Fathom 9
The Ninth of Av
It’s been a long time since I have had a chance to write, however I read an article written by a Rabbi today concerning the 9th of AV! I wanted to share with all as it is truly a nugget of truth. Please have a open heart as we share this point with you this evening! Take care and may the Hand of the Almighty Creator Rest with all!
What Is Tisha B'Av?
The solemn fast of Tisha B’Av begins this Saturday night, July 28, and continues after nightfall Sunday, July 29. It is interesting that the actual 9th of Av falls in 2012 on Shabbat, Friday, July 27 (after sundown) and Saturday, July 28. Fasting and public mourning are not permitted on Shabbat. Therefore, the Fast of Tisha B’Av is this year postponed to the 10th of Av, (Saturday night to Sunday night), July 28-29.
"The Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem"
Tisha B’Av, “The Ninth of Av,” is a fast day that commemorates the destruction of the two Temples. It falls on the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, which usually coincides with late July or mid-August on the secular calendar.
A Tragic Day In Jewish History
The First Temple was built by King Solomon and was the most important place in ancient Judaism. It was destroyed when the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E. The Second Temple was built on the site of the First Temple and was completed in 516 B.C.E. Sadly, the Second Temple was also destroyed, this time during the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. The destruction of the two Temples took place on the same day – the ninth of Av - about 656 years apart. These two events were so tragic that the ancient rabbis declared the anniversary of the Temples’ destruction a day of mourning. This is the origin of Tisha B'Av.
The ninth of Av also happens to be the day that Jews were expelled from England in 1290, as well as the day that King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella expelled the Jews from Spain in 1492 (the Alhambra Decree). Other tragedies have occurred on this day too. Any way you look at it, the ninth of Av has not been a good day for the Jewish people.
The Three Weeks
Tisha B’Av occurs in the Hebrew month of Av, but in a way it begins during the preceding month of Tammuz. On the 17th of Tammuz in 70 C.E. the Romans breached the walls of Jerusalem, then spent the next three weeks ransacking the city until the Second Temple was burned on the ninth of Av. In remembrance of this event Jews fast on the 17th of Tammuz and observe a time of mourning during the three weeks leading up to Tisha B’Av. No weddings are permitted during this period because of the mourning observance.
The Nine Days
The Talmud says that “From the beginning of Av, we diminish happiness”. In keeping with this sentiment, the last nine days of “the three weeks” become increasingly mournful as observant Jews refrain from a number of prohibited activities. For instance, during these nine days Jews are not supposed to cut their hair or shave. During “the nine days” many Jews refrain from drinking wine, eating meat or participating in activities meant to be entertaining. Going to the movies, dancing or going out to a fancy dinner are examples of such pleasurable pastimes. The purpose of all these prohibitions is to help people feel like true mourners by the time Tisha B’Av comes around on the ninth of Av.
Customs On Tisha B’Av
Tisha B’Av is a full fast day, meaning that no food or drink can be consumed from one evening to the next. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and those who are severely ill are not allowed to participate in the fast because doing so would endanger their health. Work is permitted on Tisha B’Av.
Synagogue services on Tisha B’Av are an emotional experience. During the evening service the book of Lamentation – a somber text about the destruction of the First Temple and the siege of Jerusalem - is read aloud, punctuated by sobs and wails from the congregation. Other somber texts (Kinot) are recited during the day of Tisha B’Av. Because people are in mourning, they don’t greet each other at the synagogue and they sometimes sit on the floor instead of in seats.
Now consider these simple facts that can’t be discarded, truly a nugget that needs to be studied truly interesting! Taken from an article from the web-sight / http://destination-yisrael.biblesearchers.com/destination-yisrael/2010/07/9th-of-av-are-the-jews-ready-to-build-the-third-jewish-temple.html we find a few hidden nuggets that I find to be intriguing!
Historical Events in Jewish Life that occurred on the 9th of AV
1200 BCE – The Children of Israel were told on the 9th of AV by God in the wilderness that their generation would not enter the land of promise by their refusal to join Caleb and Joshua and enter the Promised Land in faith of their YHVH whom they met at Sinai.
