By Chana Ya'ar
Police closed the Temple Mount to visits by Jews on Sunday, the day when worldwide Jewry marked the fast of Tisha B'Av. The fast was postponed a day because the date fell on the Sabbath, when it is forbidden to fast, except on Yom Kippur.
Tisha B'Av, the ninth of the Hebrew month of Av, the date of the destruction of both the First and Second Holy Temples. Jews are commanded to await the rebuilding of the Third Holy Temple, when the Messiah will come and bring world peace. The Temple Mount is the site of both of the Temples and is to be the site of the Third, making it the most sacred place in Judaism.
More than one hundred Jews arrived early Sunday morning in hopes of ascending to the Temple Mount nevertheless. They remained near the Mughrabi (Rambam) Gate, the entrance to the site, in hopes of being allowed in. “We will not give up,” they said.
Activist Noam Federman, who was also at the site, commented that it is “shameful that while the people of Israel mark the Temple's destruction, it is only Jews who are not allowed” on to the site.
Knesset Member Michael Ben Ari also attacked the closure of the Temple Mount to Jews on Sunday, saying, “The time has come for the racist policy of the police to stop.
"The Temple Mount practices a policy of apartheid against Jews under the Public Security Minister [Yitzchak] Aharonovitch,” he said.
Jerusalem District Police on Sunday stated that the decision to close the Mount to Jewish visitors came after police received information there was an intention to create “provocations” at the site.
On Saturday night, police told reporters that Jewish worshipers would be allowed to visit the Temple Mount. Regional Police Commander Moshe Barkat said security personnel would work to prevent friction with Muslims who pray at the Mosque on the site during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which this year occurs at the same time as the Hebrew month of Av.
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Our Nakba Day!
Source: Wikipedia
Tsha B'Av (Hebrew: תשעה באב or ט׳ באב, "the Ninth of Av,") is an annual fast day in Judaism, named for the ninth day (Tisha) of the month of Av in the Hebrew calendar. The fast commemorates the destruction of both the First Temple and Second Temple in Jerusalem, which occurred about 655 years apart, but on the same Hebrew calendar date. Although primarily meant to commemorate the destruction of the Temples, it is also considered appropriate to commemorate other Jewish tragedies that occurred on this day, most notably the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492, one of the concluding events of the Iberian Reconquista. Accordingly, the day has been called the "saddest day in Jewish history".
Tisha B'Av falls in July or August in the western calendar. When Tisha B'Av falls on the Sabbath (Saturday) observance of Tisha B'Av takes place on Sunday; no outward signs of mourning intrude upon the normal Sabbath. While the day recalls general tragedies which have befallen the Jewish people over the ages, the day focuses on commemoration of five events: the destruction of the two ancient Temples in Jerusalem, the sin of ten of the twelve scouts sent by Moses who spoke disparagingly about the Promised Land, the razing of Jerusalem following the siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE, and the failure of the Bar Kokhba revolt against the Roman Empire.
The fast lasts about 25 hours, beginning at sunset on the eve of Tisha B'Av and ending at nightfall the next day. In addition to the prohibitions against eating or drinking, observant Jews also observe prohibitions against washing or bathing, applying creams or oils, wearing leather shoes, and engaging in marital relations. In addition, mourning customs similar to those applicable to the shiva period immediately following the death of a close relative are traditionally followed for at least part of the day, including sitting on low stools, refraining from work and not greeting others.
The Book of Lamentations is traditionally read, followed by the kinnot, a series of liturgical lamentations. In many Sephardic and Yemenite communities, and formerly also among Ashkenazim, it is also customary to read the Book of Job.
