A weekly feature of Torah Tidbits to help clarify practical and conceptual aspects of the Jewish Calendar, thereby better fulfilling the mitzva of HaChodesh HaZeh Lachem... As we said last week, this Motza"Sh (Balak) will be the big Kiddush L'vana evening of the month. It is after everyone's earliest time, and only the eve of the 10th of the month (far enough from the last op not to make anyone nervous). And, of course, Motza'ei Shabbat is a favored time for KL. Last op is Wednesday, July 20 all night long. 9 Tammuz 5004 (which was Erev Shabbat Parshat Chukat that year, 1244ce), 24 wagon-loads of sifrei kodesh were burned in France. A fast day was observed on Erev Shabbat Chukat thereafter (but not on the 9th of Tammuz). 9 Tammuz 3338, based on the book of Yirmiyahu, Jerusalem was breached, prior to the Churban of Bayit Rishon. The date was not made into a public fast, but 17 Tammuz was, because it was the date in the time of the 2nd Beit HaMikdash. [The
Parshat Balak Homepage]
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