Rabbi Roodyn

Shiva Asar Be Tammuz is a hard day, it’s a long day and often a hot one. Unlike Tisha B’Av and Yom Kippur, there are very few extra tefillos to say and so it can be quite challenging to connect to the spirit of the day.

The Rambam writes in Hilchos Taaniyos 5:1

“There are days when the entire Jewish people fast because of the calamities that occurred to them then, to arouse [their] hearts and initiate [them in] the paths of repentance. This will serve as a reminder of our wicked conduct and that of our ancestors, which resembles our present conduct and therefore brought these calamities upon them and upon us. By reminding ourselves of these matters, we will repent and improve [our conduct], as [Leviticus 26:40] states: “And they will confess their sin and the sin of their ancestors.” “

The Shulchan Aruch OC 1:3 says that it is fitting for one who has fear of Heaven to feel pain meitzar and concern doeg about the destruction of  the Beis HaMikdash. The acts of aveilus that we take upon ourselves are meant to sensitise us to the pain, to help us realise that we are lacking something so fundamental and we don’t even realise it. Then there is another level, to be doeg, to figure out what we can do to make a difference to the situation.

This is the goal of the day, to take time out to feel the pain of the churban and to make space to figure out what changes we need to make in ourselves and to the world in order to pave the way for the geulah.