20. Fasts - Taaniyos
We are commanded to cry out and to blow trumpets
when the community is in distress, as it says "...For
the adversary that distresses you blow the trumpets"1;
the sages instituted fasting and a special order of
prayers on such occasions. Similarly, if an individual
is in distress he should fast and pray for mercy.a
All Israel are accustomed to fast on the third day
of Tishrei, the tenth day of Teves, the seventeenth day
of Tammuz, the ninth day of Av, and the thirteenth day
of Adar in commemoration of events that happened on
those days. If any of these fasts falls on the sabbath
it is deferred to Sunday (except for that of the thirteenth
of Adar which is held on the preceding Thursday). On all
of them except the ninth of Av it is permissible to eat at night.
In the days of the Messiah all of these fasts will become
festivals, as it says "The fast of the fourth month
[Tammuz] and the fast of the fifth month [Av] and the
fast of the seventh month [Tishrei] and the fast of the
tenth month [Teves] will become for the house of Judah
good times of joy and happiness". 2,b
From the beginning of the week in which the ninth
of Av occurs one must not cut one's hair or wash clothes,
and it is customary not to bathe or to eat meat. On the
ninth of Av washing, anointing, wearing shoes, and sexual
relations are forbidden just as on Yom Kippur.
The sages instituted [these restrictions and various other signs
of mourning] in commemoration of the destruction of the
Temple.c
Sources: |
| 1. Num. 10:9 |
a. 1:1,4,9; 4:1 |
| 2. Zechariah 8:19 |
b. 5:1-5,19 |
|
c. 5:6,10,l2ff. |
