Tisha B'Av 2026: What the Jewish summer fast day is all about - explainer

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Tisha B'Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, is one of the most solemn days in the Jewish calendar. It is a fast day during which Jews abstain from all food and water for approximately 25 hours, from sunset until nightfall the next day. The day commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem and several other calamities in Jewish history. In 2026, the observance began on the evening of Wednesday, July 22, and continued through Thursday, with thousands gathering at the Western Wall in Jerusalem to mark the occasion.

Coverage Comparison

Two articles from The Jerusalem Post covered the fast day and its observance. One piece, published earlier on July 22, focused on the historical and religious significance of Tisha B'Av, providing an explainer of the day's customs and the tragedies it recalls. The other, published later that evening, reported on the gathering at the Western Wall, where thousands of worshippers prayed, and noted the attendance of several political figures.

Both reports emphasized the central role of the fast and the connection to the Temple destructions photography — one with an educational angle, the other with a reportorial tone. Neither article presented conflicting factual information, though they differed in focus: one delved into the religious practices and historical context, while the other concentrated on the events at the Western Wall.

Key Claims

According to The Jerusalem Post, Tisha B'Av is a 25-hour fast beginning at sunset and ending at nightfall the following day. Jews are also encouraged to read the Book of Lamentations (Megillat Eicha), where the prophet Jeremiah mourns the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Jewish people from the Land of Israel.

The day is most commonly associated with the destruction of the First and Second Temples, but several other tragedies in Jewish history are said to have occurred on or near the ninth of Av. These include the sin of the spies, when, according to tradition, the spies gave a slanderous report about the Land of Israel, leading to that generation being forbidden from entering it. The Talmud recounts that God responded to the Jews' weeping over the report, saying, "You wept needlessly, and I [will] establish for you [a night] of weeping for [future] generations."

Other events commonly cited as calamities on this date include the Roman destruction of Betar and the crushing of the Bar Kochba revolt; the expulsion of Jews from England, France, and Spain; the beginning of World War I; the formal approval of the Nazi's Final Solution; the mass deportation of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto to concentration camps; the First Crusade; and the 1994 bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) in Argentina by Hezbollah.

Rules for observing Tisha B'Av, as reported, include washing only up to the knuckles and refraining from exchanging verbal greetings.

On the night of July 22, 2026, thousands of people gathered at the Western Wall to mark Tisha B'Av. Among those in attendance were National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, and Yashar Party leader Gadi Eisenkot. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly said that Israelis prevented the destruction of the Third Temple, a claim carried by The Jerusalem Post.

Perspectives

The Jerusalem Post reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israelis prevented the destruction of the Third Temple, framing the Jewish people's actions as protective of the holy site. This perspective was included alongside the accounts of the gathering, but no other viewpoint was presented in the provided material.