What is the Tenth of Tevet?
The 10th of Tevet (Asara B’Tevet) is a fast day, this year falling out on Friday, 25 December 2020. Asara B’Tevet marks the day when the troops of Babylonia surrounded Jerusalem, there was a 30 month siege, which ended in the destruction of the holy temple, the Beis Hamikdash. We have never fully recovered from this event, because even though there was a second Beis Hamikdash, it never returned to its full glory like the first one.

On the Eighth of Tevet in the year 246 BCE (3515) the Torah was translated into Greek. The Rabbi’s viewed this event as one of the darkest days in Jewish history, comparing it to the day the golden calf was made.

On the ninth of Tevet on the year 3448, Ezra the scribe passed away, exactly 1000 years after the giving of the Torah.

We are told that the tragic fasts on the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months on the Jewish calendar will one day be transformed from fasting to feasting, from mourning to celebration. (At the time of the Moshiach.)

In the Northern Hemisphere, Asara B’Tevet is the shortest fast of the year. This year it falls out on Friday, meaning that we break the fast on the Friday night Shabbos meal.

What can we do about it? Most people are already used to being in Galus. We get used to things very quickly. We actually got used to the Covid situation already. Which isn’t a good thing. We have to remember that this isn’t the end! Moshiach is right around the bend, we have to believe that it’s coming! Try and choose one prayer, be it in Shemoneh Esray, in bentching, or anywhere else where it mentions the coming of Moshiach. Try to focus on that specific prayer that you choose and pray with all your might for the Moshiach to come already! For the Geulah Sheleimah to come already!

I wish you all an easy and meaningful fast, a good Shabbos, and I’ll be’ezras Hashem see you all in Jerusalem with the coming of Moshiach and the Geulah Sheleimah!