The eighth of Tevet

Hi,

Friday is the eighth of Tevet:

"On the eighth of Tevet the Torah was written in Greek, in the days of King Ptolemy, and darkness came to the world for three days. Our sages did not say what happened on the ninth, but on that day Ezra and Nechemiah died. On the tenth, the king of Babylon neared Jerusalem to destroy her."

(Baal Halachot Gedolot #18)
 
Have a good day,
Mordechai

The eighth, ninth and tenth of Tevet

Hi,

"On the eighth of Tevet the Torah was written in Greek, in the days of King Ptolemy, and darkness came to the world for three days. Our sages did not say what happened on the ninth, but on that day Ezra and Nechemiah died. On the tenth, the king of Babylon neared Jerusalem to destroy her."

(Baal Halachot Gedolot #18)

Have an easy and meaningful fast,
Mordechai

Asarah b'Tevet - the Fast of the 10th of Tevet

Hi,

The fast of Asarah b’Tevet, the 10th day of Tevet, marks the beginning of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. It led to the destruction of the First Beit haMikdash, and the exile of the Jews to Babylon.

Today [Sunday 12/27/09] is Asarah b'Tevet. As we are taught regarding every fast other than Yom Kippur, the main merit of the fast is in donating to charity the money we would have spent on food.

(Talmud, Berachot 6b; Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 549:1; Mishneh Berurah 549:2)

Have an easy and meaningful fast,
Mordechai

Mourning for Jerusalem

Hi,

For the fast of the Tenth of Tevet, observed Tuesday January 6 this year:

"Anyone who mourns for Jerusalem will merit to see its joy!"

(Talmud, Taanit 30a)

Although Jews are once again able to live in Jerusalem, until there is peace and until Jews are able to again serve Gd in the Beit haMikdash [Jerusalem Temple], it will not truly be considered rebuilt

Have an easy and meaningful fast,
Mordechai

The Fast of the Tenth of Tevet

Hi,

The fast of Asarah b’Tevet, the 10th day of Tevet, marks the beginning of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. It led to the destruction of the First Beit haMikdash, and the exile of the Jews to Babylon.

Tuesday January 6th is Asarah b'Tevet. Here in Allentown we fast from first light, at 6:13 AM, until the stars emerge at 5:33 PM.

As we are taught regarding every fast other than Yom Kippur, the main merit of the fast is in donating to charity the money we would have spent on food.

May the merit of our charity, prayer and fasting aid the IDF in its efforts.

(Talmud, Berachot 6b; Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 549:1; Mishneh Berurah 549:2)

Have an easy and meaningful fast,
Mordechai

Asarah b'Tevet - The Tenth of Tevet

Hi,

"And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it. They built forts against it, all around. The city was besieged until the eleventh year of king Zedekiah."

(Kings II 25:1-2)

This was the siege that led to the destruction of the first Beit haMikdash, and so the day the siege began - the 10th day of the 10th month, which is Tevet - is marked by Jews worldwide as a day of fasting.

This year, the fast is Wednesday December 19th. In Allentown, it begins at 6:08 AM and ends at 5:19 PM.

Have an easy and meaningful fast,
Mordechai