• Home
  • About
  • Programs

    Program Catalogue

    • Interactive Catalogue
    • Group Catalogue
    • Demo Samples

    Program Categories

    • Israel Immersion
    • Online Learning
    • Self-Study
    • School Programs

    Testimonials

    Online Learning

    Online Learning Programs

    SEE MORE

    Israel Immersion

    Israel Immersion Programs

    SEE MORE

    Syllabus

    Syllabus: Ulpan-Or iHebrew™ Interactive Curriculum

    *Israel Immersion & VIP programs are conducted in Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv

  • Self-Study

    E-Tone®

    • Weekly Magazine
    • Low Intermediate Sample
    • High Intermediate Sample
    • Advanced Sample

    Interactive eBooks

    • Self-Study
    • Demo Samples
    • eBook Store

    Digital Courses

    • Monthly Subscription
    • Four-Month Subscription
    • Lifetime Subscription
    • Media Courses

    Novice-Mid-eCurriculum

    E-Book of the Month

    E-Tone® Low-Intermediate

    $29
    Updated on a weekly basis
    Subscribe Now
  • Schools

    Schools

    • Schools

    90

    Schools Are Using Our Curriculum

  • New Immigrants
    • Preparing for Immigration?
    • New Olim in Israel
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Shop
Have any questions?
Israel: (+972) 2-561-1132
USA: (+1) 516-939-8438
office@ulpanor.org
Login

Ulpan-Or
  • Home
  • About
  • Programs

    Program Catalogue

    • Interactive Catalogue
    • Group Catalogue
    • Demo Samples

    Program Categories

    • Israel Immersion
    • Online Learning
    • Self-Study
    • School Programs

    Testimonials

    Online Learning

    Online Learning Programs

    SEE MORE

    Israel Immersion

    Israel Immersion Programs

    SEE MORE

    Syllabus

    Syllabus: Ulpan-Or iHebrew™ Interactive Curriculum

    *Israel Immersion & VIP programs are conducted in Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv

  • Self-Study

    E-Tone®

    • Weekly Magazine
    • Low Intermediate Sample
    • High Intermediate Sample
    • Advanced Sample

    Interactive eBooks

    • Self-Study
    • Demo Samples
    • eBook Store

    Digital Courses

    • Monthly Subscription
    • Four-Month Subscription
    • Lifetime Subscription
    • Media Courses

    Novice-Mid-eCurriculum

    E-Book of the Month

    E-Tone® Low-Intermediate

    $29
    Updated on a weekly basis
    Subscribe Now
  • Schools

    Schools

    • Schools

    90

    Schools Are Using Our Curriculum

  • New Immigrants
    • Preparing for Immigration?
    • New Olim in Israel
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Shop

Newsletter

  • Home
  • Newsletter
  • THE GENERAL DAY OF KADDISH

THE GENERAL DAY OF KADDISH

  • Posted by Yoel Ganor
  • Categories Newsletter, Blog
  • Date December 25, 2020
the-general-day-of-kaddish

 

 

THE GENERAL DAY OF KADDISH

 

 

Shalom,

 

Today, Dec. 25th occurs the Fast of The Tenth of Tevet – עשרה בטבת – (Asarah B’Tevet).

 

 

On the tenth of the Hebrew month of Tevet ~2,500 years ago, Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonian king began his siege of Jerusalem.

 

On Tish’a Be’Av (9th of Av), the First Temple was destroyed. 

 

After the founding of the State of Israel, the 10th of Tevet was declared Yom Hakadish Haklali (General Day of Kaddish), providing an opportunity to say the Kaddish (the prayer for the dead) for those who died in the Holocaust whose precise date of death was unknown.

 

 

Our sages declared it a public fast.

It is one of four public fast days that memorialize different aspects of the catastrophes and national tragedies associated with the destruction of both Temples.

 

 

 

But, actually, there was little damage on that first day of the siege.

 

Why then has this become a day of fast?

 

And, actually The Fast of Asarah B’Tevet is quite unique. For example, exclusive to this fast is that it is the only one that we do actually observe as a fast on a Friday.

 

This is exactly the situation this year – people are fasting today on Friday! 

 

Even Tisha B’Av (9th of Av), which commemorates the actual destructions of both Temples gets pushed off. 

 

Yet, obviously, to maintain this distinction of being the only Fast Day that we actually do observe on Friday, there must be much more to the Fast of Asarah B’Tevet than meets the eye.

 

 

In seems that Asarah B’Tevet has several exceptional characteristics that are not found in any other fast day.

