Wednesday, December 31, 2014

The 10th of Teves

The 10th of Teves

This year, January 1st coincides with the Tenth of Tevet, a day of fasting, mourning and introspection.

On the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tevet, in the year 3336 from Creation, the armies of the Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem.

Thirty months later—on 9 Tammuz 3338—the city walls were breached, and on 9 Av of that year the Holy Temple was destroyed. This morning in Synagogue,

The Shulchan Aruch and the Tur suggest that if possible, a person should really fast three days, the 8th, 9th and 10th of Tevet.

This fast is so strict that when it falls on Friday, while every other fast is pushed off, we must fast on Friday.

Some even suggest that if the Tenth of Tevet fell on Shabbat (it’s not possible using our current calendar) we would be required to fast on Shabbat.

No comments:

Post a Comment