Rabbi Yosef Chaim Ohev Zion Explains Jewish Mourning Customs for Temple Destruction
On the eve of Tisha B'Av, Yossi Abdu hosted Rabbi Yosef Chaim Ohev Zion, a lecturer at the Musiaf Synagogue, in a special broadcast discussing the halachic customs that commemorate the destruction of the Temple. The program clarified the significance of leaving an unfinished section of a wall in Jewish homes, known as "aamah al aamah," as a perpetual reminder of the Temple's destruction. Rabbi Ohev Zion emphasized that decorative substitutes like paintings or inscriptions of Jerusalem do not fulfill this halachic requirement, which must remain a visible, unfinished area near the entrance.
The broadcast also addressed common misunderstandings, such as the Sephardic custom of not placing ashes on the groom's head during the wedding ceremony, unlike Ashkenazi tradition. This practice originated when men wore tefillin all day and removed them at the wedding, replacing them with ashes as a symbol of mourning. Rabbi Ohev Zion noted that today, since weddings are often held at night, this custom is less relevant, and adopting Ashkenazi customs out of a sense of inferiority is discouraged.
Another focus was the traditional breaking of the glass at weddings, a symbol of the Temple's destruction. Rabbi Ohev Zion and other leading rabbis criticized the modern celebratory atmosphere immediately following the glass breaking, which contradicts the original intent to pause and reflect on the loss. Rabbi Yaakov Yosef recommended a brief moment of silence after the glass breaks before the celebration begins.
The program also highlighted the importance of leaving an empty space on the dining table during meals as a symbolic void for Jerusalem, a practice often neglected in modern celebrations. Rabbi Ohev Zion stressed that these customs are not meant to turn life into mourning but to maintain a conscious space for remembrance throughout the year.
Finally, the broadcast touched on the halachic ruling that tearing one's garment upon entering Jerusalem is no longer required since the city is rebuilt and under Israeli control, except when seeing the Temple site after thirty days. Rabbi Ohev Zion concluded by underscoring the sanctity of the Western Wall as a place of prayer where the Divine Presence has never departed, urging visitors to approach it with reverence rather than as a tourist attraction.
