Partzoof Tisha B’Av
Partzoof Tisha B’Av means literally, a “Tisha B’Av face.” Tisha B’Av (9th day of the Hebrew month of Av) is the Jewish holy day on which we commemorate and commiserate over the destruction of both the first and second temples in Jerusalem, and the subsequent exile of the Jews to the four corners of the Earth (where we’ve done pretty well for ourselves, actually). Tisha B’Av is a day of fast and mourning and Jews are forbidden to participate in any type of joyful entertainment such as television or swimming and in fact are not supposed to laugh, smile or sing. It’s English equivalent would be “Why the long face?”
Examples:
- Why does everyone have a partzoof Tisha B’Av here? What happened?
- What is that partzoof Tisha B’Av for? You’ll retake the exam next month and you’ll do fine.
- Wipe that partzoof Tisha B’Av off your face. Everything will be fine – you’ll see.