Right now,
feels like it is under siege. The roads that enter and exit the city are all
closed down due to a snowstorm (about
The fact that this is happening today is very significant as
it is the Fast of the 10th of Tevet, the day that marks
Nevuchadnetzer’s siege of
588 BCE, a year and a half before he ultimately destroyed the Beit HaMikdash (
Aside from fasting, we also say special Slichot prayers and
read a Haftara from Yishayahu 55:6-56:8.
In the Slichot prayers for the Tenth of Tevet, we read about
all of the calamities that happened on the Tenth of Tevet and the importance of
repentance.
We recite the words: “Chadesh yamenu kiKedem”, renew our
days as of old, O Eternal God who dwells in the heavens. Make crimson sin white
as wool and make stains snow white.
This concept comes from Yishayahu 1:18-20: “Come now let us
reason together, says God: If your sins are like scarlet they will become white
as snow; if they become red as crimson they will become white as wool. If you
are willing to obey you will eat the goodness of the Land but if you refuse and
rebel you will be devoured by the sword- for the mouth of God has spoken.”
The Haftara, also from the book of Yishayahu Chapters 55-56
discusses the importance of repentance. Those who return to God will be
forgiven.
In Yishayahu 55:10-12 we read:
“For just as the rain and snow descend from heaven and will
not return there, rather it waters the earth and causes it to produce and
sprout and gives seed to the sower and food to the eater, so shall be My word that
emanates from My mouth, it will not return to Me unfulfilled unless it will
have accomplished what I desired and brought success where I sent it. For in
gladness you will go out and in peace you shall arrive, the mountains and hills
will break out in glad song before you and all of the trees of the field will
clap hands.”
Yishayahu is comparing God’s word to rain and snow. Rain and
snow don’t return to the heavens and we don’t always appreciate them when they
are falling but once the plants begin to grow we begin to appreciate the fact
that it rained or snowed, we too must wait patiently and God’s word will also
be fulfilled. Gladness and peace will eventually come to the Land and people of
This Shabbat will be a difficult one, as many people are
stranded away from their families both inside and outside of
tremendous outpouring of chesed, loving kindness with people opening their
homes to help those who are unable to return to their own homes until the roads
are cleaned up.
The true message of the Fast of the 10th of Tevet
is that we must repent, change our ways and do acts of loving kindness in order
to bring about true peace in the
the Third Beit HaMikdash in
Lets hope that the prophecy comes true and that “the
mountains and hills will break out in glad song and all of the trees of the
field will clap hands” as those who were stranded outside of the city return to
