Thursday marks the fast of the 17th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz, a day commemorating a number of tragedies in Jewish history and the start of a mourning period known as the Three Weeks, when many Jews traditionally follow some mourning customs.
Five tragedies are said to have occurred on the 17th of Tammuz: the breaking of the tablets of the Ten Commandments by Moses, the cessation of the daily offering during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, the burning of the Torah by Apostomos, the placing of an idol the Temple in Jerusalem and the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem by the Romans in 69 CE after a long siege. According to the Jerusalem Talmud, the Babylonians also breached the walls of Jerusalem on this day.
During the three weeks, many Jews begin following mourning customs, including avoiding haircuts and shaving, not listening to music and not getting married. Many also avoid risky or dangerous activities and traveling.
Additional restrictions are practiced starting from the first day of the Hebrew month of Av until the ninth day of the month, the fast of Tisha B'Av, commemorating the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, among other calamities. Eating meat and drinking wine and wearing freshly laundered or new clothes is prohibited. Joyous activities, such as bathing for pleasure and buying new items, are avoided or prohibited. One should consult their rabbi for any questions about Jewish laws and customs during this time.
Fast Start and End Times: (According to MyZmanim. There are varying customs)
Jerusalem
Start: 4:14 AM
End: 8:30 PM
Tel Aviv
Start: 4:15 AM
End: 8:32 PM
Haifa
Start: 4:11 AM
End: 8:34 PM
Eilat
Start: 4:24 AM
End: 8:24 PM
Beersheba
Start: 4:18 AM
End: 8:30 PM
New York
Start: 3:47 AM
End: 9:19 PM (According to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, those who have trouble fasting may eat at 9:09 PM)
Los Angeles
Start: 4:19 AM
End: 8:51 PM (According to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, those who have trouble fasting may eat at 8:43 PM)
Read more:
Fast of the 17th of Tammuz: Times and customs - The Jerusalem Post
- How to beat the virus? It's in the Talmud - Jewish News [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2020]
- How Two-and-a-Half Tribes Ended Up Over the Jordan - Chabad.org [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- Don't hide from the sins of St. Louis - America Magazine [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- In Defense of King Louis IX | Thomas F. Madden - First Things [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- Jesus in the Talmud - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- Learning From the Past: Reckless Jewish Kings Through the Ages - Algemeiner [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2020]
- The Oral Law -Talmud & Mishna - Jewish Virtual Library [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2020]
- The huppah - a beloved object of Jewish art - The Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2020]
- Peter Beinart's one state solution sounds so perfect it's practically utopian - Haaretz [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2020]
- No One Will Change Your Life Like a Teacher - Algemeiner [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2020]
- 11 Thoughts and Sayings of Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv Broide the Alter of Kelm - Yeshiva World News [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2020]
- Dozens of Jewish graves and tombstones desecrated in the Jewish cemetery in Worms, one of the oldest in Europe - European Jewish Press [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2020]
- Death to Jews, swastikas drawn on gravestones in southern France - Forward [Last Updated On: July 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 17th, 2020]
- Barbra Streisand classic Yentl returns to big screen at The Drive In - Jewish News [Last Updated On: July 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 17th, 2020]
- Not all the statues need to come down - Forward [Last Updated On: July 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 17th, 2020]
- Nick Cannon and several other Black celebrities attended Farrakhans July 4 speech - Forward [Last Updated On: July 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 17th, 2020]
- Allford: Achoo! Sneezing through the centuries - The Kingston Whig-Standard [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2020]
- Q & A: Making Up For What We Missed (Part XIII) - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2020]
- The seed that is sown | Community And Lifestyles - atchisonglobenow.com [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2020]
- The End of Anti-Semitism - Aish [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2020]
- Eicha - the question that reverberates throughout history - The Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2020]
- A Traditional Jewish Approach to the Problem of Evil - My Jewish Learning [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- My article was controversial - and I talked to the haters - Forward [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Guestwords: Let There Be Laughter - East Hampton Star [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- The Terrifying Feeling of Being Alone in the World - Aish [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Faith Leaders Demand Action From New York City's Mayor to Ensure Safe Reentry for Those Leaving Rikers Island During COVID-19 Pandemic - Press Release... [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Revision 1.13 The Mishnah and the Talmuds | Dan Peterson - Patheos [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- What's the truth behind wearing face masks? - The Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- 12 Facts Every Jew Should Know About the 9 Days - Chabad.org [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Musings of a rabbi in the period of pandemic - Jewish News [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- The Kingly Roots of Kitchri: Lentils With Love - Jewish Journal [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- We've got what it takes to endure these difficult days J. - The Jewish News of Northern California [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Learn About the Holy Temple in Depth - Texts and Classes Describing the Holy Temple - Chabad.org [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Nation of Islam posts Farrakhans call for Jews to ditch the Talmud & be saved amid Nick Cannon antisemitism debacle - RT [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Are Reports Of The Persecution Of Yemenite Jews Completely False? - Yeshiva World News [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- There's space in the Jewish community for queer people. I just had to find it. - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- Glimpsing The Beis HaMikdash - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- Who Wrote the Bible? - History [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- Judaism, baseball, and the drive for normal - The Jewish Standard [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- Digital Archive Takes Talmudic Approach to Americas Founding Texts - Jewish Week [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2020]
