Halocho #365 - Why do we fast on the 17th Tamuz?

Tomorrow - Thursday - will be the fast of 17 Tamuz which commemorates 5 major misfortunes which happened to the Jewish people on this date: - Moshe Rabbeinu broke the luchot - the tablets - upon seeing the Golden Calf being worshiped - The daily Tamid sacrifice was suspended in the first Bet Hamikdash as a result of the siege - At the time of the 2nd Bet Hamikdash the walls of Jerusalem were breached by the enemy, three weeks before the destruction - Apustumus the wicked [Roman] burned a Sefer Torah - An idol was placed in the Bet Hamikdash The fast starts at dawn and ends at nightfall. On every fast day there is Kriat HaTorah (Torah Reading) at both Shacharit and Mincha. At Mincha, the 3rd Aliya also reads the Haftarah (from Yeshayahu 55:6). Only somebody who is fasting should be called up to the Torah on a fast day. During the Mincha Amida, individuals add the "Aneinu" prayer into the 16th Bracha; Shema Kolienu. If one forgot, one does not need to make amends. The Chazzan adds Aneinu during both Shacharit and Mincha, as a separate Bracha before Refo'enu. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 23:15, 19:14, 20:8 Have a meaningful fast, - Danny Jerusalem, Wednesday, 16 Tamuz 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה