Next week, Friday, 22nd of December, is the 10th of Teves, when we commemorate the start of the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezar, King of Babylon. The siege resulted in the eventual destruction of the First Holy Temple nearly 2500 years ago. This day is commemorated as a public fast day.
The seriousness of this day - both in terms of the obligation to fast coupled by it's power to achieve positive influence - stems from the fact that it commemorates the first of the tragedies associated with the destruction of the Holy Temple. It was the beginning of the process of destruction for both Temples along with all the subsequent exiles and misfortunes which befell the Jewish people up to this day. It is well known that the beginning of any process is the nucleus which contains more power than its subsequent stages and for this reason, there is much power to the Tenth of Tevet. The positive aspects of the Tenth of Tevet are connected to the fact that a fast day is a "day of will" when our prayers and Teshuva are more willingly accepted by G-d.
Since all "beginnings are rooted in the end," and since the ultimate "end" purpose of the destruction of the Holy Temples will be the rebuilding of the Third and Eternal Holy Temple, the Tenth of Tevet is very much connected and extremely auspicious towards hastening the arrival of the final Redemption.
The Tenth of Tevet along with all the other fast days connected with mourning, will be transformed into days of celebration and joy with the coming of Moshiach. Let us hasten it, by increasing in acts of charity, kindness, adherence to Mitzvah performance and daily Torah study.
