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The Other Fast

The fast of Tammuz 17: The beginning
of the "Three Weeks."

ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
AppleTree Editor

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What It Commemorates: Two simi-
lar catastrophes that occurred cen-
turies apart: The breaching of the
walls of Jerusalem by the
Babylonian, Nebuchadnezzar, in
586 B.C.E., and again by the
Roman, Titus, in 70 C.E.
Other tragedies that befell the
Jewish people on this day in history:
• Moses broke the first set of
tablets containing the Ten
Commandments. He did so after
returning from Mount Sinai to find
that the Jews had constructed, and
were worshipping, the Golden Calf.
(Read more in Shemot 32:19).
• King Menashe, and later Roman
Emperor Apostomos, both placed
idols in the Holy Sanctuary of the
Temple on the 17th of Tammuz.
Apostomos further burned the
Torah in public on this day.
• Pope Gregory IX demanded that
all copies of the Talmud be confis-
cated in 1239 C.E.
• More than 4,000 Jews were
killed in Spain in 1391 C.E.
• The Jewish Quarter of Prague
was burned and ransacked in 1559
C.E.
• The Nazis liquidated the Kovno
Ghetto on the 17th of Tammuz in
1944.
• The government of Libya
ordered that all Jewish property be
confiscated on this day in 1970.

Basic Observance: No food or
drink. Because this is a minor fast
day, however, pregnant women and
nursing mothers are exempt, though
they should avoid meat and hard
liquor and focus on eating plain,
simple foods.
Persons on medication and those
unsure of their medical condition
should consult with a rabbi and a
physician.

Rituals: In the synagogue morning
service (Shacharit), Selichot (peni-
tential prayers) are recited, as well as

the Avinu Malkeynu prayer.
In the synagogue afternoon serv-
ice (Minchah), two changes are
made in the Amidah (Shmona
Esreh): individual worshippers insert
the "Aneynu" paragraph in the
Shma Koleynu portion; and in the
cantor's repetition of the Amidah,
"Aneynu" is inserted after Re'eh
Veonyeynu. The Torah is read at
morning and afternoon services.
The Torah portion for both serv-
ices is Exodus 32:11 - 14 and Exodus
34:1 - 10. Three persons are called
up. In the afternoon, the third per-
son also reads the Haftarah, which
is Isaiah 55:6 to 56:8.

Special Significance Of This Fast:
The 17th of Tammuz begins the
three-week period of mourning
known in Hebrew as beyn ha-met-
zarim ("between the straits") which
ends on Tisha b'Av. Commonly, this
period is known simply as "The
Three Weeks."
During this time, Jews do not
have weddings, parties or other cele-
brations; live music is not played;
haircuts are not permitted (some
men also do not shave); a number
of people also do not buy new
clothing or make improvements to
their homes.

Did You Know?
• Another event that occurred on
the 17th of Tammuz: Noah sent the
first dove from his ark in search of
land.
• The Prophet Zechariah, in the
Mishnah, calls this fast the "Fast of
the Fourth Month." The Mishnah
further states that when Mashiach,
the Messiah, comes, the 17th of
Tammuz will become a day "full of -
gladness and cheerful feasts."

Find It On The Web: Want to
learn more about this day and its
significance to the Jewish people?
Check out these Internet sites :

www.torah.org/learning/yomtov/
3weeks/ provides useful commen-
tary about the Fast of Tammuz,
mourning, the Three Weeks and
Tisha b'Av.

