Tenth of Tevet ( he, עשרה בטבת, ''Asarah BeTevet''), the tenth day of the
Hebrew month of
Tevet
Tevet ( he, טֵבֵת, ''Ṭevet''; ; from Akkadian ) is the fourth month of the civil year and the tenth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It follows Kislev and precedes Shevat. It is a month of 29 days. Tevet usually o ...
, is a
fast day in
Judaism. It is one of the minor
fasts
Fasting is the abstention from eating and sometimes drinking. From a purely physiological context, "fasting" may refer to the metabolic status of a person who has not eaten overnight (see "Breakfast"), or to the metabolic state achieved after com ...
observed from before dawn to nightfall. The fasting is in mourning of the
siege of Jerusalem by
Nebuchadnezzar II of
Babylonia—an event that began on that date and ultimately culminated in the destruction of
Solomon's Temple (the First Temple), downfall of the
Kingdom of Judah, and the
Babylonian exile
The Babylonian captivity or Babylonian exile is the period in Jewish history during which a large number of Judeans from the ancient Kingdom of Judah were captives in Babylon, the capital city of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, following their defea ...
of the Jewish people.
The fast day is not related to
Hanukkah but happens to follow that festival by a week. Whether the 10th of Tevet occurs 7 or 8 days after the last day of Hanukkah depends on whether the preceding Hebrew month of
Kislev
Kislev or Chislev (Hebrew: כִּסְלֵו, Standard ''Kīslev'' Tiberian ''Kīslēw''), also 'Chisleu' in the King James (authorized English) Bible, is the third month of the civil year and the ninth month of the ecclesiastical year on the He ...
has 29 or 30 days in the relevant year.
History
According to
II Kings, on the 10th day of the 10th month (Tevet),
[Counting from ]Nisan
Nisan (or Nissan; he, נִיסָן, Standard ''Nīsan'', Tiberian ''Nīsān''; from akk, 𒊬𒊒𒄀 ''Nisanu'') in the Babylonian and Hebrew calendars is the month of the barley ripening and first month of spring. The name of the month i ...
, per See . in the ninth year of
Zedekiah's reign (588 BCE),
Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, began the siege of Jerusalem. Eighteen months later, on the 9th of Tammuz at the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reign
[In the Biblical calendar, each year in the reign of the Kings of Judah or Israel is dated from 1 Nissan. For example, even if a king began his reign on 29 Adar, a day prior to 1 Nissan, the next day would already be tabulated as Year 2 of his reign. Hence, Tevet (tenth month) of Year 9 of Zedekiah is only 18 months prior to Tammuz (fourth month) of Year 11 of Zedekiah.] (586 BCE), he broke through the city walls, later the Romans would similarly break through the walls of Jerusalem on the
17th of Tammuz
, observedby = Jews
, date = 17th day of Tammuz
, observances = Fasting, prayer
, type = Jewish religious and national
, significance = Date when the walls of Jerusalem were breached
, relatedto = The fasts of the Tenth of Tevet and Tisha B'Av, ...
. The siege ended with the destruction of the Temple three weeks later, on the 9th of Av (
Tisha B'Av), the end of the first Kingdoms and the elite of Judah taken in
exile to Babylon. The tenth of Tevet is part of the cycle of three fasts connected with these events.
The first reference to the Tenth of Tevet as a fast appears in
Zechariah 8
Zechariah 8 is the eighth of the 14 chapters in the Book of Zechariah in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. , where it is called the "fast of the tenth month." One opinion in the Talmud states that the "fast of the tenth month" refers to the ''fifth'' of Tevet, when, according to
Ezekiel
Ezekiel (; he, יְחֶזְקֵאל ''Yəḥezqēʾl'' ; in the Septuagint written in grc-koi, Ἰεζεκιήλ ) is the central protagonist of the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible.
In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Ezekiel is ackno ...
, news of the destruction of the Temple reached those already in exile in Babylon. However, the tenth is the date observed today, according to the other opinion presented in the Talmud. Other references to the fast and the affliction can be found in the books of Ezekiel (the siege) and
Jeremiah.
