Teaching Team

Fast of Tammuz

By Toby Janicki  | Comments (1) | Posted on June 27, 2007

Next Tuesday at sunrise begins the tradtional Fast of Tammuz. This is traditionally associated with the “fast of the fourth month” in Zechariah 8:19 and takes place on the seventeenth of the fourth month. It is said that this day is the anniversary of Moses breaking the first set of tablets at Mount Sinai upon seeing the Golden Calf.

Trouble came upon Jewish communities in Spain and Prague during the Middle Ages on this date. The Fast of Tammuz is also associated with both the destruction of First and Second temples. The walls of Jerusalem during the First Temple period began to be breached around this time as is recorded in the book of Jeremiah. Most notably, in 70 CE the city walls were again breached in the Second-Temple Period, and the destruction of the entire edifice became apparent.

This day also is observed as a day of mourning for the destruction of the Temple. It begins a three-week period of remembrance and solemnity. This is a fast from both food and drink. Unlike the fast of Tisha b’Av which is an all day affair, this one only lasts from sunup to sundown. As with all the fasts of Zechariah, this fast will also eventually be a day of rejoicing. There is a tradition that on this day Noah released the dove from the ark, and Scripture indeed indicates that it happened around this time. Just as this day provided hope for Noah and his family after the great destruction the flood, so may it provide hope for us as we eagerly await the return of the Messiah Yeshua.

About the Author: Toby Janicki is a teacher, writer and speaker for FFOZ. He is also a writer for messiah magazine and the author of the Restoration Workbook and a new book on the Mezuzah.

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