Av (month)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2011) |
| Av | |
|---|---|
_La_distruzione_del_tempio_di_Gerusalemme_-Francesco_Hayez_-_gallerie_Accademia_Venice.jpg) Francesco Hayez, The Second Temple in flames, 1867. The 9th of Av, Tisha B'Av, is a fast commemorating what has been called the saddest day in Jewish history,[1] which is when the Holy Temple was set aflame. | |
| Native name | אָב (Hebrew) |
| Calendar | Hebrew calendar |
| Month number | 5 |
| Number of days | 30 |
| Season | Summer (Northern Hemisphere) |
| Gregorian equivalent | July–August |
| Significant days | |
Av (also Menachem Av,[2] Hebrew: אָב, Modern: ʾAv, Tiberian: ʾĀḇ) is the eleventh month of the civil year and the fifth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar.[3] It is a month of 30 days, and usually occurs in July–August on the Gregorian calendar.
The
Babylonian Talmud states that "when we enter [the month of] Av, our joy is diminished".[4] This is because the darkest events in Jewish history occurred during the first week and a half of this month, particularly the Nine Days which culminate in Tisha B'Av, the 9th day of Av. However, the month also contains a holiday called Tu B'Av
which was, in ancient times, considered one of the happiest days of the year.
Etymology
Originally Abu on the
Arabic names of calendar months
).
The name Ab appears in Aramaic ostraca from the
Persian period,[8] in Aramaic documents from Ancient Egypt and Palmyra, in Masada and Qarnayim ostraca, in the best manuscripts of Targum Jonathan to Ez. 20:1,[9] and in Rabbinic literature starting with Megillat Taanit.[10] It is one of several months which are not named in the Hebrew Bible
.
Holidays
- Av 9 – Tisha B'Av
- Av 15 – Tu B'Av
In Jewish history
 |
- 1 Av (circa 1273 BCE) – Death of high priest Aaron[11]
- 1 Av (513 BCE) – Ezra and his followers arrive in Israel
- 5 Av (1572 CE) – Hillula of the Arizal
- 7 Av (586 BCE) – King Nebuchadnezzar[12]
- 7 Av (67 CE) – Civil war breaks out in besieged Jerusalem; one group set fire to the city's food stores, which is said to have quickened starvation.[citation needed]
- 7 Av (1492 CE) – Jews of Spain expelled by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.
- 7 Av (1853) - Death of Rabbi Moshe Greenwald, Rav of Khust and author of Arugath Habosem
- 9 Av (586 BCE and 70 Babylonians and Romansrespectively.
- 9 Av (133 Bar Kochba's rebellion.
- 9 Av (1290 King Edward Iand not permitted to legally return for 350 years.
- 10 Av (70 Holy Temple, set on fire the previous day, finishes burning.
- 12 Av (1263) – Disputation of Barcelona between Nachmanides and Pablo Christiani.
- 13 Av (1984) - Death of Rabbi Yosef Greenwald, Rebbe of Pupa and author of Vaychi Yosef
- 15 Av (148 Betar dead buried, 15 years after the fall of the fortress.[citation needed]
- 15 Av – The Day of the Breaking of the Ax – when the
- 17 Av (1929) – 67 Jews are killed in the Hebron Massacre.
- 24 Av (secular law on this day.[14]
See also
References
- ISBN 0-688-08506-7.
- ^ "The Month of Av - Jewish Holidays". Jewish Holidays. 2006-06-26. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
- ^ "חדש אב - The month of Av". Hebrew for Christians. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ Taanit 29a
- JSTOR 3259081.
- ^ "The Hebrew Month of Av".
- ^ "The Month of Av". June 26, 2006. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ISBN 978-1-57506-898-5.
- OCLC 865555402.
- ^ "Megillat Taanit". Sefaria. Warsaw, 1874. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ Numbers 33:38.
- ^ II Kings 25:8.
- ^ "Taanit 31a". Sefaria. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ "Av". Megillat Taanit.
External links
- Resources on the Month of Av
- Hebrew Month of Av
- This Month in Jewish History
- A Chodesh Av Perspective Archived 2012-04-06 at the Wayback Machine
Texts on Wikisource:
- "Ab". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.
- "Ab". Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.
