In short
Av is the Hebrew month containing Tisha B'Av, the twenty five hour fast mourning the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem. The Nine Days before it are a period of restraint, and the sages taught that the Second Temple fell through sinat chinam, baseless hatred, which makes the repair of this month ahavat chinam, unconditional love.
Hello beautiful people,
Welcome to the new month of
Av
.
This month has always felt like a bit of a mystery.
For years, I only knew Av as the “sad month.”
But its actually one of the most profound months, and I’m excited to dive in.
Before we do, I want to thank you for being part of this growing community. Every month, more people are choosing to reconnect to the wisdom of our roots and I’m so grateful we’re on this journey together.
P.S.
Primary
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Remembering the Future
Next Thursday is
Tisha B’Av
, the saddest day of the year and a 25 hour fast - we mourn the destruction of the 1st and 2nd Temples in Jerusalem 2000+ years ago.
Who caresss?
The Temple wasn’t simply a ancient building.
It was the spiritual heart of the Jewish people - where the Divine Feminine Presence (
Shechinah
) was felt, and where people came to reconnect with God, one another, and their highest purpose.
Its destruction, kicked us out and a sad homeless new chapter for our people began. Bye Bye Israel.
So why do we mourn ?
Because it is not just about what happened, it’s about what will be and the mission of Am Yisrael.
We remember because remembering keeps a vision alive.
For centuries, Jews prayed facing Jerusalem. At every wedding, we broke a glass. Every Passover ended with “Next year in Jerusalem.”
An entire nation refused to forget.
Long before neuroscience, Judaism understood something profound:
what we continually remember shapes the future we create.
I believe this collective mourning and longing became a kind of collective manifestation. Two thousand years later, we came home. I’m literally writing this from Israel.
So perhaps Av isn’t only about mourning the past. It’s about refusing to give up on a vision for the future.
The 9 Days: Mourning to Make Space
The Nine Days are a period of mourning leading up to Tisha B’Av. We step away from certain pleasures and celebrations (like eating meat), not as punishment, but to create space to stop, feel, and remember.
The destroyed Temple & The Shechina (Feminine Divine Presence) that never left. The woman in black represents the exiled Am Yisrael, waiting to return home. Print by Me
Staying With the Pain
One of the greatest gifts of the Hebrew calendar is that it gives us permission to experience the full spectrum of being human.
There is a time to dance.
A time to celebrate.
A time to build.
And there is also a time to mourn.
We live in a culture that teaches us to escape discomfort as quickly as possible. We distract ourselves, numb ourselves, or rush toward the next thing.
Judaism offers another path.
Healing doesn’t come from avoiding pain.
It comes from GOING THROUGH IT.
As Rabbi Nachman of Breslov famously taught,
“There is nothing more whole than a broken heart.”
From Baseless Hatred to Baseless Love
This month is about RELATIONSHIPS
Our sages teach that the Second Temple was destroyed because of
sinat chinam
- baseless hatred.
Therefore repair begins with
ahavat chinam
- unconditional love.
This month we work on our relationships.
Judging people favorably, being kind, seeing others with a “good eye” even when they drive us mad. Not speaking badly about others.
From heartbreak to heartful (that’s not a word)
Just six days after Tisha B’Av comes
Tu B’Av
, the Fifteenth of Av.
A holiday people do not know about, when the young women of Jerusalem danced in white garments in the vineyards. It was a celebration of love, unity, and new beginnings,
This month starts in deep sadness and ends in the greatest joy. More on this later.
Join Me for 30 Days - Arrive at Rosh Hashana prepared.
Once a year, a new gate opens and we are given a special time to review the story we’re living, and begin writing a new one before our destiny is sealed on Rosh Hashana.
Starting
August 12
, we’ll embark on a journey to make the most of the most spiritually significant season of the year.
4 live teachings with Q&A
Guided journal prompts and practical exercises
2 guided meditations and embodied movement practices
Private Group Chat with me & more!
A 30 Day Journey Through Elul
Blessing you for an amazing month.
Chodesh Tov.
With love,
Yarin
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Written by Yarin Weltsman (Queen Yarin)
About Yarin →Questions people ask
What is Tisha B'Av?+
The ninth of Av, a twenty five hour fast mourning the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem and other catastrophes in Jewish history.
What are the Nine Days?+
The first nine days of Av, leading up to Tisha B'Av, when certain pleasures and celebrations are set aside to make space to feel and remember.
Why mourn a building destroyed two thousand years ago?+
The Temple was the spiritual centre of the Jewish people. Mourning it keeps a vision alive, and in this reading the collective remembering is also what carried the people home.
