According to the Jewish calendar today is Tisha B’Av (the ninth of Av) - the saddest day of the year for all Jews.

This date symbolizes all the worst and tragic events in the life of Israelis.

It all began with the fact that Jews ceased to believe in the Covenant between God and his people: in 1312 BC spies sent by Moses into Canaan sowed distrust and panic among the people, making their Creator angry and were punished to 40 years of wandering in the desert. On the 9th of Av 586 BC the First Temple was destroyed, the Second Temple was ruined on the same day (70 AD). In 132 AD Jerusalem was destroyed: by the Roman governor’s order the Temple Mount was ploughed up. Three years later the fortress of Betar fell, and then the mass banishment of Jews from their lands began. Nearly 600,000 Jews were killed, 50 towns and about 1,000 villages were destroyed, and Judah became a scorched desert. Later in the day, a series of tragic events occurred, which are remembered by Jews on the 9th of Av.

On the eve places of entertainment, theaters, concert halls are closed in Israel - Jews mourn the tragedy of their people. Tisha B’Av is equal to the mourning for a first-degree relative, so Jews do not eat or drink, keep a fast and mourn. Even the Torah - the source of joy and knowledge – is forbidden to be read on this day. Today, Jews are coming to the Western Wall and are mourning the catastrophe of their people.

The fate of the Jewish people is sad and unique at the same time: what another people that had repeatedly been subjected to persecution and almost complete destruction was able not only to survive and preserve its ancient traditions, but also revived its own state? Jews believe that one day this day will become the biggest holiday and the entire world will be saved - and all this describes the Jewish people.