Tish'a BeAb is the Jewish National Day of Mourning. On Tish'a BeAb every Jew must feel as if he or she is in mourning for his or her loved one. We must reflect on our collective accountability for the tragic events which took place on Tish'a BeAb, trying to amend our personal religious behavior (teshuba).
On this day, five tragedies occurred to Am Israel
1. CHET HAMERAGELIM: The Jews in the desert accepted the slanderous report of the ten explorers and cried the whole night complaining to God that took them out of Egypt, and hinting that the Almighty won't be able to take them to the Land of Israel (1312 BCE). The whole generation that left Egypt was condemned to die in the dessert. The night on which they cried, was Tish'a BeAb.
2. CHURBAN HABAYIT HARISHON: The First Temple was destroyed and burned on Tish’a beAb by the Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar. The Jews were slaughtered, enslaved or exiled to the Babylonian empire (586 BCE).
3. CHURBAN HABAYIT HASHENI: The Second Temple was destroyed on Tisha BeAb by the Romans, led by Titus. Close to two million Jews were killed, and one million were exiled (68 ACE).
4. NILKEDA BETAR: The Bar Kochba revolt was crushed by Roman Emperor Hadrian. The city of Betar (Sepharadim call it “Biter”)- the Jews' last stand against the Romans - was captured by the enemy on Tish’a BeAb. Over 100,000 Jews were slaughtered (135 ACE).
5. NECHERASH HAHEKHAL: Around the same time, on the 9th of Ab, the Temple's holiest area and its surroundings was plowed by the Roman general Turnus Rufus. Jerusalem was turned into a pagan city, and renamed Aelia Capitolina. Access to Jews was forbidden.
Click HERE to read: "Kamtza and Bar Kamtza", the events that led to the destruction of the Second Holy Temple. By Aish.