Mourning Traditions for Tisha Be’av

Tisha Be’Av (9^th of the month Av) is the major and Jewish Morning day, memorizing the destruction of the temple by the Romans. Following are the mourning traditions for this day.

1. Day of fasting. No eating or drinking.

2. No bathing. Washing is permitted for cleaning purpose only. Not for pleasure.

3. No grooming.

4. Wearing of leather shoes is prohibited

5. No physical contact or acts of intimacy.

The following are additional acts of self-torment unique for this day:

6. Sitting on the floor. Using a chair is not allowed.

7. Smelling of perfumes or scented spices is not allowed.

8. Inconvenience is sleep such as a mattress on the floor

9. No hair-cutting on this day

10. No weddings

11. No listening to music

12. Going to the beach is prohibited

Two concessions allowed after midnight:

Sitting on a chair (instead of on the floor) and it is OK to put T’filin during Minha instead of Shaharit.

Interesting information about the location of the temple: http://www.templemount.org/

Praying at the Western Wall

Western Wall Plaza and Remains of the Temple

Evening at the Western Wall

Pictures courtesy of www.jerusalemshots.com

E-H Dictionary

English	How pronounced	Hebrew
The Temple	Beit Hamikdash	בית המקדש
Prohibited	Asur	אסור
Permission Granted	Mutar	מותר
Fasting	Tzom	צום
Torment	Inui	עינוי