There are four days kept as fast-days in commemoration of events
connected with the fall of Jerusalem. They are called in the Bible
(Zech. viii. 19) “the fast of the fourth month and the fast of the
fifth, and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth.” These
days are the anniversaries of the commencement of the siege of
Jerusalem (10th of Tebeth), of the breach made in the wall (17th of
Tammuz), of the destruction of the Temple (9th of Ab), and of the
murder of Gedaliah (3rd of Tishri). The 9th of Ab is kept as a day of
fasting and mourning for the destruction of the Temple. According to
Tradition, both the first and the second Temple were destroyed on the
same day.
The Lesson from the Pentateuch read in the Morning and in the Afternoon
Services on the fast-days is Exod. xxxii. 11–14 and xxxiv. 1–10. On the
9th of Ab this section is read in the afternoon only; the Morning
Lesson being Deut. iv. 25–40 and Jer. viii. 13 to ix. 23; in the
Afternoon Service on all fasts Isa. lv. 6 to lvi. 8 is read as
haphtarah.
Note 1.—These fasts begin with daybreak, except the fast of the 9th of
Ab, which commences with the previous evening and lasts twenty-four
hours, and is in all respects like that of the Day of Atonement. During
the day the Lamentations of Jeremiah, various elegies called קינות,
“Lamentations,” and the Book of Job are read. On the Fast of Ab, as a
sign of mourning, talith and tefillin are not worn during the Morning
Service. They are, however, put on for the Afternoon Service.
2. The Sabbath preceding the Fast of Ab is called שבת חזון, and the
Sabbath following, שבת נחמו because the Haphtaroth on these Sabbaths
(ch. i. and ch. xl. of Isaiah) begin respectively with the words חזון
and נחמו; the one containing rebukes and threats, the other a message
of comfort.
Besides these historical fasts, there are voluntary fasts observed by
some as an expression of deep-felt piety; e.g., the three fasts of שני
חמישי ושני of Monday, Thursday, and Monday, kept after the festive
seasons of Passover and Tabernacles, in imitation of Job, who after the
days of feasting sanctified his sons, and brought special sacrifices
(Job i.). To this class of fasts may be reckoned the day before
New-moon, called יום כפור קטן on which in some congregations the
Afternoon Service is enlarged by propitiatory prayers.