Tenth of Tevet

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tenth of Tevet (Hebrew: עשרה בטבת, Asarah b'Tevet), the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tevet, is a minor fast day in Judaism. It usually occurs early in January. From dawn to dusk there is no eating or drinking, to mourn for the time ancient Babylonia laid siege to ancient Jerusalem marking the beginning of the end, and eventual destruction, of Solomon's Temple (the First Temple) and of the southern Jewish Kingdom of Judah.

[edit] Observance

The fast begins, as do all minor fasts, at dawn (alot ha-shahar). In accord with the general rules of minor fasts, there are no additional physical constraints beyond fasting (such as the prohibitions against washing or of wearing leather shoes which apply on major fasts).

One who is ill, even if not life-threateningly so, as well as pregnant and nursing women, for whom fasting might be difficult, and all children, are exempt from fasting. Those who are exempt, though, are required to avoid eating publicly or indulge in purely pleasurable forms of consumption.

A Torah reading and Haftorah reading, and a special prayer in the Amidah (the Aneinu), are added at both Shacharit and Mincha services. At Shacharit services, the Avinu Malkenu prayer is also said.

The fast can occur on a Friday resulting in the unusual event of a Torah and Haftorah reading at the Mincha service right before Shabbat. No other Jewish fast day can occur on a Friday in modern times (with the exception of the rarely observed Fast of the Firstborn, on which the Torah and Haftorah reading at Mincha do not even occur).