Av

This article is about the Hebrew month. For the abbreviations AV and aV, see AV.

Av
Francesco Hayez, The Second Temple in flames, 1867. The 9th of Av, Tisha B'Av, is a fast commemorating what has been called the saddest day in Jewish history, which is when the Holy Temple was set aflame.
Native name	אָב  (Hebrew)
Calendar	Hebrew calendar
Month number	5
Number of days	30
Season	Summer (Northern Hemisphere)
Gregorian equivalent	July–August
Significant days	Tisha B'Av Tu B'Av

Av (Hebrew: אָב‎, Modern: ʾAv, Tiberian: ʾĀḇ; from Akkadian ʾAbū "father") is the eleventh month of the civil year and the fifth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. The name comes from Araḫ Abu, "month of Abu", from the Babylonian calendar. The name Ab (Arabic: آﺏ) also appears in the Arabic language for the month of August in the Levant (see Arabic names of calendar months).The name first appears in Second Temple literature, such as Megillat Taanit. It is one of several months which are not explicitly named in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh). It is a month of 30 days. Av usually occurs in July–August on the Gregorian calendar.

The Babylonian Talmud, Taanit 29a, states that "when we enter [the month of] Av, our joy is diminished". This is because the darkest events in Jewish history occurred during the first week and a half of this month, particularly the Nine Days which culminate in Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av. However, there is a minor and largely unknown holiday during the full moon of the month called Tu B'Av which was, in ancient times, one of the happiest days of the year. The month is also sometimes referred to as Menachem Av (Hebrew: מנחם אב) (Av of Comfort or Comforter of Father(s)), but most only use this title in the sanctification of the month recited on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh and following Tisha B'Av.

Holidays in Av

• Av 9 – Tisha B'Av
• Av 15 – Tu B'Av

Av in Jewish history

• 1 Av (circa 1273 BCE) – Death of high priest Aaron
• 1 Av (513 BCE) – Ezra and his followers arrive in Israel
• 5 Av (1572 CE) – Hillula of the Arizal
• 7 Av (586 BCE) – First Temple invaded by King Nebuchadnezzar
• 7 Av (67 CE) – Civil war breaks out in besieged Jerusalem; one group set fire to the city's food stores, which is said to have quickened starvation.
• 7 Av (1492 CE) – Jews of Spain expelled by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.
• 7 Av (1853) - Death of Rabbi Moshe Greenwald, Rav of Khust and author of Arugath Habosem
• 9 Av (586 BCE and 70 CE) – Holy Temples destroyed by the Babylonians and Romans respectively.
• 9 Av (133 CE) – Fall of Betar to the Romans, ending Bar Kochba's rebellion.
• 9 Av (1290 CE) – Jews are expelled from England by King Edward I and not permitted to legally return for 350 years.
• 10 Av (70 CE) – The Holy Temple, set on fire the previous day, finishes burning.
• 12 Av (1263) – Disputation of Barcelona between Nachmanides and Pablo Christiani.
• 13 Av (1984) - Death of Rabbi Yosef Greenwald, Rebbe of Pupa and author of Vaychi Yosef
• 15 Av (148 CE) – Betar dead buried, 15 years after the fall of the fortress.
• 15 Av – The Day of the Breaking of the Ax – when the Holy Temple existed, the cutting of firewood for the altar was completed on this date every year. The event was celebrated by feasting, rejoicing, and the ceremonial breaking of the axes.
• 17 Av (1929) – 67 Jews are killed in the Hebron Massacre.
• 24 Av (circa 100 BCE) – A Hasmonean holiday commemorates the reinstatement of Jewish civil law in place of Hellenist secular law on this day.

See also

• Jewish astrology

External links

• Resources on the Month of Av
• Hebrew Month of Av
• This Month in Jewish History
• A Chodesh Av Perspective
• Texts on Wikisource:
  • "Ab". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.
  • "Ab". Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.