Inside Jerusalem’s Saddest Night: Tisha B'Av at the Wall

Information about the Tisha B’Av: A Day of Tears, Memory, and Meaning itself will be provided after this announcement. Due to the current situation and the ongoing war, I haven’t been able to guide tours in person as usual. However, I’m eager to continue sharing the rich and sacred history of the Holy Land through my videos. If you enjoy these journeys and would like to stay connected, I warmly invite you to subscribe to my YouTube channel, where I bring Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Israel to life from wherever you are. For more insights and updates, follow me on Facebook and Instagram -I regularly share additional content, stories, and behind-the-scenes moments you won’t want to miss. If you feel inspired to support my work, your generosity helps me keep these videos coming. Whether through a simple subscription, sharing with friends interested in Israel’s history, or by supporting me directly, every bit makes a difference. I also offer a personal touch: upon your request, I would be honored to pray for you at the Western Wall, light a candle in your name at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, or anywhere meaningful in the Holy Land. If you have any special personal requests, please reach out — I’m happy to respond and even create a dedicated video for you. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey. With gratitude, Your tour guide, Zahi Shaked Support and purchase of crosses: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahishaked PayPal Support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/zahis... Tisha B’Av: A Day of Tears, Memory, and Meaning Tisha B’Av - the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av - is the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. As a guide in Jerusalem, I’ve stood many times at the Western Wall on this day, watching thousands gather in silence, sitting on the stones, mourning. But the meaning of Tisha B’Av goes far beyond fasting or reading from the Book of Lamentations. It's a day soaked in centuries of sorrow. According to Jewish tradition, five great tragedies occurred on this date: The negative report of the spies sent to explore the land of Canaan, which doomed a generation to die in the desert. The destruction of the First Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. The destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE. The fall of the fortress of Betar - the last stronghold of the Bar Kochba revolt. And finally, the plowing over of the Temple Mount by the Romans, erasing every visible sign of Jewish presence. And history didn’t stop weeping on this day. Tisha B’Av also marks the expulsion of the Jews from England in 1290 and from Spain in 1492. It was on this day that World War I began - setting in motion the horrors of the 20th century. Even the “Final Solution” was formalized by the Nazis around this date. At the Western Wall, the atmosphere is solemn. As darkness falls, people gather to chant Eicha - the Book of Lamentations - by candlelight or under the stars. No music, no smiles. We sit on the ground, or on low stools, as mourners. The parochet - the curtain over the Ark - is removed. The lights are dimmed. Ancient kinot - liturgical laments - echo through the stones. During the day, the mourning continues. No eating or drinking. No bathing. No leather shoes. No Torah study, except for the tragic parts. And yet, Tisha B’Av is not just a day of sadness. It's a call to reflection. A wake-up for our souls. In Jewish tradition, the Messiah will be born on Tisha B’Av. That means even in our lowest point, there is a seed of hope. Every year, I come to the Kotel and feel the weight of history - but also the heartbeat of a people who refuse to forget, who transform mourning into meaning. תשעהבאב #הכותל# #tishabav #westernwall #jerusalem