By Chabad.org
The 9th of Av, Tisha b’Av, commemorates a list of catastrophes so severe it’s clearly a day specially cursed by G‑d.
The First Temple was destroyed on the 9th of Av (423 BCE). Five centuries later (in 69 CE), as the Romans drew closer to the Second Temple, ready to torch it, the Jews were shocked to realize that their Second Temple was destroyed the same day as the first.
As part of our mourning for the destruction of the Temple and the exile of Israel, we abstain from many pleasurable activities on the night and day of Av 9—starting with sundown on the eve of the day before, and concluding with the following nightfall.
Specifically we don’t:
– Eat or drink. All adults – even pregnant and nursing women – fast on this day. One who is ill should consult with a rabbi. An ill person who is not fasting should refrain from eating delicacies and should eat only that which is absolutely necessary for his physical wellbeing.
– Wear leather footwear, or footwear that contains any leather (even if it is only a leather sole).
– Sit on a normal-height chair until midday. (“Halachic” midday is the halfway point between sunrise and sunset; click here for the exact time for your location.)
– Bathe or wash oneself—”even to insert a finger in cold water.”
Exceptions:
One who becomes soiled may rinse the affected area with cold water.
It is permitted to wash up after using the restroom.
When preparing food – for children, or for the post-fast meal – one may wash the food, even if it also, incidentally, washes the hands.
When ritually washing the hands in the morning, the water should be poured on the fingers only until the knuckle joints.
– Apply ointment, lotions or creams.
It is permissible, however, to bathe a baby and apply ointments to his skin.
– Engage in any form of intimacy.
– Send gifts, or even greet another with the customary “hello” or “how are you doing?”
– Engage in outings, trips or similar pleasurable activities.
– Wear fine festive clothing.
– Study Torah, because “the commandments of G‑d are upright, causing the heart to rejoice” (Psalms 19:9). It is, however, permitted – and encouraged – to study sections of the Torah which discuss the laws of mourning, the destruction of the Temples, and the tragedies which befell the Jewish people throughout our history. This prohibition actually begins at midday of the day before Tisha b’Av.
“One who mourns Jerusalem will merit to see her happiness, as the verse (Isaiah 66:10) promises: ‘Rejoice with her greatly, all who mourn for her'”—Talmud Taanit 30b.
That’s not like anything I’ve ever been taught as a Lubavitcher. Certainly strikes fear and dread a la pre Baal Shem Tov days in people’s hearts. Ever read the story of Reb Shmuel Munkes and Tisha B’Av?
yknow i heard this story
a shliach moved into a town and in that town there was a misnagdished rov who was friendly with the shliach, on one purim he told the shliach. this simcha on purim is hard for me to make an event etc.. so ill make a deal with you. purim chanukah and all the happy yomim tovim you do. the 3 weeks and tisha bav ill do. i can do aveilus very well
the moral hopefully is self understood. we prepare for moshiach we do things with joy. we dont understand “curses” etc
G-d has not cursed any day. In fact Tisha B’av is called ‘Moed’ like pesach etc. That is why we do not say tachnun on this day. The day became a day of mourning when the Jews were still in the desert. This was the day the Jews were punished because of their sin of not wanting to enter Eretz Yisroel, prefering to take the advice of the 10 nisiem and not to Yehoshua and Colev. The destruction of the Botei Mikdash and the other catasrophies followed from that. It is a day that is prone for punishment, but it… Read more »
lets hope tonight we will see the rebbe — not like he was in the above picture, but rather with a true yom tov spirit with moshiach now !
What’s up with the curse?
Sounds like a page out of some other non-Chabad website!
Stop the curses and bring on the blessings!