HISTORY
Who destroyed the 1st בית המקדש?
Nevuchadnezzar king of Bavel
True or false: תשעה באב will always fall out on the same day of the week as שבעה עשר בתמוז.
TRUE. They are exactly three weeks apart.
What are the names given to the שבת before תשעה באב and the שבת after תשעה באב?
The שבת before תשעה באב is called שבת חזון.
The שבת after תשעה באב is called שבת נחמו.
Who were in charge of guarding the בית המקדש?
The Kohanim and Levi'im
Who wrote מגילת איכה?
A. ישעיה
B. ירמיה
C. יחזקאל
D. אנשי כנסת הגדולה
B. ירמיה
Who destroyed the 2nd בית המקדש?
Titus the Commander of the Roman Military
On which of the following days can תשעה באב NOT fall out?
A. Sunday
B. Monday
C. Thursday
D. Shabbos
B. Monday
תשעה באב can fall out on Shabbos, but the fast is pushed off until Sunday.
Name at least three activities which are prohibited during the three weeks.
You get an additional 50 points for any additional correct answer.
Weddings, haircuts, music, buying new clothes, saying Shehechiyanu,
What was the size of הר הבית?
A. 500 square אמות
B. 600 square אמות
C. 700 square אמות
D. 800 square אמות
A. 500 square אמות
How are we supposed to greet one another on תשעה באב?
Ideally one should not greet at all. If someone greets you, respond in a subdued tone.
How did the story of קמצא ובר קמצא lead to the destruction of ירושלים?
Bar Kamtza was so furious that no one stood up for him when he was humiliated, that he arranged for a non-Jew to bring a blemished animal to the בית המקדש. When it wasn't accepted, it caused the Roman authorities to turn against the Jews.
When Tisha B'Av begins on Motzoei Shabbos what happens with Havdala?
We only say בורא מאורי האש on Motzoei Shabbos. We do not smell בשמים at all, and we say the ברכה of הבדלה on Sunday night.
Name at least three activities prohibited during the 9 days.
You get an additional 50 points for any additional correct answer.
Eating meat, drinking wine, washing clothes, wearing freshly laundered clothes, bathing for pleasure, building or remodeling a house, etc
Which of the following was NOT a real location in the בית המקדש?
A. לִשְׁכַּת הַמְצֹרָעִים.
B. לִשְׁכַּת הַנְּזִירִים
C. לִשְׁכַּת דִּיר הָעֵצִים
D. לִשְׁכַּת הַסֹּלֶת
D. לִשְׁכַּת הַסֹּלֶת
Why do we not wear Tefillin on Tisha B'Av morning?
Tefillin are described as פאר- beauty- in the book of יחזקאל. As a sign of mourning we do not wear our "beauty".
Besides for the destruction of the 2 בתי מקדש name at least 2 other tragedies that occurred on תשעה באב throughout the ages.
1. The מרגלים returned with their evil report about ארץ ישראל- The men of that generation would die in the desert while the rest of the people would remain in the desert for 40 years.
2. The Jews of Beitar were butchered to death by the Romans in the year 133 in the culmination of the Bar Kochba revolt.
3. The expulsion of the Jews from England in 1290 and the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 both occurred on תשעה באב.
The restrictions of the 9 Days are supposed to extend until after חצות on the day after תשעה באב. What are 2 exceptions to this rule?
1. When תשעה באב falls on Thursday, preparations for Shabbos such as laundry can begin on Friday morning.
2. When תשעה באב falls on Shabbos and the fast is pushed off to Sunday, all the restrictions end after the fast except for eating meat which can resume the next morning.
What physical changes are made to the Shule on the night of תשעה באב?
The פרוכת is pulled back and the lights are dimmed.
Which נביא prophesied about the 3rd בית המקדש?
A. ישעיה
B. ירמיה
C. יחזקאל
D. עמוס
C. יחזקאל
Name at least 3 specific parts of Torah which are permitted to be studied on תשעב באב.
1. Megillas Eicha with its accompanying מדרשים and מפרשים.
2. The אגדתא in מסכת גיטין which discusses the destruction of the second בית המקדש and the events which occurred before and after it.
3. The chapters of איוב and ירמיה which deal with tragedy.
4. הלכות תשעב באב
Who wrote the majority of the קינות that we say on תשעה באב?
Rabbi Elazar Hakalir.
There are various disputes about who exactly he was and in which era he lived.
FREE HALF POINTS
What did רבי יהודה הנשיא want to do when תשעה באב fell on שבת?
(See :מגילה ה)
He wanted to abolish תשעה באב entirely for that year. He said הואיל ונדחה ידחה- if it is already been pushed off due to Shabbos, let it be pushed off entirely.
FREE HALF POINTS
Which parts of Shacharis do we say just prior to Mincha on Tisha B'Av?
1. The ברכות of טלית and תפילין.
2. קריאת שמע while wearing תפילין.
3. שיר של יום
Which 2 items from the בית המקדש did Titus parade around in the streets in celebration of destroying the בית במקדש?
The מנורה and the שלחן
We recite most of the קינות sitting on the floor or a low chair. Which קינה do we recite standing up?
אלי ציון ועריה
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