Sunday, December 12, 2010

Halocho #709 - Why will we fast on Friday?

This Friday - 10 Tevet - we fast to commemorate the beginning of the siege against Jerusalem.

Almost 2,500 years ago the wicked King Nebuchadnezzar laid siege against Jerusalem which culminated in the destruction of the first Bet Hamikdash, a year and a half later.

This is the King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in whose court Daniel (who survived the lion's den) served.

The purpose of the fast is to awaken us to repent; if the Bet Hamikdash has not been rebuilt then we suffer from similar deficiencies that caused it to be destroyed.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 121:3

Trivia: We will not fast on Asara B'Tevet during 2011. :-)

- Danny
Sunday, 5 Tevet 5771

4 comments:

  1. can one shower for Shabbos this coming Friday tho it is a fast day?

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  2. Why will we not fast on Asara B'Tevet during 2011?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Got it. For 5772, the Tenth of Tevet will fall in January 2012. So there is no Tenth of Tevet in 2011.

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  4. > can one shower for Shabbos this coming
    > Friday tho it is a fast day?

    Yes - one can always shower on "minor" fast days. Showering is only forbidden on Yom Kippour and 9-B'Av.

    ReplyDelete