Wednesday, Menachem Av 8, 5786 / July 22, 2026
B"H
Wednesday, Menachem Av 8, 5786 / July 22, 2026
Tonight begins the fast of Tisha B’Av - the 9th day in the month of Av, when the first Temple and 500 years later the second Temple were destroyed. Every year we fast on Tisha B’Av to remember our great loss. After the morning prayer, we recite special prayers, called Kinot, to remember the tragic events we endured and pray for Moshiach & the rebuilding of the Holy Temple.
Q. How is it that both Temples were destroyed on the same day?
A. Our sages say that G-d directs good events to happen on good days and bad events on bad days. The 9th of Av was historically a bad day. The Torah tells us that on that day, close to 1000 years earlier, before the destruction of the Temple, the Jewish people refused to go into the Land of Israel. The Torah tells us that, “They cried that night...” refusing to go to Israel. G-d decreed that as a result, they will die in the desert. Only their children will go into Israel forty years later.
Thus, the ninth day of Av was prone for punishment for the Jewish people, by their own choice, for refusing to go to the Promised Land. When they sinned many years later, it was on that day that the Temples were destroyed, and they were driven out from their land.
We remember the destruction of the Temples through fasting, reciting special prayers which remind us of our great loss. We read a passage from the Torah in which G-d warns the Jewish people about adhering to the Torah and mitzvot, especially in the Holy Land. We recite the book of Lamentation.
Since Torah study brings us joy, we refrain from studying Torah during part of Tisha B’Av, except for the book of Lamentation and laws concerning mourning, for they speak about tragic events. We study the stories related to the destruction of the Temple, found in the Talmud and Midrash.
On Tisha B’Av (Thursday morning) we recite the Morning Prayer without the Talit and Tefillin. We will use them only for the Mincha service (afternoon prayer).
Yet, with the mourning and fasting, we also have to keep in mind that all this is only temporary. G-d promised through His prophets that in the end, when the right time comes, He will rebuild the Temple and there will be days of peace and tranquility to the people of Israel, to the Land of Israel and the entire world. For two thousand years we lived with the combination of mourning and hope, with sorrow and reassurance at the same time.
For two thousand years we believed that deep within the embers and ruins of destruction, G-d planted the seeds of our salvation. Jews never lost hope and faith, even against all odds. Two thousand years of Jewish history is proof of how true this is. No matter how many times various nations tried to destroy us, even in our generation, in the end we not only survived, but came out stronger than before. On this day we proclaim, “Am Yisrael Chai!” Israellives and will live on!
In Montreal the fast begins Wednesday at: 8:33 pm / Fast ends Thursday night at: 9:16 pm
HAVE AN EASY FAST – MAY WE MERIT THE COMING OF MOSHIACH - NOW!
Tuesday, Menachem Av 7, 5786 / July 21, 2026
B"H
Tuesday, Menachem Av 7, 5786 / July 21, 2026
This Wednesday night begins the fast of Tisha B’Av – the fast of the 9th day of Av. The fast is in remembrance of the destruction of the two Holy Temples. The fast begins Wednesday night and continues until Thursday night. It is the second strictest fast after Yom Kippur.
While Yom Kippur is a fast day, which is decreed in the Torah, the fast of Tisha B’Av was decreed by The Prophets and The Rabbis. It is in commemoration and in mourning for the destruction of both Holy Temples which were destroyed on Tisha B’Av. The Second Temple was destroyed close to five hundred years after the destruction of the First Temple.
The First Temple, which was built by King Solomon, stood for 410 years, and was destroyed on the 9th of Av by King Nebuchadnetzar of Babylon. The second Temple was built 70 years later and stood for 420 years. It was also destroyed on the 9th of Av, by the Romans.
It’s already close to 2000 years since the destruction of the second Temple, yet Jews in every generation never lost faith in the coming of Moshiach and the rebuilding of the third Holy Temple in their days. We lived with the “Ani Maamin” – “I firmly believe in the coming of Moshiach.”
Three times a day, day after day, we pray in the Amidah, for the coming of Moshiach and the rebuilding of the Beth Hamikdash – the Holy Temple. In the Torah, Moshe calls the Jewish people a stiff-necked people. It also works for the positive. During the worst of times, throughout our history, in good times and in difficult times, we never gave up on our deep belief in Moshiach’s coming.
A Chassid of the Third Chabad Rebbe had an inn, which he rented from the local landowner in a village in Russia. He would pay the owner ten rubles at the beginning of the year for the entire year.
One year the Chassid fell ill and couldn’t go to the owner in the beginning of the year. He sent his son instead to renew the contract and pay the rent for the entire year. The son decided to get a better deal. He offered the landowner thirty rubles for a five-year contract, thus saving his father twenty rubles. The owner was happy to get the extra rent in advance and agreed to the deal. He paid him thirty rubles and signed a five-year contract.
