The United Synagogue

Fast of Tammuz

On the 17th of Tammuz, Jews fast to commemorate the many tragedies that have befallen our people on this day.

An historic day of calamity
1. Moses descended Mount Sinai on this day and, upon seeing the Jews worshipping the Golden Calf, he proceeded to break the first set of Tablets carrying the Ten Commandments. Moses proceeded to destroy the Golden Calf and ascended back up Mount Sinai for the second time, where he spent another 40 days.

2. The First Temple: The priests in the First Temple stopped offering the daily sacrifice on this day (Taanit 28b).

3. The walls of Jerusalem were breached in the year 3184 (586 BCE) after many months of siege by Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian forces.

4. In the time of the Roman persecution, Apostomos, leader of the enemy forces, publicly burned the Torah.

5. Titus, King of Rome, breached the walls of Jerusalem in 3760 (70 CE).

6. Pope Gregory IX ordered the confiscation of all manuscripts of the Talmud in 4999 (1239).

7. In 1391, more than 4,000 Jews were killed in Spain.

8. In 4319, the Jewish Quarter of Prague was burned and looted.

9. The Kovno ghetto was liquidated on this day in 5704 (1944).

What are the customs of the Fast of Tammuz?
Unlike the two Jewish fast days of Yom Kippur and Tishah B'Av, washing and wearing leather are permitted on this day.

Special prayers, Vayechal and Anenu, are added to the morning and afternoon services. Ashkenazi Jews add the latter only in minchah.

This day is the beginning of the Three Weeks, an annual period of mourning over the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.