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Yom Kippur at the Adams Street shul this year was truly amazing. The sanctuary was almost filled and remained that way throughout the services. The cantorial leadership was inspiring, and the participation through singing and sincere prayer left one spiritually fulfilled.
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Of course, one of the major themes for the four Fasts is that of mourning. Our souls cry out against the many unjust and horrific crimes against our people. We are repelled by the fact that our tiny people has given so much to the world and has been treated so cruelly in response.
But there is more. Our fasting is a fervent prayer that these injustices will soon become a thing of the past. We yearn for the day that the cruelty of mankind will give way to justice and love and that their "swords will be turned into plough-shares."
Finally, and perhaps the most important aspect of fasting on all our fast days, is the
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There are six public fast days in the year. One is Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Another is Taanit Esther (the Fast of Esther), connected to the Purim festival. The other four all commemorate an aspect of the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the First and Second Holy Temples.
Following are the four fast days:
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Napoleon and the Jews
Yet, a sad note is heralded in our calendar on the seventeenth day of this month. It is the Fast of Shiva Asar B-Tammuz. On this day, the walls surrounding Jerusalem were breached and the fall of this Holy City only became a matter of time. Exactly three weeks later, on the sad day of Tisha B-Av, both Holy Temples were destroyed and many other tragedies befell us.
The story is told that Napoleon once passed a synagogue where he saw the congregants sitting on the ground and offering tearful prayers. “What is the meaning of this?” he asked his attendants.
