Tisha B’Av 2026 in Israel: fasting time, rules, and meaning of the national day of mourning

On the evening of Wednesday, July 22, 2026, with sunset in Israel, the fast of Tisha B’Av — the Ninth of Av 5786 begins. It will last about 25 hours and end after the appearance of stars on Thursday evening, July 23.

Tisha B’Av is considered the most mournful day in the Jewish calendar. Unlike most other public fasts, which begin in the morning, the fast of the Ninth of Av starts the evening of the previous day. It is often compared in severity to Yom Kippur, although there are important religious differences between these days: Yom Kippur is established by the Torah, while Tisha B’Av is among the fasts established by prophets and sages.

When Tisha B’Av begins and ends in Israel

The start time of the fast depends on the moment of sunset in a specific city, and its end time depends on the onset of night. In published Israeli calendars, there may be a difference of several minutes, so people adhering to a specific community tradition are advised to check the schedule of their synagogue or local rabbinate.

Tisha B’Av 2026 fast times by city in Israel:

Some schedules indicate the start of the fast in Jerusalem around 19:45, in Haifa around 19:47, and in Be’er Sheva around 19:45. These differences are related to the method of determining sunset and the accepted additional minutes. The end time of the fast in major Israeli schedules is almost identical.

Why Jews fast on the Ninth of Av

The main historical content of Tisha B’Av is related to the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. The First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonian forces, and the Second by the Roman army in 70 CE.

The destruction of the temples was not only the loss of a religious center. It was followed by mass death, exile, loss of national sovereignty, and the long dispersion of the Jewish people. Therefore, the Ninth of Av is perceived not just as an anniversary of specific historical events, but as a day of remembrance of a national catastrophe and its consequences.

According to Jewish tradition, several other tragic events are also associated with the Ninth of Av. On this day, it was decreed that the generation of Jews who left Egypt would not enter the Land of Israel after the spies’ report. Later, the fortress of Betar fell — the last major stronghold of the Bar Kokhba revolt, and Jerusalem was plowed by the Romans before building a new city on its site.

Over the centuries, memories of other disasters, exiles, and persecutions of the Jewish people have been added to the memory of the temple destructions. However, the central symbol of the day remains the destroyed Jerusalem and the hope for restoration, unity, and spiritual return.

Tisha B’Av concludes the period of Bein HaMetzarim — “between the straits”, which begins with the fast of the 17th of Tammuz. The last nine days of this period are accompanied by intensified mourning customs: many do not eat meat, do not drink wine, do not hold celebrations, do not cut their hair, and do not listen to music.

For readers of NANews — News of Israel, this day is important not only as part of the religious calendar. Tisha B’Av remains a national day of remembrance, raising questions of responsibility, internal unity, and the cost of public hatred.

What is prohibited during Tisha B’Av

The fast includes five main restrictions, traditionally called “the five deprivations”:

1. Food and drink are prohibited.
2. Washing for pleasure is prohibited.
3. Oils, creams, and cosmetic products for pleasure are not used.
4. Leather shoes are not worn.
5. Marital relations are prohibited.

It is allowed to wash a soiled part of the body, and the morning hand washing is usually performed only up to the knuckles. People who need to wash their hands for medical, sanitary, or professional reasons act according to practical necessity.

Mourning is also expressed through other customs. In the evening, synagogue lighting is dimmed, worshippers sit on low benches or directly on the floor. After the evening prayer, Megillat Eicha — the Book of Lamentations of Jeremiah is read, followed by special mourning compositions — kinot.

Until noon on the Ninth of Av, it is customary not to sit on regular chairs. Greetings, entertainment, and work that can distract from the meaning of the day are also avoided. Torah study is limited to texts related to the destruction of Jerusalem, mourning laws, and human suffering, including the Book of Job and stories about the temple destructions.

In the morning, in many Ashkenazi and some Sephardic communities, the tallit and tefillin are not worn. They are moved to the Mincha prayer in the afternoon. In some Sephardic communities, the custom of wearing tefillin during the morning prayer is preserved.

Who is exempt from the fast

Tisha B’Av is a strict fast, but preserving health and life has unconditional priority. A person whose doctor has forbidden fasting should not endanger themselves. Decisions regarding medication, water, and food should preferably be agreed upon in advance with both a doctor and a rabbi familiar with the medical situation.

Children below the age of religious maturity — boys under 13 and girls under 12 — are not required to fast. Unlike Yom Kippur, it is usually not customary to specifically accustom young children to long hours of fasting.

Pregnant and nursing women require an individual approach. The mother’s health condition, the course of pregnancy, the time after childbirth, the child’s age, and the nature of feeding can significantly change the decision. The Israeli Ministry of Health notes that the impact of fasting on breastfeeding depends on the duration of the fast, the child’s age, and the specific situation, and in case of doubt, professional consultation is necessary.

Special rules apply to military personnel. Soldiers engaged in combat or operational activities should not allow a decrease in combat readiness due to lack of food and water. According to published instructions from the military rabbinate, if the fast can hinder the completion of a task, the soldier must maintain physical readiness, including necessary food and drink.

How to prepare for the fast and properly conclude it

Before the start of the fast, it is important to provide the body with a sufficient amount of liquid. The last meal should not be excessively heavy, salty, or spicy: such food increases thirst and can complicate prolonged abstinence from water.

During the summer fast, it is advisable to avoid unnecessary physical exertion, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and overheating. In case of a sharp deterioration in well-being, confusion, fainting, severe weakness, or other alarming signs, medical assistance should be sought, and the fast should not be continued at any cost.

It is recommended to conclude the fast gradually. First, you can drink water, then eat a small amount of light food, and only after that move on to a full meal. The Israeli Ministry of Health also recommends first restoring fluid after a prolonged fast and only then gradually returning to normal eating.

In 2026, Tisha B’Av ends on Thursday evening, so performing Havdalah after the fast is not required: the fast does not begin at the end of Shabbat. However, some mourning restrictions associated with the Tenth of Av may continue after the fast itself ends.

Since the next day, Friday, July 24, is the eve of Shabbat, many authorities allow washing, laundering, cutting hair, and preparing for Shabbat immediately after the fast. The custom of abstaining from meat and wine may continue until noon on Friday, although there are differences and leniencies in different communities related to Shabbat preparation.

From destruction to responsibility

Tisha B’Av speaks not only of the stones of the destroyed Temple. In Jewish tradition, the cause of the national tragedy is also called internal hatred, which destroyed the society’s ability to maintain unity in the face of external threats.

This is why the fast combines historical memory with a personal question: what can each person do to not increase division, not turn disagreement into hostility, and not repeat the mistakes of the past.

NANews — News of Israel reminds: The Ninth of Av is a day of mourning, but its meaning does not end with grief. In the very tradition of remembering destruction lies the hope for restoration — of Jerusalem, society, and human connections, without which the future of the Jewish people is impossible.