Tisha B'Av: Do We Still Need to Fast Over the Destruction of Jerusalem?

Netivyah International

Every summer, on the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, the Jewish people observe a solemn fast. If you are wondering why we fast on Tisha B'Av, the answer lies in the rubble of Jerusalem. On this exact date in 586 BCE, the Babylonians destroyed the First Temple and sent the Jewish people into exile. Centuries later, in 70 CE, the Romans destroyed the Second Temple on the very same day. For followers of Yeshua (Jesus), this day holds great significance. It reminds us of His tears over the city, and it points us toward God's final promise of restoration.

The fast of Tisha B'Av is not merely a rabbinic tradition. It appears directly in the Tanakh. In the days of the prophet Zechariah, the Jewish people were returning from Babylon to rebuild the city. The people sent messengers to the priests to ask a very practical question. Since the Temple was being rebuilt, did they still need to mourn and fast in the fifth month, the month of Av? You can read this exchange in Zechariah chapter 7.

Zechariah delivers a direct word from the Lord. First, he challenges their motives. He asks if their fasting is truly about honoring God, or if it is just an empty ritual. He reminds them that God desires justice, mercy, and compassion. Then, the prophet gives a breathtaking promise. God says the mournful fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will one day become joyful feasts for the house of Judah (Zechariah 8:19). The fasting will end, but only when true restoration and righteousness fill the land.

A Day of Repeated Tragedy

History shows us that the 9th of Av acts like a magnet for Jewish tragedy. Tradition tells us that the sin of the spies occurred on this very day. When the ten spies brought back a bad report of the Promised Land, the children of Israel wept in their tents and refused to trust God. Because they lacked faith, that entire generation was sentenced to wander in the wilderness for forty years.

The timeline of the Second Temple's destruction is equally striking. In 70 CE, the Romans breached the walls of Jerusalem and burned the sanctuary to the ground. This happened exactly forty years after the death and resurrection of Rabbi Yeshua. Our Messiah wept over the city because He knew the Roman siege was coming. He warned His disciples to flee to the mountains when they saw Jerusalem surrounded by armies. The early believers paid attention, and many escaped the slaughter by fleeing to a town called Pella.

The tragedies did not stop in the first century. Later in history, the Spanish Inquisition culminated on the 9th of Av. The decree expelling all Jews from Spain went into effect on this exact date in 1492. When you see Jewish people mourning on Tisha B'Av, you are witnessing the accumulated grief of thousands of years. It is a day heavy with the memory of exile.

Morality and the Land of Israel

Why did these destructions happen? A clear lesson emerges from the Torah portion Devarim, which is read in synagogues all over the world just before the fast of Tisha B'Av. In Deuteronomy 1 through 3, Moses recounts the journey to the Land of Israel. He mentions various nations and frightening giants who were driven out of their territories, such as the Zamzummites and the Anakites.

Joseph Shulam often points out that Moses mentions these ancient nations for a specific reason. The Lord gave those nations their land as an inheritance. However, when their sins reached a tipping point, they forfeited their right to live there. Physical strength and military power did not save the giants. God removed them and gave the land to others. Moses is warning the children of Israel not to repeat the mistakes of the nations before them.

There is a direct connection between the morality of a nation and its endurance in the land. This is especially true for the Land of Israel. In Jewish thought, there is a concept called "Derech Eretz." Translated literally, it means the way of the land. In practice, it means basic human decency, respect, and a high moral standard. There is an old saying that Derech Eretz precedes the Torah. Before we even talk about religious rituals, we must treat human beings with dignity.

The destructions of Jerusalem are firmly tied to a lack of Derech Eretz. The Talmud teaches that the First Temple was destroyed because of three grievous sins: idolatry, sexual immorality, and bloodshed. But the Second Temple was destroyed because of "sinat chinam," which means baseless hatred. The Jewish historian Josephus describes the horrific infighting that took place inside Jerusalem's walls while the Romans waited outside. The people destroyed their own food supplies out of spite for rival factions.

As believers, we must pay close attention to this history. The Scriptures are the source for a godly life. The apostle Paul reminds us that all Scripture is useful for teaching, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Our stability in God's promises is tied to our moral obedience to His Word. If the Temple in Jerusalem could fall because brothers hated one another, we must guard our own hearts against division and pride.

Observing the Fast Today

So, how do we observe this day? If you want to learn more about Tisha B'Av, you will find that Jewish practice treats it as a full 25-hour fast. This is very similar to the strict fasting of Yom Kippur. We abstain entirely from food and water. In the synagogue, the mood is somber. The lights are dimmed to a low glow. The curtain that covers the Torah ark is removed. The congregation sits on the floor or on low stools, taking the posture of mourners.

Together, the community reads the Book of Lamentations. The sorrow in the room is heavy. You hear the ancient words of the prophet Jeremiah weeping over the desolate streets of Zion. The fast is over when the stars finally come out the following night. People break their fast, but the longing for a fully restored Jerusalem remains in our hearts.

You might ask if a Christian needs to fast on the 9th of Av. You are not commanded to keep this fast. However, understanding this day helps you read your Bible in its proper Jewish context of Scripture. It helps you grasp the weight of the prophecies Yeshua spoke. It also anchors you in the hope of the future. The Jewish people are back in the Land of Israel today. The streets of Jerusalem are no longer completely desolate.

Zechariah 8:4-5 paints a clear picture of the future. The Lord says that once again, men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with a cane in hand. The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing. We are seeing the early stages of this prophecy unfolding in our own days. Yet, the complete peace of Jerusalem still awaits the day the Messiah returns.

Marking Tisha B'Av at Home

If you want to mark this day at home with your family, you do not need to observe a strict waterless fast. Instead, you can set aside thirty minutes in the evening for a time of reflection. Dim the lights in your living room to change the atmosphere. Read a chapter from the Book of Lamentations aloud together. Talk with your children about how our actions matter, and how God calls us to love one another rather than harbor baseless hatred.

End your time by opening your Bible to Zechariah 8. Read God's promise of restoration over the city. Ask the Lord to examine your own heart for any unresolved anger toward a brother or sister. Then, pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Ask God to hasten the day when the fast of the fifth month is finally transformed into a season of joy, gladness, and cheerful feasts.

Questions people ask

Why do we fast on Tisha B'Av?

We fast on Tisha B'Av to mourn the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. The First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE, and the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. Both tragedies occurred on the exact same date on the Hebrew calendar.

When is the Tisha B'Av fast over?

Tisha B'Av is a full 25-hour fast. It begins at sundown on the eve of the 9th of Av and is over the following night when the stars appear in the sky. During this time, Jewish people abstain from all food and water.

How long after Jesus was the Second Temple destroyed?

The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. This happened exactly forty years after the death and resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus). He prophesied this destruction, warning His disciples to flee when they saw armies surrounding Jerusalem.

Do Christians need to fast on Tisha B'Av?

Believers in Yeshua are not commanded to observe the fast of Tisha B'Av. However, many Christians choose to mark the day by reading the Book of Lamentations and praying for the peace of Jerusalem, standing in solidarity with the Jewish people.