Starting tonight (Monday), the night of the 9th of Av, 5774, and until the following day, in the late hours of the night, tens of thousands of Jews, from all ethnic groups and circles, will arrive at the Western Wall plaza to mark the Day of Mourning in the place that most symbolizes the destruction.
Tisha B'Av 5774: Fasting Times, Customs – and Everything You Need to Know
Tens of thousands are sitting on the floor in the Western Wall plaza and lamenting the destruction of the House of God in all its formulas and traditions, as befits a place that unites and unites.
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Tonight - the night of Tisha B'Av, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation will hold a reading of the Book of Lamentations and the recitation of lamentations by cantors in the Eastern and Ashkenazic versions.
The lamentation will be broadcast on the Western Wall website for those who are unable to physically arrive at the Western Wall plaza - starting at 10:00 PM.
An exciting spectacle that takes place every year in the evening, as the sun sets towards the end of the fast, thousands of Jews from all walks of life come and sing together shoulder to shoulder, a moving song of comfort and redemption, starting at 6:30 PM.
In recent years, hundreds and thousands of young people have gathered at the Western Wall plaza on Tisha B'Av - after the Mincha prayer, to sing songs of awakening, longing and anticipation for redemption and the building of the Temple.
There were those who wanted to protest with their hands, claiming that this was a distraction from mourning the destruction of the Temple, and in general, singing is forbidden on these days, and even more so on Tisha B'Av.
In a reply to the rabbi Elchanan Prinz, the Western Wall rabbi, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, cites sources that awakening songs without musical instruments were permitted in the days of the Egyptians. Although not everything that was permitted in the days of the Egyptians is permitted on Tisha B'Av, which is considered the day "the dead are laid before him," it is permissible in our day - an orphaned generation that these musical instruments awaken in holiness and purity - it is permitted.
At the end of the fast, drinks and food will be distributed at the Western Wall to those who end the fast at the Western Wall plaza.
The special preparations will continue until late at night - around 2 a.m. - as crowds led by rebbes, rabbis and Torah gurus arrive for the Kiddush ceremony on the evening of Tisha B'Av.
• Rescue forces will be stationed throughout the day at the Western Wall plaza to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it.
• Private vehicles are not allowed into the Old City, and must be reached by public transportation only.
