Download PDF Isaiah 55:6–56:8 Ashkenazim read this Haftarah at Mincha on all fast days except for Yom Kippur.  (Sepharadim generally recite no Haftarah on these days.) This is done to encourage the giving of charity, which the Talmud deems the most important aspect of fast days: Tosafot on Megillah 21a-  s.v. “One who Reads” תוספות […]

From Rabbi Levin’s Daily Dose of Halacha series on OU Torah

Haftorah for a Ta’anis Tzibbur Shiur provided courtesy of Torah Anytime

Shiva Asar B’Tammuz: The Incredible Machloket – Chida & Rav Moshe Feinstein, When the 3 Weeks Begin Shiur provided courtesy of Torah Anytime

The Secret of Shiva Asar B’Tamuz and the Bein Hametzarim Shiur provided courtesy of Torah Anytime

Shiva Asar B’Tamuz : The 5 Tragedies Indicate A Day Of Building and Destruction -The Mystical Power of the Letter “Hey” Shiur provided courtesy of Torah Anytime

The Gemara in Maseches Rosh HaShana (18b) says that there are three categories regarding the four fasts (of Asarah b’Teves, Shiva Asar b’Tamuz, Tisha b’Av, and Tzom Gedaliah) : 1) when there is gezeiras malchus (persecution) all four fasts are obligatory as fasts, 2) when there is no gezeiras malchus but also not shalom only Tisha b’Av is obligatory, and the rest are optional, 3) when there is shalom all four are Yamim Tovim.  […]

Why do we fast on Tisha B’av?  The primary answer, of course, is to remember the destruction of the Bet HaMikdash and Yerushalayim. Yet, according to the Navi Zechariah, not only Tisha B’av, but all four of the fast days (in which we remember Yerushalayim) will one day take on an added dimension. In the […]

The Talmud records that the first tragedy that occurred on the 17th of Tammuz was the breaking of the tablets at Mt. Sinai. This event sets the tone for a day that would tragically be replete with other traumatic events suffered by the Jewish people throughout their history. The following teaching delves into the meaning […]