07/01/2026
17th of Tammuz – The Fall of the Walls.
This is one of the four fast days established by the sages to commemorate the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. The four fast days are, in chronological order:1. 10th of Tevet (10th month)2. 17th of Tammuz (4th month)3. 9th of Av (5th month)4. Tzom Gedaliah, 3rd of Tishrei (7th month)These fasts are mentioned in the Book of Zechariah 8:19: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth shall be for the house of Judah joyful and glad occasions, and festive feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.’”According to the Mishnah - Taanit 4.6, the 17th of Tammuz marks the date on which five events occurred for the people of Israel:• The breaking of the tablets of the law by Moses. On the 16th of Tammuz, the Israelites asked to make the golden calf. A day later, Moses descended and broke the first tablets of the law.• Cancellation of the daily Tamid sacrifice offered in the Temple: one lamb in the morning and one at night. Due to the need to fight, the priests abandoned their daily duties in the Temple.• The fall of the Temple walls.• 586 BCE. The FIRST Temple fell to the Babylonians. Jeremiah 39 indicates that it was on the 9th of Tammuz: “2 And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the wall of the city.” However, some rabbis indicate that the prophet was “confused” during the time of the First Temple, and this is also considered the date of the FIRST TEMPLE (Talmud Jerusalem, Taanit 4.3).• 70 CE of the SECOND Temple under Titus of Rome.• Apostomus burned Torah scrolls. Historians indicate that this name refers to Antiochus Epiphanes during the Hasmonean period (before the Maccabean Revolt). “56 And the books of the Torah that they found they tore up and burned in the fire” 1st Maccabees 1• Images and statues were placed in the Temple.• By Apostomus, as described in the Book of Maccabees. The decree of Antiochus IV (1st Maccabees 1): “41 The king issued a decree throughout his kingdom, ordering that all should become one people 42 and renounce their own customs. All the nations submitted to the king’s command 43 and many Israelites accepted the official worship, offered sacrifices to idols, and profaned the Sabbath.”By Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:7): “Moreover, he set up a molten image, which he had made, in the house of God, concerning which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, ‘In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever.’”On this day begins a three-week period between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av, called Bein HaMetzarim – “between the narrow passages”. The name is taken from the Book of Lamentations 1: “3 Judah has gone into captivity because of affliction and harsh servitude; she dwelt among the nations, and found no rest; all her pursuers overtook her in her distress”. This period of semi-mourning includes:• A half fast, from sunrise to the appearance of three stars at night.• In the prayer ritual: Anenu (found in Musaf) is added after Geulah and before Rofe Cholei Amo Israel.The period of Bien Hametzarim is further divided into four periods, each with an increasing level of mourning:• From the 17th of Tammuz to Rosh Chodesh Av• From the 1st of Av to the end of Shabbat Chazon (Shabbat before the 9th of Av)• From the end of Shabbat Chazon to the 8th of Av• The 9th of AvCustoms vary between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews. Ashkenazi Jews observe them throughout the entire period, while Sephardic Jews only begin observing them from the 1st of Av onward. Reform Jewish communities tend to be more lenient with these mourning restrictions, in respect for Tkuma of Israel, the rebirth of Israel, which, according to a consensus, began in 1948 as a period of redemption for the people of Israel.• From the end of Shabbat Chazon to the 8th of Av• The 9th of Av• The customs vary between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews. Ashkenazi Jews observe them throughout the entire period, while Sephardic Jews only observe them from the 1st of Av onward. Reform Jewish communities tend to be more lenient with these mourning restrictions, in respect for Tkuma of Israel, the rebirth of Israel, which, according to a consensus, began in 1948 as a period of redemption for the people of Israel. The most widely accepted customs are:• Not listening to upbeat music, especially party music.• From the 1st of Av: - It is customary not to wear anything new or eat a new fruit that would require reciting the Shecheyanu blessing. - Some even refrain from washing clothes until the 10th of Av. - Abstaining from haircuts and shaving – although some do so only during the week of the 9th of Av. - Avoiding eating meat and drinking wine – although some do so only on the 9th of Av itself. - Not participating in parties, weddings, bar mitzvahs, or other celebrations (birthdays, for example, although some do), except on Shabbat.From the Talmud, Yoma 9b: Why was the first sanctuary destroyed? Because of three [evil] things that prevailed there: idolatry, immorality, and bloodshed.Idolatry: Isaiah 57“1 The righteous die, but no one cares. The devout perish, and no one understands that their death is the result of wickedness. 2 All who obey God go to a better life and rest on their deathbed. 3 But you, children of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes, come here! 4 Who do you think you are mocking? Against whom do you open your mouths so wide and stick out your tongues? Are you not rebellious children, a brood of liars? 5 Under every green tree you burn with lust, and in the valleys and among the clefts you sacrifice your own children. 6 On the smooth stones of the valley you have your portion; they have fallen to you, for to them you presented offerings and offered drink offerings. Should I not punish these things? 7 On a high and lofty mountain you made your bed, and there you also went up to offer sacrifices. 8 Behind the door and the threshold you hung your talismans; you uncovered yourself before others, but not before me; You enlarged your bed and climbed onto it, and made a covenant with them. You preferred their bed, wherever you saw it! 9 You presented yourself before Molech, bringing him ointments; you multiplied your perfumes; you sent your ambassadors to distant lands, and you sank down to the depths of the grave. 10 You grew weary of walking along so many paths, but you never gave up. You always found new strength, and you did not give up”.Immorality [prevailed], as it is written:Moreover, the Lord said in Isaiah 3, “16 Because of the pride of the daughters of Zion, because of their outstretched necks and provocative looks; because of its alluring gait, with the rhythm of a dance;”The shedding of blood [prevailed] as it is written in 2nd Kings 21: “16 And to make matters worse, besides causing Judah to sin by inducing them to do evil in the sight of the Lord, Manasseh shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem with corpses from one end to the other”.But why was the second sanctuary destroyed, seeing that in its time they were engaged in Torah, the observance of the commandments, and the practice of charity? Because there, hatred without cause prevailed. SINAT HINAM. That teaches you that hatred is considered more serious than even the three motives of idolatry, immorality, and bloodshed combined!Rabbi Johanan said: The fingernail of the earlier generations is better than the whole body of the later generations. Resh Lakish said to him: On the contrary, the later generations are better, even though they were oppressed by governments, they were engaged in Torah. He Rabbi Johanan replied: The Sanctuary will prove [my point] because it was restored to the earlier generations, but not to later ones.This question was posed to Rabbi Eleazar: Were the earlier or later generations better? He replied: Look at the Sanctuary! Some say he replied: The Sanctuary is your witness [in this matter].In the period between the destruction of the First Temple and the construction of the Second Temple, the fast of the 17th of Tammuz was observed on the 9th of Tammuz. After the construction of the Second Temple, the 9th of Tammuz became an optional day! (Talmud Babel – Rosh Hashanah 18b – “Rabbi Papa said, thus it was said: When there is peace, it is a day of joy and celebration; when there is persecution from the Kingdom (Malchut), one fasts; if there is neither peace nor persecution from the Kingdom (Malchut), one fasts if one wishes; if one does not wish, one does not fast”.)
