We fast on Asara B’Tevet because of the destruction of Yerushalayim, which started when they surrounded the city. It’s an interesting fast, because as the Bet Yosef says, we don’t push it off. Even if it falls out on a Friday, which happens every few years, we fast. This doesn’t happen with other fast days.
The Bet Yosef says that they made the calendar so that Asara B’Tevet never falls out on Shabbat, because if it did we’d have to fast. Just like we don’t push off Yom Kippur, for which we say, “B’Etzem HaYom Hazeh - on this very day” we don’t push off Asara B’Tevet.
But most people view Asara B’Tevet as a very minor fast. It’s in the middle of the winter, very far from the 3 weeks. Who’s thinking about the destruction of the Temple now? How can it have power and significance of Yom Kippur?
If Tisha B’Av and Sheva Asar B’Tammuz come out on Shabbat, they get pushed off. What’s so special about Asara B’Tevet?
The Hatam Sofer explains that there is one other fast day that we don’t push off: a Taanit Halom- a fast for a bad dream. If someone had a bad dream (of a specific type), they have to fast. Even if it happens to fall out on Shabbat. Why is a Taanit Halom different than most other fasts?
The Hatam Sofer explains that other fasts are in reference to past events. We mourn the destruction of the Bet HaMikdash.
Asara B’Tevet, and the Taanit Halom are different. We aren’t fasting about what already happened. On Asara B’Tevet the city was surrounded but nothing had actually happened yet. We fast to do Teshuva to prevent a new Churban. Similarly, the Taanit Halom, the fast for a bad dream, is Teshuva to prevent something bad (after dreaming about it) from actually happening.
The Hatam Sofer says that every single year, on Asara B’Tevet, G-d decides if there will be another Tisha B’Av. This is a big Hiddush! Although Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the judgement days, the judgement of whether there will be another Tisha B’Av is decided today. That’s a powerful statement.
Therefore, we have to do some introspecting now. We have to think about how we treat and deal with others, because, as we mentioned yesterday, it was Sinat Hinam, baseless hatred, that caused the destruction. We don’t normally hear about this topic now, it’s usually “three-week’s talk,” but we are discussing it on Asara B’Tevet. And as we said yesterday, Bitachon is the elixir for Sinat Hinam.
What’s so special about this day?
In Yehezkel, G-d said a prophecy regarding Asara B’Tevet,“ B’Etzem HaYom Hazeh,” write down, “This very day. “What’s this very day?
The Sefer Yarot Devash explains that certain things that happened in creation have a very strong impact. One example of this concept was when Adam ate from the Etz Hadaat, on the first Friday, it impacted creation forever.
Another example was regarding Kayin and Hevel. Baseless hatred caused the brothers to fight, and one killed the other. The Yarot Devash calculates that the day that G-d decreed that Kayin should go into Galut (which was 7 days after the killing) was on Asara B’Tevet.
So even going back to the earliest time on our calendar, there was a decree of Galut on Asara B’Tevet. And it happened for the same reason. There are no coincidences.
Additionally, we always read the Parshiyot about Yosef and the brothers at this time of year, and the Haftara of Vayigash talks about the tribes joining together as well, so it’s the time to work on on this. And as we discussed yesterday, Bitachon is the premise for everything. Yosef recognized that it wasn’t the brothers that sent him, he didn’t blame his brothers, he knew G-d was in charge.
And only Bitachon can get us through our little family arguments. If your sister in law didn’t bring enough food to the Chanukah party, or her kids messed up your living room, with Bitachon, you don’t get upset with her, because you know she really didn’t do it.
Emunah and Bitachon prevent baseless hatred, and that’s what we need to prevent another Tisha B’Av.
Have an easy and meaningful fast and a great day.