Jewish Holidays

The Talmud says, “Where it is the custom to do work on the ninth of Av, one may work; where it is the custom not to do work, one may not do work.” However, whoever does work on the Ninth of Av will not see a sign of blessing from that work.

Mourning the Temple's destruction must be internal. A person cannot simply jump into the Ninth of Av. One must enter it gradually in order that his mourning be earnest. Therefore, the intensity of our mourning over the Temple's ruin grows gradually.

The sages teach: "In the End of Days the Almighty will transform the Ninth of Av into joy and happiness . . . and He will Himself rebuild Jerusalem and gather in the exiles, as it is written, "He builds Jerusalem, gathers in the outcasts of Israel."