The Routledge Dictionary of Judaism
(Hebrew: Tisha beAb) Day of mourning for the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 586 B.C.E. and again in 70 C.E. and for other occasions of destruction and loss of life in the history of Judaism.
The month of Ab falls in late July, early August. The Ninth of Ab is marked with a 24-hour fast and other symbols of grief, including prohibitions against bathing and sexual relations. The day’s liturgy includes the dirge-like chanting of the Book of Lamentations, which tells the story of the Temple’s destruction. In the synagogue, the ark curtain is removed, the sanctuary is dimly lit, and congregants sit on the floor or on low benches, all signs of mourning.
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