 

 

For instance, according to some commentators (Abudraham), if Asarah B’Tevet would potentially fall out on Shabbat, we would all actually be required to fast even on Shabbat. 

(In our current fixed Hebrew calendar this is an impossibility). 

 

AbuDraham’s statement is perplexing. 

How can one of the minor fasts (not commanded by the Torah, only ordered by Rabbis), push off the Biblical Shabbat? 

 

Additionally, Asarah B’Tevet commemorates merely the start of the siege, and not any actual destruction.

 

How can it be considered a more important fast than Tisha B’Av, which commemorates the destruction and loss of both of our Temples?

 

The Chatam Sofer says that the reason our sages established a fast for the siege on Asarah B’Tevet as opposed to every other time Jerusalem was under siege, is that on that day in the Heavenly Courtroom it was decided that the Temple was to be destroyed a few years hence.

 

Therefore, he explains, every Asarah B’Tevet the Heavenly Court convenes and decrees a new calamity.

 

He adds though that, conversely, a fast on Asarah B’Tevet has the potential to avert future calamities. 

 

In the consciousness of People of Israel, a fast day is a time of reckoning, a time to correct something in our past. 

 

But, in the case of Asarah B’Tevet it comes out that we are not fasting exclusively due to past calamities, but rather to help prevent a future tragedy from occurring.

 

That is why the fast of Asarah B’Tevet, even though it is considered a minor fast, nonetheless has the potential to possibly override Shabbat.

 

These explanations would also certainly elucidate why we would fast on a Friday for Asarah B’Tevet.

 

Yom Hakadish Haklali (The General Day of Kaddish) reflects Judaism’s deliberate effort to help us honor everyone in our past. As we think about those who have come before us, we are inspired to live a life worthy of their memory.

 

And we hope that the words of the Prophet Zechariah,

 

“The Fast of the Fourth (month, 17th of Tamuz), the Fast of the Fifth (month, Tisha B’Av), the Fast of the Seventh (month, Tzom Gedalyah), and the Fast of the Tenth (month, Asarah B’Tevet) shall be (changed over) for celebration and joy for the household of Yehuda”. 

 

be fulfilled soon. 

 

 

Yours,

Orly & Yoel

 

 

 

 

 

Till the end of this year ONLY!!!
 

 

 

 

Our Absolute Beginner level courses

https://www.ulpanor.com/product/gdl-guided-distance-learning-absolute-beginner/

 

are offered

at 25% discount!!!

 

 

Hurry up while this offer lasts, and if you personally are already more advanced than this level, let your friends, for whom it might be relevant, know about it!

 

Check these out below: 

https://www.ulpanor.com/product/gdl-guided-distance-learning-absolute-beginner/

 

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

 

Orly & Yoel

 

 

Many ask us for permission to redistribute our newsletters. By all means, please do feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you wish! 

 

Access the archive of our previous posts at:

https://www.ulpanor.com/category/blog/

Tag:kaddish, tevet

  • Share:
Yoel Ganor
Yoel Ganor

Previous post

The Blueprint of Redemption
December 25, 2020

Next post

Why is it so difficult to learn Hebrew?
January 8, 2021

You may also like

the-wisdom-of-hebrew-letters
The Wisdom of Hebrew Letters
21 January, 2021
Person turning the TV on with remote control.
Watch These Movies in Hebrew to Learn the Language Fast
19 January, 2021
Food in a glass case with Hebrew labels.
Israel Culture Shock: What You’ll Find Different Here
15 January, 2021

Search

Categories

  • Uncategorized
  • Blog
  • Newsletter
  • Vlog

Search by Tags

abundance amalek Bible esther haggadah hebrew calendar hebrew holiday Hebrew Language hebrew meaning of esther Hebrew months Hebrew roots Jewish independence day ki tisa Learn Hebrew matzah moses nissan parashat zachor pesach Purim Resolve conflicts the Hebrew way rosh chodesh seder shabbat shavuot study hebrew tablets torah portion torah portion tetzaveh Torah portion Trumah Torah portion Vayikra ulpan אבני החושן אולפן חג החירות חג המצות מגילת אסתר מצה פורים פסח פסח pesach פרשת השבוע בשלח פרשת תצוה שבת שירת הים

logo-ulpan-or

Israel: (+972) 2-561-1132
USA: (+1) 516-939-8438
office@ulpanor.org

Company

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Career / דרושים

Links

  • Events
  • Gallery
  • Demo Samples
  • FAQs
  • Members
  • Student T&C

Support

  • Contact Support
  • Can’t Sign In?

Hebrew Off the Bat

  • Hebrew for Seniors

© 1995-2018 Ulpan-Or Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

Login with your site account