On Tuesday, July 19 2011 (the 17th day of Tammuz) - is what's known as the Fast of Tammuz. This fast, from sunrise to sunset, is to commemorate the day that the Walls of Jerusalem were first breached by Nebuchadnezzar and his armies which ultimately led to the destruction of the Temple in 586 BC.
The Fast of Tammuz falls 40 days after Shavuot (Gr. 'Pentecost') and, if Shavuot was the day that the two tablets were given to Moshe, then 40 days later would be the day he came down from Mt. Sinai and broke them when he saw the merriment being made over the golden calf. The Fast of Tammuz also begins a time known as Bein HaMetzarim (Heb. 'between the straits - from Lam. 1:3), a 3 week period of mourning which culminates on the 9th of Av, marking the date when the Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians.
Bein HaMetzarim does not only marks the 3 weeks from the 17th of Tammuz to the 9th of Av, it is a time of reflection - to peer into our own souls and see the ferocity with which man has inflicted man for thousands of years...all during this period of summer. From the destruction of the First and Second Temples, right up to the only time in history that atomic weapons were used during wartime - August 6th and 9th, 1945 also took place during this period of Bein HaMetzarim. During the period of Bein HaMetzarim, the Book of Lamentations should be carefully considered, as it will be read on Tish B'Av - the 9th of Av.
The 9th of Av (Tuesday, August 9 2011) is the saddest day on the Hebrew calendar - so much so that even Torah study is prohibited since it is a source of joy and gladness. Tradition states that not only was Solomon's Temple destroyed on this date, but on the SAME DAY in 70 AD Titus and the Roman army destroyed the Second Temple...over 600 years later. It is a fast which begins at sundown on the 8th (Monday, August 8 2011) and ends at sundown on the 9th. There are many additional prohibitions which have been added to mark the solemnity of the day - but the important thing is to remember WHY we are commemorating the 9th of Av, the destruction of the Temple and of Jerusalem...TWICE!
On a final note - while these two fasts may not be commanded in the Bible, they are BOTH recorded as already being observed by the time of the Prophet Zechariah (Zech. 8:19)...the 17th of Tammuz is the 'fast of the fourth month' and the 9th of Av is the 'fast of the fifth month.'
May the Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days!