586 BCE - The Babylonian army destroyed the Temple of Solomon on the 9th of AV.
70 CE - Titus and the Roman army destroyed the Temple of Herod on the 9th of AV.
135 CE - "Bethar" the stronghold of Bar Kochba, fell ending the last trial for Jewish Independence on the 9th of AV.
136 CE - Rome began to erect the pagan city on site of the Temple dedication on the 9th of AV.
1096 CE - The First Roman Christian Crusade began on the 9th of AV.
1290 CE - The Jews were expelled from England on the 9th of AV.
1306 CE - The Jews were expelled from France on the 9th of AV.
1492 CE – The Jews were expelled from Spain by the signed order of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. On July, on the 9th of AV, all Jews had to be out of Spain. Columbus, according to renewed historical data, a Genoese Jewish marine captain, sailed from Spain after worshipping the Shabbat on his last day in Spain before heading to America on the 9th of AV.
1648 CE - Chmelnicky massacred tens of thousands of Polish Jews on the 9th of AV.
1914 CE – The Declaration for World World I began.
1942 CE - Plans for the annihilation of Jews began with the deportation of the Jews from the Ghetto of Warsaw on the 9th of AV.
1994 CE, July 16 - The twenty-one pieces of Shoemaker-Levi comet began its bombardment on the planet Jupiter on the 9th of AV.
2006 CE – The Vatican sponsored Rome Peace Conference put the finishing touches on the Peace Accord that successfully implanted the international forces of NATO into Lebanon and the northern borders of Israel on the 9th of AV.
The fasting day of the fifth month, on the 9th of AV were reminded of the memories of all these historical tragedies that have occurred to the Jewish people. These days were to remain days of fasting until a great moment of history would come, the evidence of the promise of the complete restoration of “All Israel” heralding the arrival of the Messianic Kingdom of our Elohim. As the prophets have spoke, the righteous will be kept hidden in the secret place of the Most High during this time of great tribulation and trouble, the righteous are commanded by the Elohim to hide from the wrath and indignation until it has run its course.
Isaiah 26:19-21 – “Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. For behold, the Elohim comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain.”
We then read the Prophet Zephaniah who also with prophesies that in their future will be a time in which the saints are to seek the Elohim, seek His righteousness, and seek humility, so they also will be hidden in that day when the roar of YHVH’s anger is cast over the earth. This will be an era of planetary destruction with earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, flooding, extremes in heat and worldwide famine. Even in spite of intercessory prayer, the evil prince of darkness will stomp over this earth like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, yet the chosen ones will be brought forth out of darkness into the light lest we perish because we lack the understanding of the knowledge of His Spirit.
It was on the 9th of AV, July 16, 1994, that the world watched in amazement as twenty-one fragments of the Shoemaker-Levi Comet began bombarding the Planet Jupiter. Here was the Hebrew symbol of idolatry and paganism. This imagery of the Planet Jupiter reminded the ancient historians that in the history of the Jewish people, one of their most devastating moments in history was when “Abomination of Desolation” occurred when the “Image of Jupiter” was placed in the Temple of YHVH in Jerusalem by the Syrian King Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Out of the Syrian destruction by the forces of the Maccabees, the removing of the pagan god from the temple, and the re-instituting of the temple worship, gave us the beatify of the Feast of Hanukkah when the temple menorah lit on the 1st with one day of oil, remained lit for the entire seven days.
So we today, can behold as the heaven declare the glory of YHVH. The Comet called Shoemaker Levi, as we now know fragmented into twenty-one cometary fragments representing the twenty-one days of mourning between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of AV. Yet, Jupiter, known as a symbol of pagan idolatry in the Hebrew language, is a word that represents righteousness. In Hebrew, the name Jupiter is Tzedeq means “righteous” or the “righteous one”. We read in the TaNaKh (Old Testament) that the name Melchizedek means the “King of Righteousness”. From the Satanic perversion of Jupiter as a symbol of idolatry, in the Hebrew, we perceive its real name as the “Righteous One”.
Peace to all and to all a peaceful Night!
Chaplain T
