Israelis are bracing for a possible attack by Iran or its Hezbollah proxy on Tisha B’Av, the annual Jewish day of mourning, which begins Monday evening.
According to Jewish tradition, Tisha B’Av, or the ninth day of the month of Av, is the anniversary of the destruction of both the First (586 B.C.) and Second (70 A.D.) Temples in Jerusalem, first by the Babylonians and then the Romans.
The day has also become a catch-all for every calamity in the long and tragic history of the Jewish people. Though there are other tragic dates — such as October 7, 2023 — Tisha B’Av is considered the day of mourning for all of them, so much so that some religious sects decline to observe a separate Holocaust memorial day, but rather use Tisha B’Av to mourn for that period in history as well.
According to custom, Tisha B’Av is a “major” fast day. That means it lasts from just…
