This study of the Holy Days is dedicated in the loving memory of Mr. Paul Sakash, may he rest in peace.

July 1, 1999

At dawn today many Yidden will begin fasting in remembrance of this day in the year 596 B.C.E. when our precious walls to the city of Jerusalem were broken by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylonia. Fasting lasts from dawn until nightfall for those who desire to or for those who are able to observe the Seventeenth of Tammuz. The Seventeenth of Tammuz is not a Torah halacha but a rabbinical halacha. If one is able it is good to remember this day with fasting and extra prayer. If one is not able then a shorter form of remembrance is good. If one is not on the level of a full fast day or objects to a full fast day they should at least observe some, even in a small way. Eat only half of a meal or fast one meal or even two meals.

One should not feel bad if they are not accustomed to fasting or observing this day as serious Orthodox do. Nor should one allow him or herself to be mentally or verbally beaten into subjugation. Observance of this holy day, like all holy days should come from the desire within one's own heart to observe. If one is on a little higher level, then observance of this day will be maintained out of a sense of obligation to one's own Jewish tradition and not just the desire of the heart.

Each of us has walls surrounding our lives like the city of Jerusalem did in 596 B.C.E. We build these walls to protect ourselves from hurt and outside influence, and we build these walls for spiritual tranquility and other reasons. This day represents the day when a breach was made in the wall of the city of peace. We can relate to that. We can remember when some outside force made a breach in our wall. Death, divorce, separation, loss of employment, sickness and more, G-d forbid, are all attacks against the walls of shalom in our life. Remember these painful breaches when you observe the remembrance of the shattered walls of peace in our homeland.

For the next three weeks some of us will observe a period of mourning. We will not participate in joyous celebrations like weddings. Many will not consume meat or wine except on Shabbos. Others will not listen to music among other things. All these afflictions are a reminder of the broken walls that led up to the destruction of our first Temple and second Temple.

Again, each of us can relate to the constant hammering outside our wall of serenity. Any of a variety of things can happen to crush our mortal temple. As the Psalmist said, "Will the dead praise you?" Now while we have breath it is a good time to remember that the Ninth of Av, the day which represents the crushing of the Temple, is approaching. The Ninth of Av should remind us that the day in which our human temple will be crushed is also approaching, whatever day that is...and we pray that, G-d willing, it is a long ways off. May the Moshiach come first! Just the same we should consider our actions as if death were approaching our back door.

May Hashem assist each of us in some way to prepare for that day...

Dr. Akiva G. Belk

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