  (lit. "the ninth of av") ( or ), is an annual fast day in judaism which commemorates the destruction of the first and second temples in jerusalem and the subsequent exile of the jews from the land of israel. the day also commemorates other tragedies which occurred on the same day, including the roman massacre of over 500,000 jews at betar in 135 ce. instituted by the rabbis of 2nd-century present-day israel, tisha b'av is regarded as the saddest day in the jewish calendar and a day which is destined for tragedy. tisha b'av falls in july or august in the western calendar. in addition to the basic five prohibitions, all pleasurable activity is forbidden. the book of lamentations which mourns the destruction of jerusalem is read in the synagogue, followed by the kinnot, a series of liturgical dirges which lament the loss of the temple and jerusalem. as the day has become associated
Book_of_Lamentations Hebrew_names_of_Jewish_holy_days Tisha_B\'Av