Today is Rosh Chodesh Av, the beginning of the Hebrew month of Av.
Originally derived from the Assyro-Babylonian month, abu, which referred to the reeds and bulrushes cut in the late summer to support ancient urban construction, Av is never named in the Hebrew Bible. Rather, it is the sages who introduce us to this late summer month in somber fashion, suggesting that, “When we enter Av, our joy is diminished (BT Taanit 29A),” due to the observance of Tisha B’Av – the ninth Day of Av – which commemorates the destruction of the first and second temples in Jerusalem.
Traditional Jews began observing mourning practices on the 17th of Tammuz (11 days ago) to honor the destruction of Jerusalem’s defensive fortifications by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. These practices include refraining from wedding parties, music, and haircuts. Today, Jews traditionally add the additional mourning proscriptions of avoiding new construction or home improvements, planting, laundering, swimming, or eating meat or poultry. On the ninth of Av, these mourning rituals intensify as Jews fast and avoid bathing for the entire day. These restrictions conclude on the ninth day of Av.
Our Jewish calendar invites us build toward moments of joy by increasing the candles on Hanukkah or celebrating special Shabbatot in advance of Purim and Passover. It also invites us to build toward moments of reflection, setting aside the month of Elul to prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. With Av, we discover that the Jewish calendar also asks us to build towards grief.
With so many moments in our lives that are filled with sorrow – from Tisha B’Av, to October 7, to Holocaust Remembrance Day, to American and Israeli Memorial Days, to the yahrzeits of our own loved ones – the month of Av reminds us to consider what steps are necessary to prepare us to fully and faithfully grieve.
— Rabbi Josh Knobe