18 Tamuz 5772
Today is Taanit (fasting) of 17 of Tamuz
Although today, Sunday, is the 18th of Tammuz, we fast today because the 17th of Tamuz was yesterday on Shabbat Kodesh, and we don't fast on Shabbat.
The 17th of Tammuz is a historically tragic day for Benei Yisrael; among other calamities, here is a partial list of the worst:
1. Upon descending Har Sinai and seeing the Egel haZahav, the Golden Calf, Moshe Rabbenu shattered the first tablets upon which the Aseret HaDibrot, theTen Commandments were written.
2. The walls of the First Beit HaMikdash were breached by Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian forces in the year 3184 (586 BCE).
3. A year earlier to the day, because of the Babylonian siege on Jerusalem and the shortage of sheep, the daily sacrifices in the Temple were terminated.
4. King Menashe, an evil and idolatrous king, placed an idol in the Holy Sanctuary of the Temple.
5. Titus and the Romans breaches the walls of the Second Temple in 3670 (70 CE), which led to the destruction of the Temple 3 weeks later on the 9th of Av ("Tisha B'Av").
6. The wicked Apostomos, made a massive persecution of Jews and publicly burned the Torah.
The 17th of Tammuz is a historically tragic day for Benei Yisrael; among other calamities, here is a partial list of the worst:
1. Upon descending Har Sinai and seeing the Egel haZahav, the Golden Calf, Moshe Rabbenu shattered the first tablets upon which the Aseret HaDibrot, theTen Commandments were written.
2. The walls of the First Beit HaMikdash were breached by Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian forces in the year 3184 (586 BCE).
3. A year earlier to the day, because of the Babylonian siege on Jerusalem and the shortage of sheep, the daily sacrifices in the Temple were terminated.
4. King Menashe, an evil and idolatrous king, placed an idol in the Holy Sanctuary of the Temple.
5. Titus and the Romans breaches the walls of the Second Temple in 3670 (70 CE), which led to the destruction of the Temple 3 weeks later on the 9th of Av ("Tisha B'Av").
6. The wicked Apostomos, made a massive persecution of Jews and publicly burned the Torah.
Today is not a day if just not eating, it is a day to open up our eyes and considers these tragedies, which should motivate us to do Teshuvah and develop within us a longing for the Beit HaMikdash to be built once again.
May everyone have a meaningful and easy Taanit.
Kol Tuv!
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