Fast of Ab

The Fast of Ab is the day we commemorate the destruction of both holy temples in Jerusalem, and the saddest day in the Jewish calendar.

The atmosphere on the Fast of Ab services is set by the plain black vestments used in the synagogue, and the special chants used for the lamentations (kinot), which include some of the best melodies in our musical repertoire.

A deliberately makeshift black curtain is hung in front of the doors to the Hechal (Ark).  This is doubly significant, both for being black and for being there at all, since in S&P synagogues the curtain (parochet) is generally inside rather than outside the ark. At the Evening Service candlelight is used.

A black cloth is spread over the Tebah (reading table). In NY, Philadelphia and Maida Vale in London the Tebah is not actually used, but an ordinary table is placed between the Tebah and the Hechal, and here the ministers sit, and the Sefer (Torah) read. The Sefer is covered with a plain black mantle, with special plain wooden finials instead of the usual silver bells.

As it is customary for a mourner to sit in a different seat to his usual one, this is done by all congregants on the Fast of Ab. However, they sit on the actual seats, and not on the floor as in other communities.

In line with the general custom of refraining from happy greetings, the custom in Amsterdam and New York is to hail each other with the morose "Morir habemos" (We all have to die), the correct response to which is "Ya lo sabemos" (Indeed, we know it). This exchange may be derived from a salutation used by Carthusian monks. It is unknown in London.

In common with most other Jewish communities, Tallet and Tefillin are worn only at Minha.

The men called up to the Torah stand on the left of the reader, not on the right as usual. Also the parnass, who usually stands at the right end of the Tebah,  stands at the left end of the table used in its stead.

At Shaharit the congregants called up to the Torah are simply called as "Cohen", "Levi", "Shelishi", without their names. At Minha where, by tradition, a more positive atmosphere prevails as we anticipate the future redemption,  the same people are called up with their full names.

The Haftara is read interspersed with a Spanish translation.

The numerous Kinot (lamentations) each have their own distinctive melody, and these form a significant part of the S&P musical repertoire. The late lamented former Hazan of the NY S&P, Revd. Abraham Lopes Cardozo, expressed the hope - with which the current writer certainly concurs - that in the messianic age the music will still be sung, but to happier words. To hear some of the music for the Kinot, click here.

This is the updated text of the English announcement of the number of years since the destruction:

"Brethren of the House of Israel, on this unhappy night 1,955 years have elapsed [this is for 2023; subtract 68 from the secular year] since the destruction of our holy temple. While giving thanks for the liberation of the holy city of Jerusalem, we pray for the dawn of the messianic age and the rebuilding of our sanctuary."