Tisha B'Av

Two Italian Jews, Jacob and Emmanuel Francis, created a Tisha B'Av Haggadah to combat the false prophet Shabtai Tzvi. While outwardly praising him, the Haggadah subtly mocks and unveils the truth.

The most horrific event took place in the city of Hebron, where 67 Jews, including men, women, and children, were murdered. Many of the victims were students from the Hebron yeshiva. The perpetrators executed their plan with such brutality and monstrosity, recalling only the Simchat Torah massacre of the previous year.

King Agrippa arrived on Tisha B'Av, leading 3,000 troops to suppress the rebellion but was defeated. Roman soldiers in the fortresses around Jerusalem were slaughtered. The king's palace and archives were burned. By Tu B'Av, the zealots had triumphed.

In this revolt, Bar Kokhba was the undisputed leader. Legends say he could catch stone missiles mid-air and hurl them back at the enemy. His soldiers were said to uproot cedar trees while riding on horseback.

In 1492, the Spanish monarchs expelled the Jews who had thrived in Spain for centuries. On Tisha B'Av of that year, tens of thousands of families were forced into exile, setting out on a painful journey to find new lands for settlement.

Every Tisha B'av, they arrive at the Western Wall, donning shirts featuring two photos — one of an elderly woman, the other of a young girl. They peel watermelons, cut cucumbers, and prepare 'Lachas Soup' with a secret recipe. Eric Navon went to meet them and returned both excited and surprised.