The fast of 17 Tammuz begins early Sunday morning — at 2:15 AM on July 13 in Dnipro — and ends at 9:19 PM local time. This fast is observed by Jews worldwide in remembrance of many tragic events, especially the breach of Jerusalem’s walls before the destruction of the Temple.
The fast lasts throughout the halachic daytime, as defined by zmanim (Jewish legal time).
On this day, all forms of eating, drinking, and physical pleasure are prohibited, as with other Jewish fasts.
The 17th of Tammuz marks the beginning of the Three Weeks of Mourning — known as Bein HaMetzarim — culminating in the major fast of Tisha B’Av (9 Av). This period ushers in a time of grief, referred to as “Days of Distress,” during which joyous events are avoided: no weddings or celebrations, no buying or wearing new clothes, no eating the season’s first fruits, no haircuts, and no listening to music, as the Levites no longer sing in the Temple.
This deep national mourning commemorates events that stripped the Jewish people of freedom and independence for millennia.
Many tragedies occurred on 17 Tammuz, including:
– In the year 2448 from Creation, Moses broke the Tablets of the Covenant.
– In the year 3338, the daily Temple sacrifices ceased during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem.
– In 3828, after six months of siege, the Romans breached the city walls, initiating brutal street battles in which approximately one million Jews were killed and the Second Temple was destroyed.
These are only the most well-known tragedies that occurred on this day in Jewish history.
In synagogues, after the three “haftarot of rebuke” read during the Three Weeks, we begin reading seven “haftarot of comfort”, where the prophet Isaiah foretells the Final Redemption with the coming of the righteous Moshiach.
During this period, it is customary to exercise extra caution — avoiding potentially dangerous places such as swimming pools, beaches, and extreme or risky activities. It is also advisable to postpone non-essential medical procedures or surgeries, if possible.
From 17 Tammuz to 9 Av, restrictions on joy and pleasure increase, reaching their peak on Tisha B’Av.
