The Fast of the 17th of Tammuz and the Three Weeks

The fast of the 17th of Tammuz, known as Shiva Assar B'Tammuz, is the start of a three week mourning period for the destruction of Jerusalem and the two Holy Temples.

The fast commemorates five tragic events that occurred on this date:

1. Moses broke the tablets when he saw the Jewish people worshipping the Golden Calf.
2. During the Babylonian siege on Jerusalem, the Jews were forced to cease offering the daily sacrifices due to the lack of cattle.
3. Apustmus burned the holy Torah.
4. An idol was placed in the Holy Temple.
5. The walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans, in 69 CE, after a lengthy siege. (Three weeks later, after the Jews put up a valiant struggle, the Romans destroyed the second Holy Temple on the 9th of Av.) The Jerusalem Talmud maintains that this is also the date when the Babylonians breached the walls of Jerusalem on their way to destroying the first Temple.

During the three weeks, weddings and other joyful events are not held during this period; like mourners, we do not cut our hair, and various pleasurable activities are limited or proscribed.

The three weeks concludes with the fast of the 9th of Av (Sunday, August 3), the date when both Holy Temples were set aflame.