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
Why do some Jews transition from using the name “Av” to “Menachem Av” after Tishah B’Av?
Some Jews transition from using the name “Av” to “Menachem Av” after Tishah B’Av to emphasize the idea of comfort and consolation, as the name “Menachem Av” signifies the Comforter of Av, reflecting God’s promise to comfort those who mourn and be close to the brokenhearted.
How are the Haftarah readings during this period connected to the theme of comfort for the Jewish People?
The Haftarah readings during the “seven weeks of comfort” are specifically chosen to convey messages of comfort and consolation to the Jewish People, emphasizing hope and the promise of a brighter future.
What is the significance of the period known as the “seven weeks of comfort” (shiva d’nechemta)?
The “seven weeks of comfort” is a period that extends from Tishah B’Av through the month of Elul, where the Haftarah readings foretell the glorious future of the Jewish People, providing comfort and hope.
What is the period following Tishah B’Av known as?
The period following Tishah B’Av is known as the “seven weeks of comfort” (shiva d’nechemta).
DON'T MISS THE CALENDAR
Adar: The Month of Joy in the Hebrew Calendar
There are many joyous dates on the Jewish calendar, but besides Purim, none affect an entire month, causing it to be auspicious and joyous. Purim is the celebration of Israel’s rescue from the Persian leader Haman’s genocidal plot (as recorded in the Book of Esther). The Rabbis teach that Purim is like Yom Kippur (the “Day of Atonement”). While on Yom Kippur we achieve holiness through the mortification of the flesh and long hours of prayer, we realize that same level of holiness on Purim through feasting, celebration, and joy.
Shevat: The Month of Blessings and Fruitfulness in the Hebrew Calendar
According to Tradition, the first of Shevat is when Moses began giving his final address to Israel. “Across the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this Torah saying, ‘Adonai our God spoke to us at Horeb saying: ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain’” (Deuteronomy 1:5-6). For the entire month of Shevat, he would sit in the meeting tent and elucidate the Torah.
Tevet: The Month of Divine Grace in the Hebrew Calendar
2 Kings 25 tells us Nebuchadnezzar began Babylon’s siege of Jerusalem on the 10th day of Tevet (a fast day known as Asarah B’Tevet). Ironically, the Jewish people adopted the name “Tevet” during the Babylonian exile. It is believed to connote “sinking” or “immersing.”