July 22–23, 2026
Tisha B’Av — the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av — is one of the most solemn days on the Jewish calendar. It is a day of fasting, mourning, and deep reflection, commemorating the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, as well as other devastating tragedies throughout Jewish history that have fallen on this same date.
The fast begins at sundown on July 22 and concludes after nightfall on July 23. During this time, Jewish communities gather for prayer, the reading of the Book of Lamentations (Eicha), and communal mourning — sitting low to the ground, refraining from food and water, and turning inward in grief and remembrance.
Yet Tisha B’Av carries within it a seed of hope. Jewish tradition teaches that the Messiah will be born on this very day — a reminder that even in the depths of sorrow, redemption is possible.