According to tradition, as described by the
liturgy for the day's
selichot, the fast also commemorates other calamities that occurred throughout Jewish history on the tenth of Tevet and the two days preceding it:
* On the eighth of Tevet one year during the 3rd century BCE, a time of Hellenistic rule of Judea during the
Second Temple period,
Ptolemy, King of Egypt, ordered the translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek, a work which later became known as the
Septuagint. Seventy two sages were placed in solitary confinement and ordered to translate the Torah into Greek. Judaism sees this event as a tragedy, as it reflected a deprivation and debasement of the divine nature of the
Torah, and a subversion of its spiritual and literary qualities. They reasoned that upon translation from the original Hebrew, the Torah's legal codes and deeper layers of meaning would be lost. Many Jewish laws are formulated in terms of specific Hebrew words employed in the Torah; without the original Hebrew wording, the authenticity and essence of the legal system would be damaged. The mystical ideas contained in the Torah are also drawn from the original Hebrew. As such, these would not be accessed by individuals studying the Torah in Greek (or any other language) alone.
* On the ninth of Tevet, "something happened, but we do not know what it was..." (
Shulchan Aruch
The ''Shulchan Aruch'' ( he, שֻׁלְחָן עָרוּך , literally: "Set Table"), sometimes dubbed in English as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most widely consulted of the various legal codes in Judaism. It was authored in Safed (today in Is ...
). The
selichot liturgy for the day states that
Ezra the Scribe
Ezra (; he, עֶזְרָא, '; fl. 480–440 BCE), also called Ezra the Scribe (, ') and Ezra the Priest in the Book of Ezra, was a Jewish scribe (''sofer'') and priest (''kohen''). In Greco-Latin Ezra is called Esdras ( grc-gre, Ἔσδρα� ...
, the great leader who brought some Jews back to the
Holy Land from the Babylonian exile and who ushered in the era of the
Second Temple, died on this day, and this is verified by the
Kol Bo. But according to the earlier sources (the
Geonim
''Geonim'' ( he, גאונים; ; also transliterated Gaonim, singular Gaon) were the presidents of the two great Babylonian Talmudic Academies of Sura and Pumbedita, in the Abbasid Caliphate, and were the generally accepted spiritual leaders o ...
as recorded by
Bahag and cited in
Tur Orach Chaim 580), the specific tragedy of 9 Tevet is unknown. Some manuscripts of
Bahag (not those available to the
Tur) ''add'' that Ezra and
Nechemiah died on this day—but only after first stating that the Rabbis have given no reason for why the day is tragic. Other suggestions are given as to why the ninth of Tevet is notable as well.
Observance
As with all minor
Jewish fast days
A ta'anit or ta'anis (Mishnaic Hebrew: תענית) is a fast in Judaism in which one abstains from all food and drink, including water.
Purposes
A Jewish fast may have one or more purposes, including:
* Atonement for sins: Fasting is not consi ...
, the Tenth of Tevet begins at
dawn
Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the appearance of indirect sunlight being scattered in Earth's atmosphere, when the centre of the Sun's disc has reached 18° below the observer's horizo ...
(') and concludes at nightfall ('). In accordance with the general rules of minor fasts as set forth in the
Shulchan Aruch
The ''Shulchan Aruch'' ( he, שֻׁלְחָן עָרוּך , literally: "Set Table"), sometimes dubbed in English as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most widely consulted of the various legal codes in Judaism. It was authored in Safed (today in Is ...
, and in contrast to Tisha B'Av, there are no additional physical constraints beyond fasting (such as the prohibitions against bathing or of wearing leather shoes). Because it is a minor fast day,
halacha
''Halakha'' (; he, הֲלָכָה, ), also transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Jewish religious laws which is derived from the written and Oral Torah. Halakha is based on biblical commandm ...
exempts from fasting those who are ill, even if their illnesses are not life-threatening, and pregnant and nursing women who find fasting difficult. The
Mishnah Berurah
The ''Mishnah Berurah'' ( he, משנה ברורה "Clear Teaching") is a work of ''halakha'' (Jewish law) by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (Poland, 1838–1933, also known as ''Chofetz Chaim''). It is a commentary on ''Orach Chayim'', the first section ...
notes that it is still commendable to observe all the restrictions of Tisha B'Av on the minor fast days (except the restriction of wearing leather shoes). Even so, it says, one should not refrain from bathing in preparation for
Shabbat when the Tenth of Tevet falls on a Friday.
