This evening, at sunset, the day of the 10th of Tevet begins. This means that as soon as the night ends, from the very early morning, Jews all over the world will begin fasting throughout the daylight hours of the 10th of Tevet, in memory of the beginning of the three-year siege of Jerusalem by the troops of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.
This year in Dnipro, the fast begins on December 30th at 05:43 AM and ends at 04:31 PM.
The Fast of the 10th of Tevet (“Asarah BeTevet”) is one of the four days in the Jewish calendar (along with the 17th of Tammuz, the 9th of Av, and the 3rd of Tishrei) established by the prophets and sages of Israel as days of fasting and mourning in memory of the tragic events that occurred during the destruction of the First and Second Temples.
On the 10th of Tevet in the year 3336 (from the creation of the world), the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar began the siege of Jerusalem. The city resisted for a long time, but in the end, it was captured and destroyed. The Jerusalem Temple was burned, and many Jews were taken captive.
Among those who lived on the land of Israel at that time, only very few observed the laws and commandments. Even the priests, following the example of neighboring peoples, became accustomed to worshipping trees and statues.
The tragedy occurred as a punishment for the people forgetting the Divine decrees. And the Fast of the 10th of Tevet exists to this day so that everyone remembers the destroyed Temple, the beauty of Jerusalem, and how important it is to observe the commandments.
In the twentieth century, after the re-establishment of the State of Israel, the day of the 10th of Tevet also became a General Remembrance Day. It is a Day of Commemoration for the victims of the Holocaust whose date of death is unknown, and for those who have no surviving relatives. Therefore, on the 10th of Tevet, a memorial candle is lit, and the Memorial Prayer is recited.
May you have an easy fast, dear readers!
