Israel Observes Tisha B'Av Fast on July 22-23 with Traditional Restrictions and Customs

The Tisha B'Av fast in 2026 begins at sunset on Wednesday, July 22, and lasts approximately 25 hours until nightfall on Thursday, July 23. This fast commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem and marks the conclusion of the "Three Weeks" mourning period and the "Nine Days" leading up to it. Key cities such as Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Beersheba have specific start and end times for the fast, ranging from 19:39 to 19:47 for entry and 20:07 to 20:15 for exit.

Tisha B'Av mourns five historic calamities, including the sin of the spies, the destruction of both Temples (586 BCE and 70 CE), the fall of Betar in 135 CE, and the Roman renaming of Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina. Additional tragedies linked to this date include the 1492 expulsion of Jews from Spain and the outbreak of World War I. The fast involves five prohibitions similar to Yom Kippur: no eating or drinking, bathing for pleasure, applying oils or lotions, wearing leather shoes, and sexual relations. Other customs include refraining from sitting on regular chairs until midday, avoiding music, and limiting work that distracts from mourning.

Practical guidelines clarify that while bathing for pleasure is forbidden, washing sweat is allowed with cold water. Tooth brushing is discouraged but permitted with minimal water and no toothpaste if necessary. Work is not strictly prohibited but traditionally avoided until midday. Smoking is debated among authorities, with some forbidding it entirely and others allowing it discreetly after midnight. Electrical devices and air conditioning are permitted.

Tisha B'Av is a rabbinic fast, not biblically mandated, but is observed stringently due to the severity of the tragedies commemorated. Pregnant women with normal pregnancies are generally required to fast but should stop if health issues arise. Sick individuals, the elderly, and children under bar/bat mitzvah age are exempt. The pre-fast meal should be light and low in salt and spices, and hydration is emphasized in the days before.

The fast ends after nightfall on July 23, with no Havdalah ceremony since it does not coincide with Shabbat. Because the fast falls on a Thursday, preparations for Shabbat on Friday are permitted immediately after the fast, including haircuts and laundry. The mourning customs continue until midday Friday, including abstaining from meat and wine. The following Shabbat is Shabbat Nachamu, signaling the transition from mourning to consolation. For any practical questions, consulting a rabbi is advised.