From the Ravs Desk: Latest articles and Q&A [Sunday 17th Tamuz 5785]

The walls of Yerushalayim were breached during the times of the second Temple.

Tur 549:1; Rambam Taanis 5:2; Mishneh Taanis 26b; M”B 549:2; Kaf Hachaim 549:4; Kitzur SH”A 121:4

This matter is a dispute between the Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi, with the Bavli holding that nothing happened on that day in times of the first Temple, as the walls of Jerusalem were breached on the 9th of Tamuz, and not the 17th of Tamuz. The Yerushalmi however writes that the breach of both walls occurred on the 17^th of Tammuz.

Background:

Although the verse states that the walls of Jerusalem [in times of the 1^st Temple] were breached on the 9^th of Tammuz, nevertheless we do not fast on the 9^th of Tammuz, but rather only on the 17^th of Tammuz. The reason for this is because the breaching of the walls on the 9^th of Tammuz were by the times of the 1^st Temple, while the breaching of the walls of the 17^th of Tammuz were of the 2^nd Temple, and the destruction of the 2^nd Temple is of greater severity to us. [Michaber 549:2] It was thus instituted to fast on the 17^th of Tammuz as opposed to the 9^th of Tammuz, as to fast both days is too much of a trouble for the public, and since the 17^th is more severe, we therefore fast only on the 17^th. [M”A 549:2; Ramban] Nevertheless, a meticulous person should also fast on the 9^th. [M”A 549:2] The Jerusalem Talmud however writes that the breach of both walls occurred on the 17^th of Tammuz, and the verse which had written that it occurred on the 9^th had made a mistaken calculation. Due to the suffering, they made a mistaken calculation. [M”A 549:2] Accordingly, there is no reason for even a meticulous person to fast on the 9^th. [Machatzis Hashekel ibid]