12 Facts Every Jew Should Know About the 9 Days – Chabad.org
Posted By admin on July 19, 2020
1. They Are the First Nine Days ofAv
Known as the Nine Days, the first nine daysof Av are a time of heightened mourning. At this time, the Jewish nation mournsthe calamities that befell our people during the destruction of the two HolyTemples, which happened nearly 500 years apart at the same time of year.
More About theNine Days
This period of mourning begins, in smallermeasure, nearly two weeks earlier on the fast of the 17th of Avthe day thewalls of Jerusalem were breached by the Roman invaders. Known as the ThreeWeeks or bein hametzarim (betweenthe straits), we observe this period by avoiding haircuts, purchasing newclothing, holding or attending weddings, and enjoying music.
More About theThree Weeks
The last of the nine days is the fast of 9 Av,known in Hebrew as Tisha BAvthe saddest day on the Jewish calendar, when bothHoly Temples were burned. But some of the mourning practices (more on thosebelow) continue all the way until midday of Av 10.
What Is TishaBAv?
During the entire three-week period, many are careful to avoid any activities that may be dangerous, with even morecaution during these final nine days. This includes walking alone in a secludedplace, participating in dangerous sports, and even scheduling surgery that canbe delayed until a different time.
More About Why and How We Avoid Danger at This Time
For the duration of this period we do notbathe for pleasure or launder clothing (except for a babys)even clothes thatwill not be worn during the Nine Daysor wear freshly laundered outer layers.Those who wish to change their clothes daily should prepare a number ofgarments and briefly don each of them before the onset of the Nine Days. It isthen permitted to wear these non-freshly laundered garments.
Like mourners during shiva for a beloved family member, we do not eat meat (includingpoultry) or drink wine during this period, aside from Shabbat. If possible, even the havdalahwine or grape juice should be given to a childyounger than bar/bat mitzvahageto drink.
The exceptions to this rule are meat andwine enjoyed as part of a meal that celebrates a mitzvah, such as acircumcision, bar mitzvah, or the completion of a tractate of the Talmud.
Some people make it a point to celebratethe completion of a tractate of Talmud, known as a siyum, which creates a loophole for eating meat. However, thereare many who follow the practice of the students of the Baal Shem Tov, and areparticular to participate in a siyumduring the Nine Days, but nevertheless refrain from eating meat afterward.
Read:Why Make a SiyumDuring the Nine Days?
Rabbi Isaac LuriaAshkenazi, known as Ari HaKadosh("The Holy Lion") passed away on Av 5, 1572 CE. It was he whoproclaimed, In these times, we are allowed and duty-bound to reveal thiswisdom, opening the door to the integration of the teachings of Kabbalahuntilthen the province of a select few in each generationinto mainstream Judaism.His special day is a bright spot in an otherwise bleak period.
More About the HolyAri
There are various stages within the Nine Days,and the sadness increases as we get closer to the destruction. Thus the week of9 Av is more stringent than the days before it. TheSephardic custom, for example, is to observe the stringencies regarding bathingonly in the week of Tisha BAv.
Things further intensify on the 7th ofAv, the day the destroyers entered the Temple complex. And then on theafternoon before 9 Av, we begin many of the practices of the fast day itself,such as desisting from most Torah study.
Read the Procedure ofthe Day Before Tisha BAv
The Shabbat before the Ninth of Avis called Shabbat Chazon (Shabbat of Vision) after the opening words of thedays reading from the prophets (haftarah),the third of a series known as The Three of Rebuke.On this Shabbat, say the Chassidic masters, each individual is granted a visionof the Third Temple.
On this day, many of the mourning practicesare suspended, and we may drink wine and eat meat. In some communities, peopledo not dress up for Shabbat as usual, and the prayers are sung to sad tunes.The Chassidic custom, however, is to desist from all public displays ofmourning. In fact, the Rebbe encouraged us to celebrate with extra festivity toshow that we are not mourning at this time.
More AboutShabbat Chazon
Rather than just sitting with sadness for ourhistory of loss and destruction, this is a time to focus on internal growth andintense preparation for the joy that will yet come. The Midrash tells us thatGd instructed the prophet Ezekiel: The study of theTorahs [design of the Holy Temple] can be equated to its construction. Go tellthem to study the form of the Temple. As a reward for their study and theiroccupation with it, I will consider it as if they actually built it. Throughthis study, a person fulfills his obligation to build the Temple.