A
Torah reading, the
Aneinu
''Aneinu'' ( he, עֲנֵנוּ, ), also transliterated as ''annenu'' or ''aneynu'', is a Jewish prayer added into the Chazzan's Repetition of the Shemoneh Esrei on fast days. It is also inserted into the personal Shemoneh Esrei inside of Shema ...
prayer in the
Amidah
The ''Amidah Amuhduh'' ( he, תפילת העמידה, ''Tefilat HaAmidah'', 'The Standing Prayer'), also called the ''Shemoneh Esreh'' ( 'eighteen'), is the central prayer of the Jewish liturgy. Observant Jews recite the ''Amidah'' at each o ...
, and the
Avinu Malkeinu
Avinu Malkeinu ( he, אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ; "Our Father, Our King") is a Jewish prayer recited during Jewish services during the Ten Days of Repentance, from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur inclusive. Since the 17th century, most ...
prayer are added at both
shacharit and
mincha services in many communities, unless the fast falls on Friday, when
Tachanun
''Tachanun'' or ''Taḥanun'' ( he, תחנון "Supplication"), also called ''nefilat apayim'' ( he, נפילת אפיים "falling on the face"), is part of Judaism's morning (''Shacharit'') and afternoon (''Mincha'') services, after the recitati ...
and
Avinu Malkeinu
Avinu Malkeinu ( he, אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ; "Our Father, Our King") is a Jewish prayer recited during Jewish services during the Ten Days of Repentance, from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur inclusive. Since the 17th century, most ...
are not said at mincha. At shacharit services,
Selichot are also said, and at mincha, in Ashkenazic congregations, the
Haftarah is read.
The Tenth of Tevet is the only minor fast day that can coincide with Friday in the current
Jewish calendar
The Hebrew calendar ( he, הַלּוּחַ הָעִבְרִי, translit=HaLuah HaIvri), also called the Jewish calendar, is a lunisolar calendar used today for Jewish religious observance, and as an official calendar of the state of Israel. I ...
. When it does, the unusual event of a
Torah and
Haftarah reading at the
mincha service right before
Shabbat takes place. This is fairly rare; the most recent occurrence was in 2020, while the next will happen in 2023. If it falls on Friday, the fast must be observed until nightfall, even though Shabbat begins before sunset (up to 72 minutes earlier, depending on the halachic authority), and even though this requires one to enter Shabbat hungry from the fast, something typically avoided. It cannot be determined for sure whether other fasts would have the same ruling, because no other fast day can fall out on Friday.
[However, the ]Ninth of Av
Tisha B'Av ( he, תִּשְׁעָה בְּאָב ''Tīšʿā Bəʾāv''; , ) is an annual fast day in Judaism, on which a number of disasters in Jewish history occurred, primarily the destruction of both Solomon's Temple by the Neo-Babylonian E ...
can fall out on Saturday night into Sunday, and in such a case one observes all stringencies of the fast (except the prohibition of wearing leather shoes) from sunset on Saturday evening.
Although this fast is considered a minor fast, the
Abudirham attributed to it an additional theoretical stringency not shared by any other fast except
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur (; he, יוֹם כִּפּוּר, , , ) is the holiest day in Judaism and Samaritanism. It occurs annually on the 10th of Tishrei, the first month of the Hebrew calendar. Primarily centered on atonement and repentance, the day's ...
, namely that if the Tenth of Tevet were to fall out on a
Shabbat, this fast would actually be observed on Shabbat. (This cannot happen under the current arrangement of the Hebrew calendar.) The reason the fasts of the Tenth of Tevet and Yom Kippur must be observed on the actual day on which they occur is because of the phrase "the very day" () is used in reference to both of them, in
Ezekiel
Ezekiel (; he, יְחֶזְקֵאל ''Yəḥezqēʾl'' ; in the Septuagint written in grc-koi, Ἰεζεκιήλ ) is the central protagonist of the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible.
In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Ezekiel is ackno ...
24:2 in reference to the Tenth of Tevet, and similarly for Yom Kippur in
Leviticus 23:28. This view is rejected by the ''
Beit Yosef'' and all other major
halakhic
''Halakha'' (; he, הֲלָכָה, ), also transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Jewish religious laws which is derived from the written and Oral Torah. Halakha is based on biblical commandm ...
authorities, but was popularized by Rabbi
Moses Sofer
Moses Schreiber (1762–1839), known to his own community and Jewish posterity in the Hebrew translation as Moshe Sofer, also known by his main work ''Chatam Sofer'', ''Chasam Sofer'', or ''Hatam Sofer'' ( trans. ''Seal of the Scribe'', and acron ...
