Courtesy of Yaakov Kirschen.

Tonight is Erev Tisha B’Av, the eve of the 9th Day of Av, one of the most solemn days in the Jewish calendar. Tisha B’Av is the anniversary of numerous tragedies in Jewish history. For example,

• The report of the 12 spies.
• The destruction of King Solomon’s Holy Temple by the Babylonians (422 BCE).
• The destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans (68 CE).
• The defeat of the Bar Kochba revolt (132 CE).
• The declaration by Pope Urban II of the First Crusade (1095 CE).
• The expulsion of English Jews (1290 CE).
• The expulsion of Spanish Jews (1492 CE),
• The start of World War I (1914 CE).
• The beginning of mass deportation from the Warsaw Ghetto (1942 CE), and
• The bombing of the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires (1994 CE).

To commemorate these events, Jews fast for 25 hours and refrain from bathing, wearing leather shoes and engaging in marital relations. This fast is probably the most difficult of the year: The sun sets so late making the fast seem longer. The summer heat can dehydrate you. But most of all, unlike Yom Kippur, when you are surrounded by fellow Jews who are also fasting and busy with the liturgy, most Jews continue their daily routines on Tisha B’Av and are confronted with reminders of food.

According to Ira Milner:

While some people fast with little difficulty, most of us expect to feel more or less bedraggled after only a few hours. If fasting means headaches and assorted misery for you, it might be the fault of what you eat or drink beforehand. A few simple precautions in planning your pre-taanit menu could make all the difference.

Here is a summary of Ira Milner’s recommendations:

• Drink plenty of fluids. 8-10 glasses of water (or other non-caffeinated beverage).
• Small portions of animal proteins.
• Increase starch and carbohydrates: Whole grain-bread, cereals, pasta, potatoes, legumes, unsalted popcorn.
• Increase fiber: Vegetables and fruits with edible skins or seeds.
• Decrease salt.
• Avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, sodas)
• Avoid fried or spicy foods.