Praying for Peace in jerusalem on the 17th of Tammuz

Dear Friends,

I am excited to be preparing to start at Northern Hills Synagogue as the rabbi. I am in town, and am looking forward to getting to know all of you.

I am writing because today is the 17th of Tammuz, an ancient fast day dating back over two thousand years. Mentioned by the prophet Zecharayah around 518 BCE, it commemorates numerous tragedies, including the breach of the walls of Jerusalem by the Romans which led to the destruction of the Temple on the 9th of Av. Today is thus the beginning of the “three week” period.

According to the Talmud, the 17th of Tammuz is a minor fast day, and will in fact be abrogated when Jerusalem is at peace:

Rav Hanna bar Bizna said in the name of Rabbi Shimon Hasida: What is meant by the verse (Zekhariah 8:19): "Thus said the Lord of Hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth month, the fast of the seventh month, and the fast of the tenth month shall become occasions for joy and gladness for the House of Judah." - It is called "fast" and it is called "joy and gladness" - when there is peace, they shall be days of "joy and gladness", when there is no peace, they shall be a "fast" (Rosh Hashanah 18b)

This year, as Jerusalem and the rest of Israel face constant bombardment from rockets (over 500 so far), and 40,000 reservists have been called up for a looming ground war, the passage is particularly poignant and can add meaning to our observance of the day.

Please join with me in praying for peace in Jerusalem, Israel, and on earth on this day, and considering how we can contribute to peace in our sacred homeland and in our own lives.

B’shalom,

Rabbi David B. Siff