The son returned to his father all excited and told him about the deal he made and that he saved him twenty rubles over the next five years. “Why did you do a foolish thing like this?” his father said. “Instead of saving me twenty rubles, you overpaid forty rubles for nothing. Don’t you believe that Moshiach is coming any day and we will all go to the Holy Land. The money you paid for the next four years was a waste!”
One of the principles of our faith is that we believe with complete faith each day that Moshiach is coming NOW. The fact that he didn’t come until now doesn’t diminish our faith. In fact, it makes it stronger, for we were guaranteed by our prophets that he IS coming, and every day brings him closer.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
Friday, Menachem Av 3, 5786 / July 17, 2026
B"H
Friday, Menachem Av 3, 5786 / July 17, 2026
This Shabbat we begin the fifth Book of the Torah, the Book of Deuteronomy, with the reading of Parshat Devarim. This Parsha is always read before the fast of the ninth of Av. This year the fast begins Wednesday night through Thursday.
The Book of Devarim are Moshe’s final words to the Jewish people before his passing. He reminds them of all their mistakes over the forty years he led them through the desert. He reminds them about their sin with the Golden Calf; their rebellion when they wanted to return to Egypt; their complaining about the manna from heaven and their sin of sending the spies to scout the Promised Land, which resulted in their staying in the desert for forty years.
Moshe warns them, as they are about to enter into the Promised Land, that if they want to stay in the land forever, they must adhere to G-d’s words and not repeat their mistakes of the past.
Q. To which particular sin are the destructions of the Two Holy Temple attributed?
A. Our sages tell us that the sin that destroyed the first Temple was the sin of idol worshipping. The sin which caused the destruction of the Second Temple was unjust hatred and strife among Jews.
The Talmud relates the following episode as an example of the hatred which took place amongst Jews at that time and as a result the Second Temple was destroyed.
One of the wealthy people of Jerusalem threw a party. He had a friend called Kamtza and a foe named Bar-Kamtza. He sent his servant to invite his friend, Kamtza to the party, but the servant mistakenly invited his enemy, Bar-Kamtza.
When the host noticed Bar Kamtza at the party he ordered him, in front of everyone, to leave. To avoid being embarrassed in public, Bar Kamtza offered to pay for his share of the meal. When this didn’t work, he offered to pay for half of the party. When this didn’t work either, Bar Kamtza offered to pay for the entire party. This didn’t work either and he was made, in view of everyone there with great embarrassment, to leave the party. Bar Kamtza then went to the emperor and told him that the Jews were rebelling against him, which in the end resulted in the destruction of the Second Temple.
The purpose of recalling and mourning the destruction of the Temples is to bring about positive results. During this time, we go to great lengths in showing our care and love for others. For this reason, it is customary to give extra charity during this time of the year.
May we merit Moshiach speedily in our days.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 8:20 / Shabbat ends: 9:32
Wednesday, Menachem Av 1, 5786 / July 15, 2026
B"H
Wednesday, Menachem Av 1, 5786 / July 15, 2026
Today is Rosh Chodesh(first day of the new month), Menachem Av, or as it is called in short, Av.
As on every Rosh Chodesh, we recite the additional prayers of Hallel and Musaf. We also read the Torah portion about the Rosh Chodesh sacrifices which were brought in the Temple.
The Hebrew names of the months consist of one word (Nissan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, etc,). Only the month of Cheshvan is called Mar-Cheshvan & Av is called Menachem Av.
Q. Why was the word Menachem added to the name of this month Av?
A. The first nine days of the month of Av are days of sadness and mourning. These are the days in which we mourn the destruction of the two Holy Temples, which were both destroyed on the ninth day in Av. We fast on the ninth of Av for the destruction of the Temples.
“Av" in Hebrew means "Father" and “Menachem” means "Comfort." The word "Menachem" is added as a prayer that G-d, our "Father" in Heaven shall grant us comfort and rebuild the Holy Temple speedily in our days.
In a deeper sense "Menachem Av" can also be translated as "comfort to our Father." In this context it is we who should be bringing comfort to our Father-in-Heaven.
How do we bring comfort to G-d in Heaven? This is accomplished through our performance of mitzvot and additional deeds of kindness, which will merit the ultimate redemption and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. This will bring comfort ("Menachem Av”) to our Father in Heaven. As a result. During these days we are more generous at helping others, in acts of goodness and kindness and distributing more charity than usual.
The name Menachem Av tells us that in order to find true comfort, it has to be comforting for the Jewish people and comforting for G-d. This will happen with the coming of Moshiach and the revelation of the third Holy Temple speedily in our days.
Today, Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, is the yartzeit (day of passing) of Aaron, the high Priest. We read about this in the Torah reading of the past Shabbat.
The Torah tells us that when Aaron passed away ALLof Israel, men and women, cried and mourned him. The reason, say our sages, is because was a person who, “Loved peace, pursued peace and loved every single person.” Aaron had a special quality of going out of his way to bring peace between husband and wife and between people. When Aaron passed away everyone felt a personal loss. May his memory be a blessing for us all and bring peace to all in this challenging time. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, BLESSED, SUCCESSFUL DAY & MONTH
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