, who wrote a commentary based on the philosophy behind this view.
Although the Tenth of Tevet is an annual observance on the Jewish calendar, its placement around the end of the
Gregorian calendar year means that in some Gregorian years, there is no observance of the fast, while in other years, the fast is observed twice. Thus, the Tenth of Tevet does not occur at all in 2019. Instead, the "2019" observance of the fast took place in January 2020, while the subsequent observance occurred in December 2020.
Day of general kaddish
The
Chief Rabbinate of Israel
The Chief Rabbinate of Israel ( he, הָרַבָּנוּת הָרָאשִׁית לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, ''Ha-Rabbanut Ha-Rashit Li-Yisra'el'') is recognized by law as the supreme rabbinic authority for Judaism in Israel. The Chief Rabbinate Co ...
chose to observe the Tenth of Tevet as a "general
kaddish
Kaddish or Qaddish or Qadish ( arc, קדיש "holy") is a hymn praising God that is recited during Jewish prayer services. The central theme of the Kaddish is the magnification and sanctification of God's name. In the liturgy, different version ...
day" (''yom hakaddish ha'klalli'') to allow the relatives of victims of the
Holocaust, and whose
yahrtzeit
Bereavement in Judaism () is a combination of ''minhag'' and ''mitzvah'' derived from the Torah and Judaism's classical rabbinic texts. The details of observance and practice vary according to each Jewish community.
Mourners
In Judaism, the p ...
s (anniversaries of their deaths) is unknown, to observe the traditional yahrtzeit practices for the deceased, including lighting a memorial candle, learning
mishnayot and reciting the kaddish. According to the policy of the Chief Rabbinate in Israel, the
memorial prayer is also recited in synagogues, after the reading of the Torah at the morning services. To some religious Jews, this day is preferable as a remembrance day to
Yom HaShoah
Yom HaZikaron laShoah ve-laG'vurah ( he, יום הזיכרון לשואה ולגבורה, , lit=Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day), known colloquially in Israel and abroad as Yom HaShoah (יום השואה) and in English as Holocaust Reme ...
, since the latter occurs in the month of
Nisan
Nisan (or Nissan; he, נִיסָן, Standard ''Nīsan'', Tiberian ''Nīsān''; from akk, 𒊬𒊒𒄀 ''Nisanu'') in the Babylonian and Hebrew calendars is the month of the barley ripening and first month of spring. The name of the month i ...
, in which mourning is traditionally prohibited.
See also
*
Fast of Gedalia
The Fast of Gedalia (; he, צוֹם גְּדַלְיָה ''Tzom Gedalya''), also transliterated from the Hebrew language as Gedaliah or Gedalya(h), is a minor Jewish fast day from dawn until dusk to lament the assassination of Gedaliah, the right ...
*
Fast of Esther
The Fast of Esther (', he, תַּעֲנִית אֶסְתֵּר) is a fast from dawn until dusk on Purim eve.
This fast, unlike other fasts is a custom. Unlike the other fasts in Judaism, it is not mentioned in the Talmud, but only in the Midrash ...
*Fast of
Seventeenth of Tammuz
, observedby = Jews
, date = 17th day of Tammuz
, observances = Fasting, prayer
, type = Jewish religious and national
, significance = Date when the walls of Jerusalem were breached
, relatedto = The fasts of the Tenth of Tevet and Tisha B'Av, ...
*Fast of
Tisha B'Av
Notes
References
External links
*Rabbi
Eliezer Melamed
Eliezer Melamed ( he, אליעזר מלמד, born 28 June 1961) is an Israeli Orthodox Zionist rabbi and the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Bracha, rabbi of the community Har Bracha, and author of the book series '' Peninei Halakha''.
Biography ...
–
Peninei Halakha
Eliezer Melamed ( he, אליעזר מלמד, born 28 June 1961) is an Israeli Orthodox Zionist rabbi and the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Bracha, rabbi of the community Har Bracha, and author of the book series '' Peninei Halakha''.
Biography
E ...
�
The Laws of the Tenth of Tevet''Tenth of Teves – Mrs. Shira Smiles talks about the fast day of the Tenth of Tevet''''Tenth of Teves – Rav Reichman gives you the Hasidic side of the fast'' ''Tenth of Tevet – Insights to the day''
{{Jewish and Israeli holidays
Tevet 10
Jewish fast days
Solomon's Temple
Tevet observances