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

Post Views: 343

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Buy in Paperback or Kindle [4 Volumes]
Buy on Apple Books
Purchase on our website
Join Daily Halacha distribution list
Donate

Recent Q&A

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 17th of Tammuz.

Background:

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]

Chassidus Articles

Halacha Articles

From the Ravs Desk: Latest articles and Q&A [Sunday 24th Tamuz 5785]

July 20, 2025 No Comments

Post Views: 193 *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buy in Paperback or Kindle [4 Volumes] Buy on Apple Books Purchase on our website Join Daily Halacha distribution list Sponsor an Episode Donate Recent Q&A What to do if the Chazan accidentally skipped Birchas Kohanim Chazan accidentally

Read More »

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

Leave A Comment?

You must be logged in to post a comment.