The Fast of the Tenth of Tevet

Today is a fast day on the Jewish Calendar, the 10th of Tevet. The eight day Chanukah holiday ended just a week ago. Chanukah celebrates the impossible sounding miracle of a small group of Jews fighting the mighty Greeks, a fight for the possession of our Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

We finish Chanukah with a fully lit Chanukiya burning brightly feeling rather invincible. I grew up in a rather non-observant Jewish home. Even in my Conservative Hebrew School, I don't remember hearing about a fast day after Chanukah.

If anything, the power felt from Chanukah took us all the way to Purim.

That's really a mistaken notion. I remember my shock the first time I read that the heroes of the Chanukah story, the Maccabees, the Hasmonean Dynasty ruled a very short time. Jewish History isn't a simplistic fairy tale. After the pure olive oil stayed lit for the full eight days, while more oil was readied, the Jewish People didn't live happily ever after...

Even in modern times, our great victories in 1948, 1967 and 1973 haven't guaranteed us lasting peace. We must keep our enemies far away from us. Our existence as an independent country and Jewish People is a constant battle.

The Fast of the Tenth of Tevet is unknown by many Jews but Chazal, our Sages don't consider the Tenth of Tevet to be minor, or unimportant:

The Tenth of Tevet marks the onset of the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylonia, and the beginning of the battle that ultimately destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple of Solomon, and sent the Jews into the 70-year Babylonian Exile. The date of the Tenth of Tevet is recorded for us by the prophet Yechezkel, who himself was already in Babylonia as part of the first group of Jews exiled there by Nebuchadnezzar, 11 years earlier than the actual destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem itself. aish.com

Judaism pays attention to the first stages of our tragedies, not just the dramatic endings. We must always be on the alert to stay safe and preserve our independence and freedom.  We don't want to be conquered and exiled yet again...

Jews, Don't be Complacent! Jerusalem May Again be Destroyed, 10th of Tevet

credit

Too many times I've heard people say that Gd will never allow Israel/Jerusalem to be destroyed. Sorry, Charlie, but it's not true. That's the main message, reason we are supposed to fast on the10th of Tevet.

The siege of Jerusalem that began on the tenth of Tevet is marked -- and observed each year as a public fast day -- as the event that began the downward spiral toward the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and the exile (galut) of the Jewish people from their homeland. The actual process, however, originated when the Jews began straying from G‑d, long before the siege of Jerusalem......The Temple was supposed to last forever; this depended, however, on the Jews' adherence to the Torah and its mitzvot (Divine commandments). At first, the Jews kept the Torah and steadfastly retained their faith, enjoying peace, prosperity and a direct connection to G‑d through the Temple. However, after 300 years the Jews began to stray from the Torah and leave the path of their fathers. G‑d sent prophets repeatedly to admonish them, but the Jews refused to change their ways, choosing instead to deride these prophets as false messengers come to discourage them with predictions of destruction. Chabad

Ever since the State of Israel and the Jewish People began its misguided worship of the Kotel, The Western Wall and gave the Muslim Wakf and the Kingdom of Jordan sovereignty over the Temple Mount, I've been anxious regarding our future.

Model of the Second Temple
built by the very talented Catriel Sugarman and his staff

In June, 1967, Gd facilitated a great miracle and not only did the Sate of Israel survive, but a good portion of our Historic Homeland was liberated and in our hands, The Temple Mount, Hebron, Shechem, Beit El, Shiloh and more. Unfortunately, successive Israeli governments have abused the gifts Gd gave to us. Our precious Land have been given to Arabs, even when it required destroying Jewish communities. And instead of trying to please Gd, the Government and influential Jews keep insisting that we must appease and please foreign states and rulers. I fear another great punishment and exile, Gd forbid.

Tzom Kal v'Ya'il
May You have an Easy and Effective Fast