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Jewish Voice for Peace, a left-wing anti-Israel group in the US, observed Tisha B’av, the Jewish holy day commemorating the destruction of the Jewish Temples and the subsequent destruction of the Biblical Kingdoms of Israel, by “praying” for the destruction of modern Israel. TISHA B’AV: ALL ABOUT GAZA AND THE “OCCUPATION” Before the holy day, JVP, an organization the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) described as a “driving force behind the anti-Semitic Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement, called for a virtual Tisha B’Av event on their website. For this purpose, the organization offered a Tisha B’Av guidebook. While acknowledging the Jewish aspect of...

Full title: The Philosophers and the Jews: Black Eggs and White Cheese The Secret of Jewish Resilience. The Inner Story of The Three Weeks Note: only 40 min long and the rabbi translates everything, very little 'yeshivish' (annoying mix of English, Hebrew, and Yiddish) A beautiful explanation on polar opposite sides of the Jewish calendar-- the 3 weeks between the 17th of the Jewsish month of Tammuz (the day the walls of Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar) and the 9th of Av (the day of the destruction of both Holy Temples) AND the 3 weeks between Rosh Hashana and [the day...

The army and police arrested several Jewish worshipers on Tuesday evening after they broke through a barrier in order to pray at the tomb of Biblical leader Otniel Ben Kenaz. Worshipers said they broke through in protest when it became clear that the army did not intend to respect their right to pray at the site. The IDF usually allows prayers at the tomb on Tisha B'Av. However, this year Jews were barred from the grave due to the Ramadan holiday.

Tisha b’Av is the saddest day of the Jewish calendar. On the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, Jews remember the tragedies that have marked our history, beginning with the destruction of our Temple in Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E. and continuing through the centuries of expulsions, pogroms and massacres to the catastrophes of our own era. The day is marked by the signs and customs of mourning. From sundown Monday night until nightfall Tuesday evening, Jews engage in a complete fast—abstaining from eating, drinking, bathing, wearing leather shoes, putting on cosmetics and from sexual activity. During the synagogue...

Tisha Be'av is not just about Temple-building. It is more about nation-building Within the religious community this is the most difficult week of the year. Already, a state of semi-mourning has begun during which we avoid music and dance, abstain from meat and wine and suspend all kinds of celebratory events, including weddings. The Nine Days of solemnity culminate later this week on the 9th of Av, when we fast for 25 hours, spending a good part of the day reciting elegies of lament over the destruction of both Holy Temples in Jerusalem, destroyed on this date. While Yom Kippur...