Start Learning Aboutthe Holy Temple Here
The Shabbat after the Nine Days is known asShabbat Nachamu, the Shabbat of comfort, since that weeks haftarah begins with the words nachamu,nachamu ami (Comfort, you shall comfort My nation). This is the first ofthe series of readings known as The Seven of Consolation read in the sevenweeks between the Ninth of Av and Rosh Hashanah.
Watch: Isaiahs DoubleVision
View post:
12 Facts Every Jew Should Know About the 9 Days - Chabad.org
- JUF News | Jewish Women's Foundation allocates $413000 in grants supporting women and girls - Jewish United Fund - January 22nd, 2021
- Israel tops 4,000 coronavirus deaths since the start of the pandemic - The Jerusalem Post - January 22nd, 2021
- I resisted the call to include non-male voices every time I taught Torah. Then I tried it. - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - January 4th, 2021
- Law professor Ray Bernstein, 56, dies in bike accident - The Jewish News of Northern California - January 4th, 2021
- Let's head into the new year in a new frame of mind - The Jewish News of Northern California - January 4th, 2021
- The Purpose Of Chassidus In The Alter Rebbe's Own Words - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - January 4th, 2021
- Opinion/Keep the Faith: Hanukkah reminds us of light and hope, even in dark times - Worcester Telegram - December 19th, 2020
- Opinion: The true meaning of Hanukkah (hint, it's not about joy) - The Detroit News - December 19th, 2020
- Is the Temple Menorah Hidden in the Vatican? - Questions & Answers - Chabad.org - December 19th, 2020
- Circumcision, Berzerkeley, and the Power of Five Minutes - Chabad.org - December 19th, 2020
- He Flew in From London for Reasons He'd Never Imagined - Chabad.org - December 19th, 2020
- Rabbis and Jewish ethicists hail vaccine for COVID-19, encourage its use - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - December 19th, 2020
- Why it's kosher to go a little wild with the Hanukkah swag - Los Angeles Times - December 16th, 2020
- Increasing the Light of Allyship This Hanukkah - Jewish Journal - December 16th, 2020
- Why it's kosher to bring a little zing to the Hanukkah celebration - Bangor Daily News - December 16th, 2020
- Is the Menorah Hidden in the Vatican? - Chabad.org - December 16th, 2020
- Community mourns the passing of former CJC president Goldie Hershon - The Suburban Newspaper - December 16th, 2020
- Perseverence Vs. Perfection - An Essay on Vayigash - Kabbalah, Chassidism and Jewish Mysticism - Chabad.org - December 16th, 2020
- The New Generation of LGBTQ Jews and Tattoos - jewishboston.com - December 16th, 2020
- Men have dominated Jewish texts for most of history. These women are trying to change that. - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - December 11th, 2020
- I knew Hanukkah celebrated defeating the Greeks. Then I moved to Athens and the story got complicated. - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - December 11th, 2020
- What are good vegetarian dishes to have on Shabbat? - opinion - The Jerusalem Post - December 11th, 2020
- Five Brave Men and One Brave Woman - Judah the Maccabee and his siblings - Chabad.org - December 11th, 2020
- Hanukkah in Fall River Zooming live courtesy of Temple Beth El - Fall River Herald News - December 11th, 2020
- You Take Christmas, I'll Take Hanukkah | Michael Harvey | The Blogs - The Times of Israel - December 11th, 2020
- Bursting the bubble: Even the Rabbis perpetuated a "hoax!" - jewishpresspinellas - December 11th, 2020
- All up in lights - The River Reporter - December 11th, 2020
- Hanukkah This year and next - Forward - December 11th, 2020
- Dozens of Impressive Siyumim for Volume 5 of the Mishnah Berurah, In the Second Cycle of the Daf Hayomi in Halachah Were Held - Yeshiva World News - December 11th, 2020
- To Be A Wise Guy (Part I) - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - December 11th, 2020
- What most Jews don't realise about festival with more gifts than Christmas - The Age - December 11th, 2020
- Jewish digital library gets better and now were in it - The Jewish Standard - November 19th, 2020
- Interfaith: Even when we disagree, we should respect others - VC Star - November 19th, 2020
- Ask a busy person and you'll get the job done - The Jewish Star - November 19th, 2020
- Ibogaine Clinic Treats Suboxone Addiction and Is Saving Lives - Influencive - November 19th, 2020
- Parshat Chayei Sarah and the Wisdom of Old Age - Algemeiner - November 19th, 2020
