9 from Av

On Wednesday, July 26 at dusk, Tisha B'Av begins, on Av 9, which culminates on three-week period of mourning beginning on the 17th of Tammuz (which began last 5 July at dusk). Since the first of the month of Av (last Tuesday, July 18, at dusk) it is said that "joy diminishes" as we approach 9 Av, a date on which coincides with very critical moments in the history of the Jewish People, such as the destruction of the first and second Temple, the pogroms perpetrated by the Crusaders, or the expulsion of the Jews from Sepharad in 1492, to give a few examples. For this reason, a day of total fasting is observed as on Yom Kippur, and it is customary to read Eija (Book of Lamentations), or the Book of Job, or other texts that make us reflect on the catastrophes that occurred on this day. It is also important that On such a disastrous day, people greet each other with a shalom, wishing for peace, since the objective of this day is none other than to reflect and lament the terrible consequences of war and hatred.