Tisha B'Av, the ninth day of Hebrew month of Av, commemorates the destruction of the first Temple in 586 B.C.E. by the Babylonians. After the temple was destroyed, many Jews were carried off to live in Babylon, one of many exiles of the Jewish people from the Holy Land. On Tisha B'Av, Jews fast and read aloud the scroll of Lamentations. Psalm 137 is also read as part of the service.

In the painting of the Psalm, a poet sits on the banks of a river with the Ziggurats of Babylon in the background. The poet's harp hangs on a willow tree, and the scene appears quite peaceful with flowers and water birds. However, the heart of the poet is full of sadness at the exile from Zion.

By the rivers of Babylon we sat, yea we wept,
When we remembered Zion.
Upon the willows in the midst thereof
We hanged up our harps.

Then the Psalms continues:

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem,
Let my right hand forget her cunning.
Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth,
If I remember thee not;
If I set not Jerusalem
Above my chiefest joy.

This is one of the most important Psalms and like many of the Psalms associated with a Jewish holiday.

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