THE THREE WEEKS

In the event that Mashiah does not come …This year, the fast of the 17th of Tammuz is on Tuesday, July 11, 2017. Fast begins at 5:24 am and ends at 8:40 pm. The 17th of Tammuz marks the beginning of the three weeks mourning period, which starts with the Fast of the 17th day of Tammuz that led to the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash, three weeks later on the 9th of Ab.

The “Three Weeks” have historically been days of misfortune and calamity for the Jewish People. During this time, both the First and Second Temples were destroyed, amongst other terrible tragedies. During the Three Weeks, we mourn the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash. Therefore we refrain from celebrating or attending festive events. This intensifies our yearning to see the Beit Hamikdash rebuilt in Yerushalayim.

Agonizing over these events is meant to help us conquer those spiritual deficiencies, which brought about these tragic events. Through the process of “TESHUBA” - self-introspection and a commitment to improve - we have the power to transform tragedy into joy.

The Talmud says that after the future redemption of Israel and the rebuilding of the Temple, these fast days will be re-dedicated as days of rejoicing and festivity. For as the prophet Zechariah says: the 17th of Tammuz will become a day of “joy to the House of Judah, and gladness and cheerful feasts.”

The Gematria, the numerical value of the word “Tob”, (in English means good), equals to the number 17, implying that the fast day 17th day of Tammuz, will turn into a day of Happiness for the Jewish Nation upon Mashiah’s arrival, Amen!!!

These days are referred to as the period “within the straits” (ben hametzarim), in accordance with the verse: “all her oppressors have overtaken her within the straits” (Lamentations 1:3). On Shabbat during the Three Weeks, the Haftarah is taken from chapters in Isaiah and Jeremiah dealing with the Temple’s destruction and the exile of the Jewish people.

From the 17th of Tammuz until Rosh Hodesh Menahem Ab (July 11th – July 24th ) the following laws apply: (Additional laws are applicable from Rosh Hodesh Ab,

& intensify for the week of Tish’a Be’Ab. A separate newsletter will follow next month.)

1. Various aspects of mourning are observed: refrain from listening to music (live or recorded), no dancing with or without music, no singing with exception of prayer to H-shem, etc.

2. Minimize joy and celebration; we refrain from celebrating weddings or other festivities, even without a festive meal. Exceptions are Milah & Pidyon Haben which must be done on a timely manner.

3. Haircutting & shaving is permitted except the week of Tish’a Be’Ab. 4. We increase in Ahabat Israel, friendship & harmony among ourselves. 5. Avoid potentially dangerous endeavors, since the attribute of Divine judgment (“din”) is acutely felt. 6. We do not recite the beraha of “Shehehiyanu” during this time, so anything requiring “Shehehiyanu” should

not be enjoyed at this time (new clothes, new fruit, etc.). This rule is more lenient on Shabbat. However, wearing new clothes during the first nine days of Ab is prohibited EVEN on Shabbat.

SPECIAL SCHEDULE FOR THE FAST DAYTUESDAY, JULY 11th, FAST OF 17 OF TAMMUZ

TA’ANIT BEGINS AT 5:24 AM / CONCLUDES AT 8:40 PM

FULL SCHEDULE

Shaharit Ness Minyan (Main Sanctuary) 6:00 am

Midrash Minyan 6:45 am & 8:00 am

Main Minyan 8:15 am

All Minyanim are followed by Classes.

Daf Yomi & Halacha Class 7:00 pm

Minha with Sefer Torah 7:40 pm

Birkat Cohanim before 8:15 pm

Arbit 8:25 pm

Ta’anit ends 8:40 pm

Followed by Seuda – Breaking of the fast.

May everyone have an easy and meaningful fast.

*** Tuesday, July 24th, is Rosh Hodesh “Menahem -Ab” ***

For comments, suggestions or special requests kindly contact the Rabbi.

Rabbi’s Email: rabbi@ejsfl.com

Due to the “Hurricane and Rainy Summer Months”, please make it a habit to visit the Erub Website every Friday, after 4:00 pm, at WWW.ERUVALERTS.COM to verify

that the Erub is working for that particular Shabbat.Please register to get automatic updates every week.

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A HISTORIC DAY OF CALAMITYOriginally, the fast was observed on the Ninth of Tammuz since that was the day Jerusalem fell prior to the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE. However, after Jerusalem fell on the 17th of Tammuz - prior to the destruction of the Second Temple - the Sages decided upon a combined observance for both tragedies on the 17th of Tammuz.

Many catastrophes occurred in Jewish history on the 17th of Tammuz:

Going all the way back to Biblical times, Moshe descended Mount Sinai on this day and, upon seeing the golden calf, broke the first set of Tablets carrying the Ten Commandments. He destroyed the golden calf, and then ascending back up Har Sinai for the second time where he spent the next forty days pleading for forgiveness for the sin of the golden calf.

