Q&A: The Fast of the Tenth of Tevet
The Fast of the Tenth of Tevet
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I would be glad to hear your opinion regarding a question about the fast of the Tenth of Tevet.
There are four fasts connected to the destruction of the Temple. In tradition, each fast marks a stage on the way to the destruction.
My question is: since today Jerusalem is built up (physically—number of residents, yeshivas, businesses, etc.) aside from the Temple itself, is it not possible to cancel some of the fasts (for example, the Tenth of Tevet)?
Do you see a fundamental theological value in keeping the fast, or is it simply a matter of tradition and halakhic ruling?
My difficulty is mainly with the answer that says that “next year in rebuilt Jerusalem” refers to the Temple, the heavenly Jerusalem, and that until that exists there is no change at all in status (aside from a certain liturgical poem, where part of the public changes the phrase “she sits without being built”).
Thank you very much,
Answer
I do not see the difference between some of the fasts and all of them. As long as Jerusalem has not been restored from its destruction in the sense of building the Temple, the revival is not complete, and there is room to fast and remember the destruction. Especially since, in my view, the physical revival is not the main issue and does not carry great religious significance. And that is exactly the basis for changing the phrase to say that Jerusalem sits without being built, because that really is not correct. The rest more or less remains as it was.