Jewish Fast of Tisha B'Av 2026 Begins July 23 With Special Sabbath Observance

The fast of Tisha B'Av in 2026 will begin on Thursday evening, July 23, and end on Friday evening, July 24. This day commemorates the destruction of the Jewish Temples and is the primary day of mourning in the Hebrew calendar. Because the fast coincides directly with the onset of the Sabbath (Shabbat), unique religious rulings apply: there is no Havdalah ceremony to mark the end of the fast, preparations for Shabbat occur during the fast, and the fast is broken with the Kiddush wine at the start of the Shabbat meal.

The fast begins at sunset on July 23 and ends at the same time as Shabbat begins on July 24, with exact times varying by city (e.g., Jerusalem 19:33 start, 20:10 end). Special laws for 2026 allow washing for cleanliness, laundering clothes, and haircuts on Friday before Shabbat to avoid entering Shabbat in an unkempt state. Mourning customs typically observed until midday after the fast are completely suspended upon Shabbat's arrival.

The fast includes five main prohibitions similar to Yom Kippur: no eating or drinking, no bathing for pleasure, no applying oils or cosmetics (except for medical needs), no wearing leather shoes, and no marital relations. Exemptions apply to children under bar/bat mitzvah age, the ill, pregnant or postpartum women, and security personnel on duty.

Preparations recommend increasing water intake starting Wednesday and reducing caffeine gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms. The pre-fast meal should be nutritious with complex carbohydrates and light proteins, traditionally including mourning foods like hard-boiled eggs or lentils. During the fast, it is customary to sit on the floor or low stools until midday Friday, after which normal seating and Shabbat preparations resume.

Additional guidance addresses work restrictions, smoking prohibitions, and the status of Tisha B'Av as a discretionary day off in the public sector. Traditional kinnot (lamentations) are recited in synagogue on the night of the fast and the following morning. The article provides a comprehensive guide to the laws, customs, and practical advice for observing Tisha B'Av 2026 under these special circumstances.