Today: The Fast of Shiva Asar B’Tammuz
The Fast ends at 9:06pm (NYC Time)
The 17th of Tammuz is a fast day, which is devoted to mourning the breaching of Jerusalem’s walls and the other tragic events that occurred on this day, and repenting and rectifying their causes. We refrain from all food and drink from “daybreak” (about an hour before sunrise, depending on location) until nightfall. Special prayers and Torah readings are added to the day’s services.
“The Three Weeks” Begin
The 17th of Tammuz also marks the beginning of The Three Weeks period of mourning which culminates on the 9th of Av, commemorating the conquest of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Holy Temple and the dispersion of the Jewish people.
Weddings and other joyful events are not held during this period; like mourners, we do not cut our hair, and various pleasurable activities are limited or proscribed. (Consult the Code of Jewish Law (Shulchan Aruch) or a qualified rabbi regarding specific proscriptions).
The Lubavitcher Rebbe urged that the Three Weeks should be a time of increased giving of charity and Torah study (in keeping with the verse (Isaiah 1:27), “Zion shall be redeemed by law, and her returnees by charity”), particularly the study of those portions of Torah that deal with the laws and the deeper significance of the Holy Temple.
Who caused the breach?
Who caused the breach?
According to some British historians, quoting Roman documents, the Yidden caused the breach, but inadvertently.
In ancient times, a very strategic weapon, used by the Romans, was a siege tower. It was about 75 ft high, weighed several tons, arrow shielded (except for narrow openings for the Romans to shoot from) and transported on wheels. The Romans would climb to the top, which gave them the vantage point of fighting from an above position (ancient air force?). They brought this contraption next to the wall.
Nevertheless, for every ingenious method the enemy came up with to vanquish the Yidden, the Yidden came up with a clever way to foil the enemy. In fact, the Romans were respectful of this – “they fought valiently.”
So, the Jews dug a tunnel under the walls, leading under the tower. They set it on fire, bringing it down. But, unfortunately, the Jewish successes was not to last any much longer. The Romans decided no more to engage the Yidden in direct battle. They quickly built a makeshift wall around the city, thus cutting off supplies. This took its toll as starvation, disease and other misery set in. Eventually, that part of the wall, hovering over the tunnel, gave in, resulting in the breach. Of course, the Romans took advantage, and ran throught there.