HO I

DAY

Beginning June 1st

Fast Day

17th of Tammuz marks tragedies.

Elizabeth Applebaum
Special to the Jewish News

W

hen It Occurs This Year
Tuesday, July 3, the sol-
emn holiday falls on,
from dawn to dusk.

What It Commemorates
Two similar catastrophes, yet 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 the year
70 C.E.
Many other tragedies also occurred
on this day in history:
• Moses broke the first set of tablets
containing the Ten Commandments
after returning from Mount Sinai
only to find that the Jews had built,
and were worshipping, the Golden
Calf. (Shemot 32:19).
• King Menashe, and later Roman
General Apostomos, placed idols in
the Holy Sanctuary of the Temple,
while Apostomos 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.
• In 1970, the government of Libya
ordered that all Jewish property be
confiscated on this day.

Observance
Fasting, though pregnant women and
nursing mothers are exempt. Persons
on medication and those unsure of
their medical condition should con-
sult with a rabbi and a physician.

Rituals
In the synagogue morning service
(Shacharit), Selichot (penitential
prayers) are recited, as well as the
Avinu Malkeinu prayer. In the after-
noon service (Minchah), changes
are made in the Amidah (Shemoneh
Esrei). First, individual worshippers

insert the Aneinu paragraph in the
Shema Koleinu portion; second, in
the cantor's repetition of the Amidah,
Aneinu is inserted after Re'eh
Veoneinu.
The Torah is read at both the
morning and afternoon services. The
Torah portion for both services is
Exodus 32:11 14 and Exodus 34:1-10.
In the afternoon, a third person also
reads the Haftorah, Isaiah 55:6 to
56:8.

Notable Feature Of The Day
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. This period
also is known simply as "The Three
Weeks." During this time, Jews do
not have weddings, parties or other
celebrations; live music is not played;
haircuts are not allowed (some men
also do not shave); some do not buy
new clothing or make improvements
to their homes.

A Few Interesting Facts
• Another event that occurred on
this day in history: Noah sent the
first dove from his ark in search of
land.
• The Mishnah states that when
Mashiach, the Messiah, comes, the
17th of Tammuz will become a day
that is "full of gladness and cheerful
feasts."

Find It On The Web
Want to learn more about the 17th of
Tammuz and its significance to the
Jewish people? Check out these Web
sites:
• www.torah.org/learning/yomtov/
3weeks provides commentary on
the Fast of Tammuz, mourning, the
Three Weeks and Tisha b'Av. It also
contains useful articles about Jews
and fasting.
• www.nationmaster.com/encyclo-
pedia/Nebuchadnezzar-II-of-Babylon
gives a link to images of what once
was Nebuchadnezzar's palace and
offers links to other relevant illustra-
tions. 7

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