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Tisha B’Av and the 3 Weeks 2026
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Jewish Practice Jewish Holidays Tisha B’Av and the 3 Weeks 2026

History

The Destruction of the Temples

This is the tragic story of the downfall of a nation. It is the story of a once proud and noble people reduced to a nation of wanderers, beggars and slaves, of a people, once admired and revered, who became the object of scorn and hatred. It is the story of the Jewish nation.

The First Temple
The Destruction of the First Holy Temple
The First Temple was constructed by King Solomon, based on detailed plans that G‑d had given to his father, King David through the prophet Nathan.
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The Second Temple
The Destruction of the Second Holy Temple
A Historical Overview
The Second Temple is Built
The Roman Takeover
Herod the Great
The Four Factions
Revolt against Rome
Kamtza and Bar Kamtza
Rabbi Yochanan's Request
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The Fall of Betar
The Fall of Betar
Eighty thousand Romans entered Betar and slaughtered the men, women and children until blood flowed from the doorways and sewers.
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Kamtza and Bar Kamtza
Kamtza and Bar Kamtza
The Story of Tisha B’Av
Talmud, Gittin 55–56
It happened this way: A certain man had a friend named Kamtza and an enemy called Bar Kamtza. He once made a party and said to his servant, “Go and bring Kamtza” . . .
14 Comments
When Was the Holy Temple Destroyed?
When Was the Holy Temple Destroyed?
By Malkie Janowski
I know we always mark the 9th day of the Jewish month of Av as the day the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. But I read in Jeremiah 52:12 that the Temple was burnt on the 10th of Av.
7 Comments
Which Year Was the Second Temple Destroyed, 69 CE or 70 CE?
Which Year Was the Second Temple Destroyed, 69 CE or 70 CE?
By Yehuda Shurpin
In some articles on your site it says the Second Temple was destroyed in 69 CE, and in others it says 70 CE. So what year was it?
20 Comments
The 10 Martyrs
Understanding the Asarah Harugay Malchut
By Mendy Minkowitz
One of the most moving narratives to emerge from our history of martyrdom is the account of the Ten Martyrs—the heart-rending narrative describing in graphic detail the deaths of 10 Mishnaic-era Torah luminaries who were slaughtered on the altar of senseless hatred.
5 Comments
Who Was Apostomus, Who Burned a Torah Scroll?
Who Was Apostomus, Who Burned a Torah Scroll?
By Yehuda Shurpin
The Mishnah tells us that he burned a Torah scroll on 17 Tammuz. Who was he, and why was this so significant?
12 Comments