The 9th of Av (Tisha B'Av)

Every year, Israel observes a 3-week mourning period that ends on the 9th of Av. Because they observe the lunar calendar, which is only 360 days, it falls on a different date every year (in regards to the Gregorian calendar, like the US and much of the world use).

This year, the 9th of Av fell on Sunday, July 18.

This is a highly significant date in Jewish history, because of the BIG things that happened in the past. Are you ready for this?

This date became significant in the first place because it is the date that 10 of the 12 spies returned from Canaan with a bad report. This was the Promised Land that God had already given over to them! It was because of this, that the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years while everyone in that generation but the 2 spies who said, "Yes! Our God is able!" died.

First of all, I'm always blown away that history like that is traceable down to the exact date. Incredible! Coming from a country that is only officially 250 years old, my culture does not understand the impact of a historical record like that. At the most, we can date back 400 years to the beginning of the US colonies. That's practically last week compared to the ancient land of the Middle East.

What shocked me, though, was the history of what has happened on that date since (a date marking the disobedience and lack of faith of an entire people). Here we go... seriously, are you ready?

1. BOTH the 1st and the 2nd Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed on this date, FIVE CENTURIES APART.
2. Almost 70 years later, the Jews fell to the Romans in 133 AD in the Bar Kochba Revolt. It was then that Roman emperor Hadrian renamed the country, "Syria Palaestina", stripping the name of Israel from the land officially (for more on this topic, click here). Palaestina (Palestine in English) is the Latin form of the word, "Philistine", who were a sea-faring people who did not originate in the Land. It was the custom of the Romans to re-name a defeated land after the enemies of the inhabitants as further denigration.
3. A year later, Rome completely plowed over the Temple Mount, razing the remains to the ground.
4. In 1290, the Jews were expelled from England.
5. In 1492, the Jews were expelled from Spain.
6. World War I began on Tisha B'Av in 1914. Because most historians believe World War II was the conclusion of WWI, that means WWII started that date too. However, more specifically, operations at the Treblinka death camp began on that date in 1942, and deportations from the Warsaw ghetto started on that date.

WOW.

To say this is a significant date to the Jewish people is a gross understatement. I'm still blown away by all I've learned about this. 

I could leave this post here, but I'm going to continue it for a bit. Because recently, I've become more aware of the Jewish foundations of United States of America in regards to our forefathers and the crafting of both the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Pastor Jack Hibbs, from Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in California speaks often of the founding of the US and the Judeo-Christian influence on the founding fathers. If you love history, this is fascinating, and I highly recommend it. 

One thing he's said several times (so I don't have an exact link to share other than his channel), is that in addition to people of Jewish ancestry who were part of the nation's foundations, our country's law is founded on the Mosiac Law. Our nation has benefited, first from following God's Word (and those of us who are Jesus followers), and also in the secondhand blessing coming from God blessing the works of the hands of the Jewish people who ended up in the States (Gen. 12:1-3). 

So much so, that did you catch one of the dates up above?

In 1492, when the Jews were expelled from Spain, one now-famous Jew sailed due West and made an incredible discovery.

Almost 300 years later, on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence, originally crafted on July 2, was signed by all and made official—also on Tisha b'Av.

Obviously, while there are connections between the US and Israel because of what was discussed above, it is just a link, that's all. The US is not a replacement or the 'new' Israel or anything like that. Neither has the Church replaced Israel. It's just that our nation has benefitted because of: 1) our foundations, 2) history of Christianity, 3) the presence of Jews in our country, and 4) support of Israel (pre-2021). 

I do find it significant, though, that the entire history of 9th of Av began with the results of an exploration (the 12 spies into the Promised Land), and the story of the US begins with an exploration into a new land. That being said:

• since the whole history of that date began with the original disobedience and lack of faith of the Jewish people, 
• and it continues to be a significant date of pain and consequences of these things, 
• and since there is a connection between the US and Israel, as established above, 
• and because of the recent disturbing and difficult events in the US because our culture has shifted on its values and focus, 

I did some research on the 9th of Av in US events. 

I haven't found much yet, because it is obviously from Jewish culture and the Jewish calendar. So I want to do more. BUT, I did remember something in recent history that happened in the summer, so I looked it up. And, what guess what?

On June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court upheld in Obergefell v Hodges that all states in the US must grant new (and recognize existing) same-sex marriages within the US. 

This was the 9th of Av of that year.

Please let me know in the comments below: Did you know the history of the 9th of Av? I'd love to know what you think!

**Research links: Chabad.org, The Jerusalem Post, Behold Israel, Wikipedia, Ray Bentley's Step in to the Story: The Dire Straits, Jack Hibbs,