- Hope is a power you don't have to relinquish - St. Louis Jewish Light [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2020]
- In the Talmud, God admits Hes wrong. Theres a lesson there about free speech. - Forward [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2020]
- The Pope who Printed the Talmud - Aish [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2020]
- Love, community, mysticism: The intrigue and observance of Tu B'Av - thejewishchronicle.net [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2020]
- A burning house - A universal lesson | Shahar Azani | The Blogs - The Times of Israel [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2020]
- Talmud's solution to the coronavirus dilemma: Save lives, or the economy? - Haaretz [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2020]
- Talmud and Midrash | Judaism | Britannica [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2020]
- What is the Talmud? Biblical Meaning & Definition [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2020]
- Redeeming Relevance: When Moshe Threw a Book Across the Classroom - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com [Last Updated On: July 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 31st, 2020]
- One for Israel exposes abusive teachings of rabbis, explains that Jesus loves and esteems women [videos] - Patheos [Last Updated On: July 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 31st, 2020]
- The indomitable spirit of the Jewish people - The story of Yavne - The Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: July 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 31st, 2020]
- Preparing for Tisha B'Av During a World Pandemic - A 25-hour period of fasting and reflection begins on Wednesday night, July 29 - Chabad.org [Last Updated On: July 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 31st, 2020]
- Even More Harm Than We Think - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2020]
- Listen: Longtom on electro-shock treatment for Great Whites; Chas Smith continues his outspoken advocacy for kicking dogs. You see a good thick dog,... [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2020]
- The Real Reason the Beit HaMikdash Was Destroyed - The Jewish Voice [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2020]
- Why Is the Ketubah Written in Aramaic? - Chabad.org [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2020]
- In a pickle, Seth Rogen tells Haaretz what he really thinks about Israel and white supremacist Trump - Haaretz [Last Updated On: August 6th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 6th, 2020]
- Remembering The Wall (Part II) - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2020]
- Tales Told to Tevye - The New Yorker [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2020]
- Parashat Ekev: A different kind of theology - The Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2020]
- First lesbian woman to be appointed to Tel Aviv's religious council - The Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2020]
- Our community together apart - The Australian Jewish News [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2020]
- Tyranny, loss and leadership: What's on MIFF's menu - The Age [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2020]
- Even though your heart may grow haughty - The Jewish Star [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2020]
- Adin Steinsaltz, Groundbreaking Talmud Translator, Dies - The New York Times [Last Updated On: August 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 8th, 2020]
- A Personal Relationship With God Is Reachable if We Believe in It - Algemeiner [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2020]
- Berachos: The Key To Fearing Hashem - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2020]
- Delaware to require teaching of the Holocaust, genocide - Forward [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2020]
- Yeshiva Education - The Best of Both (OPINION) - BKLYNER - BKLYNER [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2020]
- Cherish the Small Comforts that Bring Your Joy in an Unsettled World - Jewish Journal [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2020]
- Mind Over Milkshakes - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2020]
- Why Is the Ketubah Written in Aramaic? - Questions & Answers - Chabad.org [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2020]
- The Survivors' Talmud: When the US Army Printed the Talmud - The Jewish Voice [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2020]
- The Life and Legacy of Torah Scholar and Prolific Author Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz - Jewish Journal [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2020]
- As The Night Gets Longer - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2020]
- Running a Jewish day school just got a lot more expensive and parents shouldn't be the only ones paying the price. - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic... [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 17th, 2020]
- Heichal HaTorah Bais Medrash Enters Its Second Year with 40 Talmidim - Join us this Zman! - Yeshiva World News [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 17th, 2020]
- A sweet and sour history of Jews and pickles - The Jewish Star [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 17th, 2020]
- Holy Witnesses - Torah Insights - Parshah - Chabad.org [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 17th, 2020]
- End this year, with its curses! | Yaakov Jaffe | The Blogs - The Times of Israel [Last Updated On: September 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 2nd, 2020]