17th of Tammuz and the Three Weeks
The 17th of Tammuz (this year the 13th of July) marks the day the walls of Jerusalem fell during the second Bais HaMikdash period, leading to the destruction of the Bais HaMikdash on the 9th of Av, and is the beginning of a period of mourning known as "The Three Weeks" or "Bain HaMetzarim" in Hebrew (lit. "between the straits"). It is a day of fasting (from dawn to nightfall) and is, most importantly, a day of teshuvah.
According to the Talmud (Taanis 26b), five tragedies befell the Jewish people on this day:
For more information visit:
Aish HaTorah
Chabad
According to the Talmud (Taanis 26b), five tragedies befell the Jewish people on this day:
- The Jews worshipped the Golden Calf at Har Sinai.
- The daily sacrifices in the first Bais HaMikdash were stopped due to the Babylonian siege.
- Titus of Rome broke through the walls of Jerusalem.
- Apostomos, a Roman captain publicly burned a Torah scroll.
- An Idol was placed in the Kadosh HaKadoshim, the inner most part of the Bais HaMikdash.
- Weddings are not held.
- We don't listen to music.
- We avoid public celebrations.
- We avoid pleasure trips or other unusually fun activities.
- No haircuts or shaving.
- We do not say the shehechianu on a new fruit or new clothing, except on Shabbos. (Some refrain from this even on Shabbos.)
For more information visit:
Aish HaTorah
Chabad
posted by Anonymous at 8:25 PM
4 Comments:
Great post. I'll be sure to fast tomorrow. I'll set my clock to wake up before sunrise...
Also, it was the Roman General Vespasian who broke through the city walls of Jerusalem. Titus was safe & sound in Rome at the time. Perhaps that's what you meant.
It's so fitting that we're fasting now, and I'm afraid of the implications of Israel's current crisis falling on the 17th of Tammuz... :-(
FB: That was Oyster from OyBay! who left that comment, not I.
But excellent post. I just got online to do a little learning, and look at the little gem I found right here on the JewniProj! Yasher koach.
Yeah, so the fasting is the easy part. It's the tshuva and praying with kavanah that's giving me a hard time.
Pray for our brothers and sisters in Israel and the Middle East--G-d should protect them in this time of uncertainty.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titus
Vespasian (his original name might cause confusion: 'Titus Flavius Vespasianus') was Titus' father. Vespasian had to head back to Rome in 70 CE in order to struggle for the succession of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. So Titus (not emperor at the time) did take charge of laying seige to Jerusalem. Later, his father Vespasian succeeded the Year of the Four Emperors to become Emperor of Rome, and when he died, Titus became Emperor.
And you might find this bit interesting:
According to the Babylonian Talmud (Gittin 56b), a mosquito flew in Titus' nose and picked at his brain. When he died, they opened his skull and found a mosquito the size of a bird. This was Divine retribution for his wicked actions, and had caused his death. Some Jewish commentators, however, do not take this literally.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titus#Emperor
And this:
Due to the depiction of the destruction of Jerusalem and the desecration of the Temple, many Jews refuse to walk underneath the arch to this very day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arch_of_Titus
There are also additional restrictions that apply to the last part of the Tree Weeks
I think you meant 'Three Weeks'. :-p
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