In the year 3,339, on 9th Tamuz, the city walls of Jerusalem were breached by the wicked King Nebuchadnezzar's army. Four weeks later - on 9th Av - the first Bet Hamikdash was destroyed.
For 70 years - until the second Bet Hamikdash was built - the 9th Tamuz was a fast-day.
At the time of the destruction of the second Bet Hamikdash the walls were breached a week later - on 17 Tamuz.
The Rabbis decided not to burden the Yidden with having to fast 2 weeks in a row.
Since the destruction of the second Bet Hamikdash is more relevant to us, the original fast-day was dropped.
The Talmud Yerushalmi (Ta'anit 4:5) is of the opinion that the walls were breached both times on 17 Tamuz, but due to the turmoil at the time of the first destruction, the date was wrongly recorded as 9 Tamuz.
Source: Tur Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 549
- Danny
Tuesday, 10 Tamuz 5770
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Halocho #595 - Why don't we fast today?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
And as I wrote to you a year ago when you wrote the same thing, the date that the Jerusalem city walls were breached was NOT 10 Tamuz, because it happened on 9 Tamuz. Please double check your sources before writing things down.
ReplyDelete