It is always in the summer from 17-Tammuz to the 9th of Av. The 9th of Av is regarded as the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. On our calender this year the dates are June 29th-July 20th.
During The Dark Time, Tisha B'av, every summer it is traditional that no weddings or festive occasions are held or celebrated. Some do not cut their hair, and the orthodox do not take baths. It begins with a fast, and there are many rules and regulations which apply. It is a period of mourning that becomes more intense as the days go by.
The Dark Time stands out from other fasts because it commemorates the destruction of both temples in Jerusalem. Both occurred on the 9th of Av, the first by the Babylonians, the second by the Romans. This period of fasting is said by the Jews to date all the way back to the Exodus when the ten spies went into Canaan to spy out the land. Eight of the spies came back with a bad report on the 9th of Av. This lack of faith was a setback which delayed the taking of the land.
There were many tragedies over the centuries which have occurred to the Jews on the 9th of Av, including the fall of the Bar Kochba Rebellion against Rome, the expulsion of the Jews from England in 1290 and from Spain in 1492. World War I broke out on Av 9. On that date in 1942, the mass deportation began of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto, en route to Treblinka.
The solar and lunar cycles also have great meaning for Israel and for the nations. It is unfortunate that we in the West are so unlearned about these things ... after all, who looks at the sky to read the signs in the 21st Century? You might be surprised to find that many people study these things which have been linked to the fate of nations for 6000 years. These signs have very specific meanings, and they are talked about in the Bible. Total solar eclipses have been a bad omen for the nations, while blood-red moons have been a bad omen for the Jewish people and Israel.
A fascinating overview of of these cycles and their significance can be found at:
http://www.watch.org/showart.php3?idx=104119&rtn=/index.html&showsubj=1&mcat=24
I highly recommend this site and think you will find the overview quiet fascinating and enlightening.
This year, 2010, Israel has been talking of a summer war. In fact, the entire world is talking about war this summer. Wars and rumors of wars seem to never cease.
Micah 7 talked about Israel being stripped naked during the summer. "Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit. The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men." Jesus himself talked very specifically about summer in the Olivet Discourse in Luke 21: "And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand."
This summer take note of June 29-July 20th, 'the dark time' for Israel. We also have a total solar eclipse on July 11th (Av 1) - a bad omen for the nations. Eight days later, Av 9 (July 20th) is Israel's saddest day. If you wonder how things can get any worse ... stay tuned. I prefer to see these things as bringing us closer to seeing our Lord, face to face.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. It will not happen without the Prince of Peace.
Royal Heir
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