The Fast of the 17th of Tammuz, falling this year on Thursday, marks the beginning of the “Three Weeks”—the period of national mourning for the destruction of both Jewish Temples, ending on Tisha B’Av. Because it falls in the height of summer, this year’s fast will be particularly long and hot, lasting from dawn until nightfall.
Fast Times
Jerusalem:
Start: 3:44 AM
End: 8:08 PM
Tel Aviv:
Start: 3:47 AM
End: 8:11 PM
Haifa:
Start: 3:42 AM
End: 8:17 PM
Be’er Sheva:
Start: 3:51 AM
End: 8:15 PM
Gaza Envelope:
Start: 4:28 AM
End: 8:14 PM
Lebanon:
Start: 4:00 AM
End: 8:10 PM
Eilat:
Start: 4:28 AM
End: 8:14 PM
Historically, the Mishnah in Tractate Ta’anit lists five national tragedies that occurred on this day: the breaking of the tablets by Moses after the sin of the Golden Calf, the cessation of the daily sacrifice in the First Temple due to the siege, the breaching of Jerusalem’s walls by the Romans during the Second Temple period—leading to the destruction three weeks later—and two additional events involving desecration of Jewish holy objects: the burning of the Torah by the Roman commander Apostomus and the placement of an idol in the Temple.