B''SD
10 Tevet 5773
**Today is the Taanit ( day of fasting) of Asarah be'Tevet. The Taanit ends at 5:18 pm in New York. (please check myzmanim.com for fast times in your area)
Today is the fast of Asarah be'Tevet. The tenth of Tevet is the day which the siege of Yerushalayim began, marking the beginning of the whole chain of calamities which befell upon Benei Yisrael, which finally ended with the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash.Rambam in Hilkhot Ta'anit, perek 5 explains, 'The essential significance of the fast of the Tenth of Tevet, as well as that of the other fast days, is not primarily the grief and mourning which they evoke. Their aim is rather to awaken the hearts towards repentance; to recall to us, both the evil deeds of ourfathers, and our own evil deeds, which caused anguish to befall both them and us and thereby to cause us to return towards the good…..'
The Hayei Adam writes in Klal 33 that 'The aim of fasting, therefore, is to subjugate our evil inclination by restriction of pleasure; to open our hearts and stir us to repentance and good deeds through which the gates of Divine mercy might be opened for us.'
He continues: 'Therefore, each person is obligated to examine his deeds and to repent during these days. As it is written of the people of Nineveh: 'And HaShem saw their actions' (Yonah 3), upon which our Rabbis say: 'It is not said, He saw their sackcloth and fasting, but rather their actions ' (Ta'anit 22). Hence, we see that the purpose of fasting is repentance.'
The purpose of this day, and all other fast days is not to simply refrain from eating; it is rather a day to disconnect from worldly matters and to look inside ourselves and reflect. We must consider why it was that the Beit HaMikdash was taken away from us and orient our actions in order to be zokheh to see it rebuilt. This is a powerful day for Teshuvah. Sit down and consider what actions and middot we could work on and how we can better perfect our Avodat HaShem.
Be'ezrat HaShem Yitbarakh, in the zekhout of this ta'anit, may we be zokhim to bring Mashiah ben David bi'mehera be'yamenu and to rebuild and rejoice in the Beit Hamikdash be'karov, Amen!
Have a meaningful fast!
--
MidrESHET Hayil
10 Tevet 5773
**Today is the Taanit ( day of fasting) of Asarah be'Tevet. The Taanit ends at 5:18 pm in New York. (please check myzmanim.com for fast times in your area)
Today is the fast of Asarah be'Tevet. The tenth of Tevet is the day which the siege of Yerushalayim began, marking the beginning of the whole chain of calamities which befell upon Benei Yisrael, which finally ended with the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash.Rambam in Hilkhot Ta'anit, perek 5 explains, 'The essential significance of the fast of the Tenth of Tevet, as well as that of the other fast days, is not primarily the grief and mourning which they evoke. Their aim is rather to awaken the hearts towards repentance; to recall to us, both the evil deeds of ourfathers, and our own evil deeds, which caused anguish to befall both them and us and thereby to cause us to return towards the good…..'
The Hayei Adam writes in Klal 33 that 'The aim of fasting, therefore, is to subjugate our evil inclination by restriction of pleasure; to open our hearts and stir us to repentance and good deeds through which the gates of Divine mercy might be opened for us.'
He continues: 'Therefore, each person is obligated to examine his deeds and to repent during these days. As it is written of the people of Nineveh: 'And HaShem saw their actions' (Yonah 3), upon which our Rabbis say: 'It is not said, He saw their sackcloth and fasting, but rather their actions ' (Ta'anit 22). Hence, we see that the purpose of fasting is repentance.'
The purpose of this day, and all other fast days is not to simply refrain from eating; it is rather a day to disconnect from worldly matters and to look inside ourselves and reflect. We must consider why it was that the Beit HaMikdash was taken away from us and orient our actions in order to be zokheh to see it rebuilt. This is a powerful day for Teshuvah. Sit down and consider what actions and middot we could work on and how we can better perfect our Avodat HaShem.
Be'ezrat HaShem Yitbarakh, in the zekhout of this ta'anit, may we be zokhim to bring Mashiah ben David bi'mehera be'yamenu and to rebuild and rejoice in the Beit Hamikdash be'karov, Amen!
Have a meaningful fast!
-Smile Eshet Hayil! :D
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