AV:
Month 5 | Av: Comfort and Consolation
- Prayer Request
- Praise Report
Focus: Comfort & Consolation
Letter: Tet (ט)
Tribe: Shimon
Sense: Hearing
This month is also referred to as “Menachem Av.” “Menachem” means “consoler,” and “Av” means “father.” Due to the tragic events that occurred during this month, its name reminds us that God is there to comfort us in times of tragedy.
Tu B’Av signifies rebirth after destruction and is a day for new beginnings.
The “9th of Av”/Tisha B’Av marks several tragic events throughout Jewish history:
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- Jews who left Egypt with Moses were condemned to die after wandering in the desert for 40 years
- Destruction of both Holy Temples by the Babylonians in 423 B.C. and by the Romans in A.D. 69
- Jews of Betar who were killed in A.D. 135
- King Edward expelled the Jews of England in 1290
- Jews of Spain were expelled by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in 1492
- Deportation of Jews to the Treblinka extermination camp began in 1942
On the eve of Tisha B’Av, the Jewish people read the Book of Lamentations. The Jewish people commemorate this day as one of fasting and mourning. Av is also often called Menachem Av. This name reminds us that despite the intense mourning of the nine days, God has promised to comfort those who mourn and be close to the brokenhearted.
Major Jewish and Biblical Events in History in Av:
01 Av:
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- Passing of Aaron (1274 BC)
- Ezra Arrives in Israel (348 BC)
09 Av:
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- Exodus Generation Condemned to Die in Desert
- First and Second Temples Destroyed
- Betar (last stronghold of the Bar Kochba rebellion) fell; 580k Jews died
- Expulsion from England (1290)
- Expulsion from Spain (1492)
15 Av:
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- End of Dying in the Desert (after 38 years of wandering)
- Tribe of Benjamin—excommunicated for the incident of the “Concubine at Givah”—readmitted into the community of Israel (see Judges 19-21)
- Matchmaking Day: “The daughters of Jerusalem would go out in borrowed linen garments… and dance in the vineyards”
30 Av: Moses carved, by God’s command, two stone tablets
DON'T MISS THE CALENDAR
Tishrei: The Month of Renewal in the Hebrew Calendar
God renews creation. Tishrei’s festivals all focus on the person praying, waiting, and relying upon the Lord. Consequently, this month’s other name (Ethanim meaning “strong”) makes perfect sense, as “they who wait for Adonai will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31).
Elul: The Month of Repentance, Returning, and Spiritual Intimacy in the Hebrew Calendar
Each day of the month of Elul (except for Shabbat and the last day of Elul), the Jewish people sound the shofar (ram’s horn) as a call to repentance. The Jewish people teach that the “King is in the Field” during Elul—God is readily accessible, willing to hear our requests and listen to our fervent prayers for the coming new year.
Kislev: The Month of Trust and Dedication in the Hebrew Calendar
Kislev is often playfully re-written as Kis-Lev (Purse of the Heart). Kislev is a time to examine what is in our hearts. It’s also time to fill them with reminders of the goodness of God. These concepts are most evident during the holiday that falls during this month: Chanukah, the Festival of Lights.