Shiva Assar beTammus

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Shiva Assar beTammus or the 17th Tammuz ( Hebrew שבעה עשר בתמוז) is a Jewish fasting day, commemorating the breakthrough through the Jerusalem city wall, which preceded the destruction of the First and Second Temples . It is celebrated on the 17th day of the Jewish month of Tammuz . On the 17th of Tammuz, 40 days after the Jewish festival of Shavuot, the three-week mourning period begins .

According to Jewish tradition, Moses spent the 40 days after Shavuot on Mount Sinai , where the tablets with the Ten Commandments were given to him. However, the Israelites created the golden calf for themselves during those 40 days . Out of anger at this, Moses smashed the tablets of the law. This event is also commemorated on the 17th of Tammuz.

The Shiva Assar beTammus fast day (literally: "17th Tammuz"), which begins at dawn, is the first of the fast days listed in the Bible :

"Thus saith the Lord of Armies: The fast of the fourth, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth month will be days of rejoicing and joy and happy festivals for the house of Judah." ( Zech 8  EU ) .

Fasting of the 17th of Tammuz (breakthrough of the wall of Jerusalem under Titus ): In memory of the storming of Jerusalem in 586 BC. d. Z. by Babylonian besiegers and at the first breach in the city wall of Jerusalem, with which the physical destruction began. Judah was occupied, the Jews deported to Babylonia and the temple implements stolen. In the history of the Jewish people, the 17th of Tammuz is a visitation day. According to Jewish doctrine, the following events happened on that day: the breaking of the tablets by Moshe, cessation of the constant sacrifice during the siege of Jerusalem, the city being locked in, the Torah being burned by the Greek general Apostemos, the idol in the temple by King Menasse .

Lent begins at dawn. The "three weeks" that begin with the 17th of Tammuz and end the 9th of Av are the so-called "days in the midst of tribulation" during which one mourns the destruction of the first and second temples. During these days the signs of mourning multiply and culminate in the 9th Av.

Among other things, you don't shave, have your hair cut, don't go out to have fun or to entertain yourself; no weddings, no meat or wine enjoyment. No bathing for pleasure in the week of the 9th Aw, you don't move into a new apartment and you don't buy new clothes. The hawdala wine (or grape juice), which is forbidden to adults on this day, is drunk by a small child.

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