17th of Tammuz - Shva'Assar B'Tamuz
The 17th day in the Jewish month of Tammuz,
Jews the world over fast and lament to commemorate the many
calamities that have befallen our people on this ominous day.
The purpose of such fasts in the Jewish
calendar is, according to Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov's Book of Our
Heritage, "to awaken hearts towards repentance through
recalling our forefathers' misdeeds; misdeeds which led to
calamities..."
Going all the way back to
Biblical times, Moses descended Mount Sinai on this day and, upon
seeing the Golden Calf broke the first set
of Tablets carrying the Ten
Commandments (Shemot
32:19, Mishna Taanit 28b).
In the First Temple Era:
The priests in the First
Temple stopped offering the daily sacrifice
on this day (Taanit 28b) due to the shortage
of sheep during the siege and the next year
3184 (586 BCE), the walls of Jerusalem were breached after many months of siege by
Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian forces.
During the period of Roman persecution an idol was placed in the holy
sanctuary of the Temple (Melachim II 21:7,Taanit
28b), and the heathen Apostomos, captain of
the occupation forces, publicly burned the Torah (Taanit 28b) - both acts considered open blasphemy
and desecration. These were followed by Titus
and Rome breaching the walls of Jerusalem
in 3760 (70 CE) and Pope Gregory IX ordering
the confiscation of all manuscripts of the Talmud in 4999 (1239).
In later years this day continued
to be a dark one for Jews. In 1391, more than
4,000 Jews were killed in Toledo and Jaen, Spain and in 4319 (1559) the Jewish Quarter of Prague was burned and looted.
The Kovno
ghetto was liquidated on this day in 5704
(1944) and in 5730 (1970) Libya ordered the
confiscation of Jewish property.
Other interesting occurrences
on this day include Noach sending out the
first dove to see if the Flood waters had
receded, (Bereishit
8:8) in 1650 (2100 BCE); Moshe Rabbeinu
destroying the golden calf, (Shemot
32:20, Seder Olam 6, Taanit 30b - Rashi)
and then ascending back up Har Sinai for the
second time where he spent the next forty
days pleading for forgiveness for the sin
of the golden calf, (Shemot
33:11, Rashi).
he Mishna in
Ta'anit 4:8 associates the 17th of Tammuz as the "Fast of
the Fourth Month" mentioned by the prophet Zechariah.
According to this Mishna, the 17th of Tammuz will be transformed
in the messianic era in a day that"shall be joy to the
House of Judah" full of "gladness and cheerful
feasts."
The fast of the
17th of Tammuz is observed from the break of dawn until dusk, one
of only two Jewish fasts to be observed in this manner.
Expecting or
nursing mothers and those who are ill are expected to observe the
fast but with lenience, refraining from meat, luxurious food and
hard liquor.
Minors that are old
enough to understand, though exempt from fasting, should also be
fed only simple foods as a manner of education.
Unlike many Jewish
fast days, washing and wearing leather is permitted.
Special prayers
(vayechal and anenu) are added to the morning and afternoon
prayers. Ashkenazim add the latter only in the afternoon service
(mincha).
This day is the beginning of the Three Weeks, an annual period
of mourning over the destruction of the first and second Temples
in Jerusalem.
Sources: Judaism
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