In the First Temple Era: The Cohanim stopped offering the daily sacrifice on this day due to the Shortage of sheep during the siege and the next year 3184 (506 BCE), the walls of Jerusalem were breached after many months of siege by Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian forces. During the period of Roman persecution, an idol was placed in the holy sanctuary of the Temple, also the heathen Apostomos, captain of the occupation forces, publicly burned the Torah - both acts considered open blasphemy and desecration. These events were followed by Titus and Rome breaching the walls of Jerusalem in 3760 (70 CE) and Pope Gregory IX ordering the confiscation of all manuscripts of the Talmud in 4999 (1239).

In 1391, more than 4,000 Jews were killed in Toledo & Jaen, and in 4319 (1559) the Jewish Quarter of Prague was burned and looted. Also, the Kovno ghetto was liquidated on this day in 5704 (1944), and in 5730 (1970) Libya ordered the confiscation of Jewish property. In later years this day continued to be a dark one for Jews.

Another interesting occurrence on this day is Noah sending out the first dove to see if the Flood waters had receded, in 1650 (2100 BCE).

HOW TO OBSERVE THE FAST DAY - TUESDAY, JULY 11th, 2017

No eating or drinking is permitted from the break of dawn, until dusk.Men (13 and above) and women (12 and above) must fast from 5:24 am – 8:40 pm. One is allowed to eat before dawn, 5:24 am, providing that you made a condition (Te’nai) the night before, stating that if you wake up early enough you will be able to eat prior to the fast day. Pregnant and nursing women - and others whose health would be adversely affected – may be exempt from the fast. For any particular situation, kindly ask the Rabbi.

Tzedaka should be given in the amount of the cost of the three meals not being eaten to stress that we are not fasting in order to save money. IGRA D’TAANITAH.

Extra prayers are said. The Torah is read both in Shaharit and Minha. Birkat Cohanim during Minha. Some communities put on Tefilin for Minha on Fast days.

Children should not eat candies or sweets.

Increase in Ahabat Israel, unity and love among the Jewish nation.

Bathing, anointing, and wearing leather shoes are all permissible.

WHY DO WE FAST?What function does it serve in our spiritual life? How can being hungry and thirsty help us connect?

There are six regular fast days in the Jewish year. Two of these days, Tish’a Be’Ab and Yom Kippur, are “full” fasts. They begin at sunset and end the following day when the stars appear. The rest are “half” day fasts, lasting from sunrise to stars out. During these times, adult Jews may neither eat nor drink -- even water (there are exceptions for people with health issues).

Except for Yom Kippur, these fast days were established because of the catastrophes and suffering that occurred on those dates. The 17th of Tammuz is the first of four fast days mentioned in the prophets. The purpose of a fast day is to awaken our sense of loss over the destroyed Temple, and the subsequent Jewish journey into exile.

Their purpose is to help us recall the negative behavior of our ancestors that led to those calamities, and to focus our attention on our own parallel behavior that continues to drive our nation into similar negative situations.

During these days, each person is meant to make a personal accounting of his or her behavior and resolve to return to the positive path. According to Rabbi Eliahu Kitov, in The Book of Our Heritage, one who fasts and spends the day idly without repentance, misses the point. That person is emphasizing the fasting, which is secondary, and de-emphasizing the repentance which is primary. He quotes the book of Jonah (3:10) where it says about the people of the city of Nineveh, “And God saw their actions.”

Our sages point out that the verse doesn’t say, that G-d saw their sackcloth and fasting, but their actions (Talmud Ta’anit 22a). The purpose of fasting is to bring one to repent, and true repentance brings about a change in actions.

Beginning on the Shabbat after the Tammuz 17, we read the “Three of Rebuke” - three weekly readings from the Prophets, Haftarot, which prophesy the Destruction, describe the sins which caused it, and admonish us to repent our ways. During the Three Weeks, no weddings or other joyous events are held. Additional mourning practices are assumed during the “Nine Days” beginning on Ab 1. (It may vary among the different communities, please consult with the Rabbi.)

It is important to note that there is more to the Three Weeks than fasting and lamentation. The prophet describes the fasts as “days of goodwill before G-d”, days of opportunity to exploit the failings of the past as the impetus for a renewed and even deeper bond with G-d. A sense of purification accompanies the fasting, a promise of

redemption pervades the mourning, and a current of joy underlies the sadness.

The Ninth of Ab, say our sages in the Talmud, is not only the day of the Temple’s destruction-it is also the birthday

of Mashiah. The “Three of Rebuke” are thus followed by “Seven of Consolation”, seven weekly readings

describing the future redemption and the rebuilding of the marriage of G-d and Israel.