COMING UP....
The next event on the calender is the Fast of the Fourth month (Fast of Tammuz)
History
According to the Mishnah(Taanit 4:6) five calamities befell G-d's people on this day:
- Moshe broke the two tablets of stone on the mountain after witnessing Israel worshipping the golden calf
- The daily tamid(continual) offering ceased to be brought 3 weeks before destruction of the 1st Temple by the Babylonians in 423BCE (Tisha B'av)
- The walls of Jerusalem were breached (proceeding the destruction of the 2nd Temple also on Tisha B'av).
- Prior to Bar Kokhba's revolt, Roman military leader Apostomus burned a Torah scroll;
- And erected an idol in the Temple.
According to Rabbi Akiva this is the "fast of the fourth month" mentioned in the Book of Zechariah.
"Thus
saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of
the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall
be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts;
therefore love the truth and peace.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:
And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.
Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." - Zec 8:19-23
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:
And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.
Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." - Zec 8:19-23
May it come speedily and in our days!
Laws and Customs
It is an "easy fast" meaning it only last 12hrs (dawn to dusk) and you are permitted to drink water.
This year the 17th of Tammuz lands on a Shabbat which means the fast is differed to the following day. So this year the fast corresponds with the 8th of July.
The following 3 weeks(leading up to Tisha B'av) are considered a period of mourning, many refrain from festive activities (such as weddings) during this time.
Remember to check the Holidays page for the latest on all the holidays!
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