🗓️ Today in Jewish History– 9th Tamuz
🗓️ First Temple Era – The Breach of Jerusalem and the Flight of Tzidkiyahu
During the final days of the Babylonian siege, the famine in Jerusalem intensified greatly, and the city fell into desperation. At last, the walls were breached, marking the beginning of the end of the Kingdom of Judah.
King Tzidkiyahu, together with his אנשי החיל, fled the city by night, escaping דרך גן המלך through a gate between the walls toward the plains. According to tradition, he attempted to hide in a concealed underground passage or cave, temporarily evading his pursuers.
However, Divine providence brought about his capture. It is related that a deer emerged from the cave, drawing the attention of the Babylonian soldiers. As they pursued it, they discovered the king emerging and captured him near the plains of Jericho, bringing him before Nebuchadnezzar and sealing his tragic fate.
🗓️ The Fast of the Fourth Month[1]
This day was established as a public fast during the Babylonian exile, known as the “fast of the fourth month” (צום הרביעי) mentioned in Zechariah.
Although historically the breach occurred earlier, the later destruction of the Second Temple on the 17th of Tammuz became the primary fast observed by כלל ישראל, since the later חורבן was considered more severe for subsequent generations. Thus, Chazal fixed 17 Tammuz as the communal fast day (Shulchan Aruch O.C. 549).
There were earlier discussions whether to also fast on the original date, but the halachic conclusion was not to burden the ציבור with multiple fasts, though some individuals of heightened piety would fast additionally.
🗓️ 1242 – The Burning of the Talmud in France
In the year 5002 (1242), on the 9th of Tammuz (according to some sources), twenty-four wagonloads of sacred Jewish books were publicly burned in France.
The rabbanim of the time sought to understand this calamity through a She’elat Chalom (heavenly inquiry), and received the response:
“זאת חוקת התורה”—indicating a Divine decree linked to Torah itself.
From that point, some pious individuals accepted upon themselves to fast each year on the Friday of Parashat Chukat, seeing a connection between the episode and the reading of that portion.
🗓️ Later Tragedies on These Days
- In the year 1648 (Tach veTat), major Jewish communities were destroyed during the Cossack massacres around this time.
- In 1930, a devastating fire broke out in Warsaw, fueled by antisemitic violence, causing great destruction to Jewish life and property.
🕯️ Today’s Yartzite – 9th Tamuz
🕯️ 1916 – The Passing of Rabbi Yechiel Heshel of Krylóv-Zinkov
In the year 5676 (1916), the holy Rabbi Yechiel Heshel ben Rabbi Meshulam Zisa זצ״ל passed away.
It is told that on the day of his passing he did not put on tefillin, explaining that he had a tradition from his grandfather, the Ohev Yisrael of Apta, that one who passes away without leaving a son is exempt from tefillin on that day.
He had arranged during his lifetime that his nephew, the tzaddik Rabbi Yehoshua of Monastrish, would recite Kaddish for him.
A remarkable story is told: while traveling by train, his nephew fell asleep and dreamt that his uncle reminded him of their agreement. Upon awakening and arriving, he discovered that at that very time—corresponding to his dream—the tzaddik had passed away.
🕯️ 1966 – The Passing of Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin, Author of “Oznayim LaTorah”
In the year 5726 (1966), the gaon Rabbi Shlomo Zalman ben Rabbi Bentzion Sorotzkin זצ״ל, Av Beit Din of Lutsk, passed away.
He was one of the leading Torah authorities of his generation and the author of the beloved sefer אוזנים לתורה, a widely studied commentary on the Torah combining depth, clarity, and penetrating insight.
As a תלמיד חכם and communal leader, Rabbi Sorotzkin stood at the forefront of rabbinic leadership in pre‑war Europe and later continued his influence in Eretz Yisrael. His writings reflect both analytical brilliance and a deep sensitivity to the meaning of the Torah in practical life.
🕯️ 1994 – The Passing of the Klausenburger Rebbe, Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda Halberstam
In the year 5754 (1994), the holy Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda ben Rabbi Tzvi Halberstam זצ״ל, the Klausenburger Rebbe of Sanz‑Klausenberg, passed away in Netanya.
A survivor of the Holocaust, he lost his entire family during the war yet rebuilt both physically and spiritually with extraordinary strength. He established a thriving Chassidic community and became one of the great builders of post‑war Torah life.
He was the author of the monumental responsa דברי יציב and the chassidic discourses שפע חיים, which continue to be widely studied. Beyond his scholarship, he founded institutions of תורה, hospitals (including Laniado Hospital), and countless initiatives of chesed, embodying rebuilding after devastation.
[1] Although the verse states that the walls of Jerusalem [in times of the 1st Temple] were breached on the 9th of Tammuz, nevertheless we do not fast on the 9th of Tammuz, but rather only on the 17th of Tammuz. The reason for this is because the breaching of the walls on the 9th of Tammuz were by the times of the 1st Temple, while the breaching of the walls of the 17th of Tammuz were of the 2nd Temple, and the destruction of the 2nd Temple is of greater severity to us. [Michaber 549:2] It was thus instituted to fast on the 17th of Tammuz as opposed to the 9th of Tammuz, as to fast both days is too much of a trouble for the public, and since the 17th is more severe, we therefore fast only on the 17th. [M”A 549:2; Ramban] Nevertheless, a meticulous person should also fast on the 9th. [M”A 549:2] The Jerusalem Talmud however writes that the breach of both walls occurred on the 17th of Tammuz, and the verse which had written that it occurred on the 9th 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 9th. [Machatzis Hashekel ibid]