# What does the ninth of Av refer to?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ninth-of-av-refer-to/186487>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 6, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ninth-of-av-refer-to/186487 "2003-07-06T02:03:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ninth-of-av-refer-to/186487/1 "2003-07-06T02:03:25Z")

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I just read a SF short story, and I just don’t get it. It’s titled “ninth of Av” which seems to have some signifiance in the Jewish religion. Perhaps knowing what the meaning of this date is would help me understanding the point of the short story? Thanks in advance…

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**Author:** ![Publius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@Publius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Publius)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ninth-of-av-refer-to/186487/2 "2003-07-06T02:09:36Z")

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As I understand it, the ninth day of Av in the Jewish calendar marks a daylong fast (Tisha B’Av). It’s something of a black day in Jewish history - both the first and second temples were destroyed on the ninth day of Av.

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ninth-of-av-refer-to/186487/3 "2003-07-06T02:15:59Z")

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[_Tisha B’Av_](http://judaism.about.com/library/holidays/tishabav/bl_tishabav.htm).

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**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ninth-of-av-refer-to/186487/4 "2003-07-06T02:21:31Z")

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_Tisha B’Av_ (literally translated as “the ninth of Av”) is the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. It is the day on which both the first and second temples were destroyed. In addition, Jewish tradition ascribes other calamities that occured to the Jewish people to this date as well. For example, the date that the Jewish explusion from Spain went into effect (Aug 2, 1492) was _Tisha B’Av_.

The date is marked by a fast, beginning at sundown and going until the next night. On _Tisha B’Av_ eating, drinking, washing, anointing, wearing leather shoes and marital relations are forbidden. The day is traditonally spent practicing mourning rituals and reciting _kinos_ (poetic works of mourning). In additon, on the night of _Tisha B’Av_, the book of Lamentaions is read in the synagouge.

Zev Steinhardt

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**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-ninth-of-av-refer-to/186487/5 "2003-07-06T03:16:05Z")

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Thanks for your quick responses. I still don’t get the story, but I now understand at least why it’s called “Ninth of Av” (it includesa conspiracy intented to kill all the Jews and the Temple being rebuild. Or at least it seems to include such a conspiracy…not sure…)  
Hmmm…and another question, still about this story. Could there be a connection being deads being resurrected and the ninth of Av?

How and finally (I doubt it given his name, but just in case) : was Scott, who led a doomed expedition in the Antarctica a Jew?