Time to Contemplate
Five times during the year, other than the Biblical day of atonement Yom Kippur, the people of Israel are encouraged to fast: Tzom Gedaliah, Asara be-Tevet, Ta’anit Esther, Shiv’ah Asar be-Tammuz and Tish’ah be-Av. On these days, except Tish’ah be-Av, we fast during the daytime hours, from dawn until the stars appear, whereas we fast…