- Synonyms in the Hebrew Language Boys & Girls (Part 1 of 2) - The Jewish Voice - November 19th, 2020
- Parashat Toldot: Opening the Conversation - My Jewish Learning - November 19th, 2020
- Boys And Girls (Part I) - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - November 19th, 2020
- Is Israel being SMART with COVID-19? | Mendel Weinberger - The Times of Israel - November 19th, 2020
- Ruth Calderon to be WZO president - The Jerusalem Post - October 30th, 2020
- Why are the Jews called the people of the Book? - The Jerusalem Post - October 30th, 2020
- Straight rabbis need to offer LGBTQ Jews so much more than just wedding ceremonies - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - October 30th, 2020
- Elijah the Prophet - My Jewish Learning - October 30th, 2020
- Christians have struggled to understand Judaism on its own terms - The Christian Century - October 30th, 2020
- Why Orthodox Jews believe studying Torah protects from COVID-19 - Haaretz.com - October 30th, 2020
- The Plight of MENA Religious Minorities: A War for Civilization? - The Media Line - October 30th, 2020
- Straight rabbis need to offer LGBTQ Jews more than just wedding ceremonie - The Jerusalem Post - October 30th, 2020
- Mikvah off the Coast of Tokyo - First-Person Stories - Chabad.org - October 30th, 2020
- Finally, a podcast that addresses our crisis of meaning - Big Think - October 30th, 2020
- Haredim add to COVID-19 complications in Israel - Cleveland Jewish News - October 30th, 2020
- Amy Coney Barrett needs a Talmudic view of the Constitution J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - October 28th, 2020
- Opinion | What the Talmud can teach Amy Coney Barrett about 'Originalism' - Forward - October 28th, 2020
- A Jewish Guide to Dealing With Demons - jewishboston.com - October 28th, 2020
- The Vibe of the Tribe Podcast: Monsters and Demons in Jewish Folklore - jewishboston.com - October 28th, 2020
- In praise of the yeshiva and yet something crucial is missing - Forward - October 28th, 2020
- A 500-Year-Old Rif - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - October 28th, 2020
- I grew up in Orthodox Brooklyn. We must apply the same COVID-19 standards for all and Jews must choose life. - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - October 28th, 2020
- Unity's no goal when not everyone's the same - The Jewish Star - October 28th, 2020
- Prop 14: Don't Stand Idly By - Jewish Journal - October 28th, 2020
- Choose life! That's the Jewish way, and it hasn't changed - The Times of Israel - October 28th, 2020
- Learn how to respond to gossip - The Altamont Enterprise - October 28th, 2020
- The Jewish people have much to thank President Trump for - opinion - The Jerusalem Post - October 28th, 2020
- Judaism can provide the answer to our current crisis of leadership - The Jerusalem Post - October 28th, 2020
- Lubavitch Announces Emissary to the United Arab Emirates - Chabad.org - October 28th, 2020
- 'Bound in the Bond of Life' Anthology Published on Two-Year Commemoration of Massacre - Jewish Exponent - October 28th, 2020
- What Rabbi And Rebbetzin Kramer Want You To Know About Their Daughter Gitty - Yeshiva World News - October 28th, 2020
- A Talmudic duel with Death comes to life in mosaic form in new book - Forward - October 16th, 2020
- Why Is the Torah Read at Shabbat Minchah? - Chabad.org - October 16th, 2020
- Why Do Some Letters in the Torah Have 'Crowns'? - Chabad.org - October 16th, 2020
- 7 Facts About the Traveler's Prayer Every Jew Should Know - Prayer - Chabad.org - October 16th, 2020
- Prop. 18 is vital for teens who want and deserve to vote - The Jewish News of Northern California - October 16th, 2020
- Apostolic asides: 29 brief insights from footnotes Latter-day Saint leaders added to conference talks - East Idaho News - October 16th, 2020
- Amy Coney Barrett may threaten access to IVF, and Jewish fertility advocates are worried - Forward - October 16th, 2020
- Sedra of the Week: Shemini Atzeret | Jewish News - Jewish News - October 10th, 2020
- The Day We Stop in the Name of Love - Jewish Exponent - October 10th, 2020
- JUF News | Less-than-perfect? Perfectly fine: The lesson of the three-walled sukkah - Jewish United Fund - October 8th, 2020
- Simhat Torah in the corona age - The Jerusalem Post - October 8th, 2020
- Dont Forsake Family Traditions - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - October 8th, 2020
- Jewish tradition supports expanding the Supreme Court - Forward - October 8th, 2020
Comments