Audio by Ushy Fried

121:4 (On) the 17th of Tammuz there were five disasters. The tablets were broken when Moshe came down from the mountain, as was said in the Torah, and this was on the 17th of Tammuz. The daily offering was cancelled.1 The city (walls) were breached during the destruction of the second Temple. Even though on the first (Temple) destruction (the walls were) breached on the 9th of the month, it's written:2 ''And in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the famine was severe in the city...'' ''Then the city was breached...'', but on the second (Temple) destruction, the city (walls) were breached and the destruction of the second Temple became worse from here on (further (it's given) in the Yerushalmi3 that also the first (destruction) was on the 17th but because of the straits (the people) were in they got the date wrong) A wicked (Roman ruler) Apostumus burned the Torah An idol was set up in the Temple by the wicked ones of Israel which caused our destruction and exile.

1) In the Temple, during the siege, because they no longer had any animals left. 2) Jeremiah 52:6 3) There are two versions of the Talmud (Mishna & Gemora together). The Yerushalmi (or Jerusalem Talmud) which was compiled in Israel and the Bavli (or Babylon Talmud) which was compiled in Babylon during the exile. The Yerushalmi is much smaller (39 volumes cf 63 volumes for the Bavli) and less comprehensive, but does include more details about agricultural laws which were only relevant for those living in Israel.

שבעה עשר בתמוז בו אירעו חמש צרות נשתברו הלוחות כשירד משה מן ההר כמו שנאמר בתורה וזה היה בשבעה עשר בתמוז ונתבטל קרבן התמיד והובקעה העיר בחורבן בית שני אף על גב דבחורבן הראשון הובקעה בתשעה לחדש דכתיב בחדש הרביעי בתשעה לחדש ויחזק הרעב בעיר וגו' ותבקע העיר וגו' אבל בחורבן השני בשבעה עשר בו הובקעה העיר וחורבן בית שני חמירא לן ועוד איתא בירושלמי דגם בראשון היה בשבעה עשר אלא שמפני הצרות טעו בחשבון ושרף הפוסטומוס הרשע את התורה והועמד צלם בהיכל על ידי רשעי ישראל וזה גרם חורבנו וגליותנו
121:5 The 9th of Av. On this day it was decreed on our ancestors in the desert that they would not be brought in to the land of Israel. For then the spies returned and Israel wept, weeping for no reason and it was decreed that (on this day future) generations would weep. On this day was the great destruction, on which were destroyed the first Temple and also the second. The city of Betar was captured, which was a large city, (killing) thousands and tens of thousands of Jews. On this day (the Roman governor) Turnos-Rufus plowed under the Temple and the surrounding area, fulfilling the verse:1 ''Zion shall be ploughed like a field.'' There is another public fast, the Fast of Esther, below Ch. 141:2.

1) Jeremiah 26:18

ותשעה באב בו ביום נגזר על אבותינו שבמדבר שלא יכנסו לארץ ישראל כי אז חזרו המרגלים ובכו ישראל בכיה של חנם ונקבע לבכיה לדורות ובו ביום היה החורבן הגדול שנחרב בו בית המקדש הראשון וגם השני ונלכדה העיר ביתר שהיתה עיר גדולה והיו בה אלפים ורבבות מישראל ובו ביום חרש טורנוסרופוס את ההיכל ואת סביביו ונתקיים הפסוק ציון שדה תחרש ועוד יש תענית צבור תענית אסתר לקמן סימן קמ''א סעיף ב'
121:6 If these fasts fall on Shabbat they are delayed until after Shabbat. However, if the 10th of Tevet falls on Friday one fasts the whole day. אם חלו תעניתים אלו בשבת דוחין אותן לאחר השבת אבל אם חל עשרה בטבת בערב שבת מתענין ומשלימין

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