Shabbat (which has just ended). Since, other than Yom Kippur, we don’t fast on Shabbat, the fast is pushed back a day. That means the fast is now on, and ends on Sunday night.
Over Shabbat, I read the Dry Bones Tisha B’Av cartoon in the Jerusalem Post. It’s here and well worth a look.
Meantime, the Elder of Ziyon has an interesting post about Christian marking of Tisha B’Av. See it here.
If you are fasting, have an easy one.
Tonight is the start of Tisha B’Av.
Sometimes I find it difficult to get in the mood. This year, it has been much easier. I spent 10 minutes looking at the below the line comments at the Guardian on one of their several ‘we hate Israel’ pieces, and the mood arrived.
I mourn for the calamities that have befallen the Jewish people.
And I mourn for those in the Western world who are so blind in their hatred, they are surely damned.
There goes another Tisha B’Av.
I’m glad it’s over, but I do want to share one piece of learning that came my way this Shabbat.
Because Tisha B’Av (9th day of the month of Av) fell on a Shabbat, the fast was postponed by one day to the Sunday. One of the aims of prayer is to bring about change, and in the Orthodox Jewish tradition that includes the coming of a Messiah, after which there will be no need to mourn; no need for days like Tisha B’Av. And so one commentator pointed out that last Shabbat – the actual day of Tisha B’Av – was a gift. Why? because it allowed us a glimpse into that future, when on Tisha B’Av we will be sitting on normal chairs, eating, and happy and not fasting. Cute. (And it was a nice Shabbat, too.)
Next up, Tu B’Av.
Have a good week one and all.