17th of Tammuz: Mourning Jerusalem

According to the Mishnah (the Oral Torah, part of the Talmud), several other calamities also happened on this day throughout ancient Jewish history, making it even more poignant and somber.

For instance, it is believed that the 17th of Tammuz saw an infamous incident where the First Temple was defiled with an idol, a cause for mourning before even the Temple was destroyed.

Jewish tradition also says that this was the day Moses threw down and smashed the first pair of the Ten Commandments tablets he received at Mount Sinai from God. Moses was so enraged at seeing the Jewish people worship a golden calf that he destroyed the tablets; he then received a second set of the Ten Commandments, which would end up being stored along with the broken pieces of the first set inside the Ark of the Covenant.

While we know historically that the walls of Jerusalem were breached on the 17th of Tammuz by the Roman army before the destruction of the Second Temple, the Jerusalem Talmud also connects this date to the Babylonian siege on the Holy City that led to the destruction of the First Temple centuries earlier. The Book of Jeremiah gives a different date for the Babylonian breach of the city walls, but the Jerusalem Talmud says that the people were so troubled by this devastating event that it’s possible the dates have been incorrectly recorded.

The Roman siege on Jerusalem began in 70 CE on the 17th of Tammuz, and while it culminated in the destruction of the Holy Temple on Tisha B’Av (the ninth of the Hebrew month of Av), that was not the end of Roman violence or persecution against the Jewish people in Judea.

The Mishnah in fact gives another example of Roman violence coinciding with the date of Tammuz 17: it is said that the Roman military leader Apostomus burned a Torah scroll on this day as part of his campaign of oppression before the Bar Kokhba revolt of 132-136 CE.

The 17th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz is observed by many Jews around the world till this day. It’s a somber occasion used to commemorate and remember Jerusalem, in addition to marking the beginning of the reflective, mournful period of the “Three Weeks” leading up to Tisha B’Av.

The traditional way to observe this poignant day is through fasting – by refraining from all food and drink from daybreak until nightfall – as well as via personal repentance, prayer, and mourning.

However, since this is a “minor” fast in Jewish law, it is not a full 25 hours (like Yom Kippur or Tisha B’Av), and there are many exemptions that can excuse one from fasting such as for heath reasons. Not all Jews observe the fast, and some only do a half-day fast or only abstain from certain things – for example might not eat food but continue to drink liquids.

Whether your personal tradition includes fasting on the 17th of Tammuz or not, we should all remember and honor Jerusalem on this day. Falling on July 23rd this year on the secular calendar, it’s a great opportunity to reflect, perhaps say a few additional prayers, and commemorate the City of Jerusalem and the powerful symbolism and meaning of our ancient Temple.

You can remember Jerusalem and the Holy Temple every day of the year with our beautiful Jerusalem gifts, lovingly made right in the Land of Israel. Shop our collection here, or check out our top 15 favorites here!