Ancient siege remembrance unites Jews globally in reflection, resilience, and eternal connection to Jerusalem.
Today (Tuesday), Jews across Israel and the Jewish world observe Fast of the Tenth of Tevet (Asara B’Tevet), one of the fast days commemorating the destruction of Jerusalem and the beginning of the Babylonian siege that ultimately led to the destruction of the First Temple.
According to Jewish tradition, on this day in 588 BCE, Nebuchadnezzar II began the siege of Jerusalem. The blockade lasted roughly eighteen months and culminated in the destruction of the First Temple on the Ninth of Av. The fast is one of four instituted by the Sages to engrave the lessons of national disunity, spiritual erosion, and foreign domination into Jewish collective memory.
The fast is observed from dawn until nightfall, during which eating and drinking are prohibited. In synagogues, penitential prayers (Selichot) and special supplications are added, emphasizing repentance, unity, and moral introspection.
This year, by decision of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, Asara B’Tevet also serves as General Kaddish Day, honoring Holocaust victims whose dates of death are unknown. Synagogues recite Kaddish and Yizkor, linking ancient destruction with modern catastrophe—affirming that Jewish memory spans millennia and survives every attempt at erasure.
Unlike Tisha B’Av and Yom Kippur, the Tenth of Tevet remains a regular workday. Still, for many, it is a solemn national moment—reminding the Jewish people that sovereignty, unity, and vigilance are essential lessons drawn from history and fully realized today in the State of Israel.
Fast Times – Tenth of Tevet (5786)
Fast begins (dawn):
- Jerusalem – 5:26
- Tel Aviv – 5:29
- Haifa – 5:30
- Be’er Sheva – 5:27
- Safed – 5:28
- Tiberias – 5:27
- Ashdod – 5:28
- Ashkelon – 5:28
- Eilat – 5:22
- Kiryat Shmona – 5:28
Fast ends (nightfall):
- Jerusalem – 17:09
- Tel Aviv – 17:05
- Haifa – 17:05
- Be’er Sheva – 17:09
- Safed – 17:05
- Tiberias – 17:03
- Ashdod – 17:06
- Ashkelon – 17:06
- Eilat – 17:10
- Kiryat Shmona – 16:59
