Israel and the Nations : Tisha B’Av

Last Saturday evening marked Tisha B’Av, the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av, observed with a 25-hour fast and solemn reflection. It is considered the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, commemorating the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, events that, remarkably, occurred on the same date, more than 650 years apart. The First Temple was destroyed in 586 B.C., and the Second Temple fell in 70 A.D.

It was Josephus, the Jewish historian of the 1st century, who recorded the date of the destruction of the Second Temple and was surprised to see that both Temples were destroyed on the same day. Since then, the 9th of Av has remained engraved in Jewish memory as a day of national mourning. For nearly 2,000 years, the Jewish people have carried this sorrow in their hearts, praying daily for the rebuilding of the Third Temple.

And history also left us with some signs of this last destruction. A visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem allows us to see these massive stones which are believed to be the very ones belonging to the Second Temple; stones which were thrown down from on top by the Romans.

On this day of the 9th of Av, in many Orthodox synagogues, congregants sit on the floor or on low benches, just as private mourners do in their homes. The lights are dimmed, symbolizing the deep darkness that fell upon the Jewish people on this day. The Book of Lamentations known in Hebrew as Megillat Eicha, is solemnly recited. This poignant text, written by the prophet Jeremiah, recounts the immense suffering that followed the destruction of the First Temple.

Tisha B’Av has also become the focal point for mourning many national tragedies in Jewish history. The First Crusade in 1096 began around Tisha B’Av and led to the slaughter of tens of thousands of Jews in communities throughout Germany. Jewish expulsion from England took place in 1290; Jews were expelled by King Edward I, and the edict was signed on Tisha B’Av. The Inquisition, that is the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 is said to have taken place on Tisha B’Av.

But Judaism has a way to turn sorrow into seeds of hope. For instance, there is a long-standing midrashic tradition in Judaism that the Messiah would be born on Tisha B’Av (Berakhot 2:4). The relation is very symbolic. The very day of the greatest tragedy, the destruction of both Temples, also marks the hidden birth of our ultimate redemption.

And there is another tradition that is attached to Tisha B’Av that is believed in orthodox Jewish circles. It is the prophecy of the Fox on the Temple Mount. According to tradition, when the Second Temple was destroyed, a group of rabbis visited the ruins and saw a fox roaming there. While many wept, one of them began to rejoice. Surprised, they asked him why he was joyful amid such devastation? He pointed to Lamentations 5:18, which says, “For Mount Zion, which lies desolate; foxes walk upon it.” He explained that since the prophecy of desolation had been fulfilled, it was a sign that the prophecy of redemption would also come to pass. This gave them all hope and joy.

In this spirit, modern sightings of foxes on the Temple Mount are seen by some as deeply symbolic. Remarkably, foxes were spotted there on Tisha B’Av in both 2019 and 2023; an event many view as a sign that the time of redemption is drawing near, and that the rebuilding of the Third Temple may soon follow. For this reason, Tisha B’Av, while a day of mourning, has also become a day of hope.

However, Tisha B’Av 2025 may be one of the most sobering in Jewish history, given the alarming rise in global antisemitism and the growing hostility toward Israel. It is a time of deep concern, yet also a time to look upward in hope. Our prayer is that many, both Jews and Gentiles, will discern in these world events the signs of the Messiah’s soon coming and turn to Him for eternal salvation.

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