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Dear {{first_name}},

The saddest day on the Jewish calendar is the Ninth of Av, “Tisha b'Av," the date on which both our Holy Temples were destroyed, and exile, persecution and spiritual darkness began. The First Temple was burned by the Babylonians in 423 BCE and the Second Temple fell to the Romans in 70 CE. Later on in our history, many more tragedies happened on this day, including the 1290 expulsion of England’s Jews and the 1492 banishment of all Jews from Spain.

Tisha b'Av starts at sundown of the eighth of Av (see 2020 dates below) and lasts till the following nightfall. During this time-period we fast, refrain from pleasurable activities and amenities, and lament the destruction of the Holy Temple and our nation’s exile.

It is a tradition, however, that Tisha b'Av is also the birthday of our Redeemer. This symbolizes the idea that from the ashes of the destroyed temple and exile will rise an incomparably magnificent edifice; exile will give birth to redemption. Thus Tisha b’Av is also a day of anticipation and hope, for “One who mourns Jerusalem will merit seeing her happiness."

Tisha B'av Schedule 2020

Wednesday, July 29:

7:50pm: Evening service followed by Eicha
8:15pm: Fast begins
Thursday, July 30:
7:00am: Morning service (no Tefillin until afternoon)

7:45pm: Talis, Tefillin and evening service. 

8:45pm: Fast ends