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Dear friends,
A fast on Erev Shabbat is a fairly rare phenomenon, occurring only once every 5.1 years on average. Remarkably, it happened last year, and it's happening again this year—and we won’t see it again until 2034!
[The next time there will be a Friday fast for two consecutive years will be in 2072.]
This Friday, January 10, 2025, is the fast of the 10th of Tevet, when we primarily remember the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians (in 425 BCE), which led to the destruction of the First Temple. Notably, this fast, which concludes with Kiddush after nightfall, is the shortest of the year—at least for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere!
SCHEDULE - זמנים
6:05am - Fast Begins
6:45am - Shacharit
5:00pm - Mincha (with Torah Reading) / Kabbalat Shabbat / Maariv
6:12pm - Fast Ends (this is the earliest time for Kiddush)
LAWS - הלכות
Eating and drinking are prohibited from dawn (6:05am) until nightfall (6:12pm), when we break our fast after making Kiddush.
One who wishes to have an an early breakfast or coffee before the fast begins should consciously decide to do so the night before.
Unlike Yom Kippur and Tisha B'Av, brushing teeth (without swallowing water), bathing, anointing, and wearing leather are permitted.
Children under the age of Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and pregnant and nursing women are exempt from fasting. Others with health conditions may be exempt too, reply to this email or call me at 843-410-5989 with questions.
Special prayers are added to the Tefilot: a) Selichot and Avinu Malkeinu at Shacharit (as it is a Friday, Avinu Malkeinu is not recited in Mincha). b) The Aneinu prayer, asking for special forgiveness, is added to the morning and afternoon Shemonah Esrei. c) At Shacharit and Mincha the Pesukim containing the 13 Attributes of G-d’s Mercy are read from the Torah. d) Haftorah is read at Mincha.
You can find out more about Asarah B'Tevet here
Wishing you an easy and meaningful fast!
Sholom S. Mimran
Rabbi, Congregation Dor Tikvah
Address: 1645 Raoul Wallenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407
Shul Office: +1-843-410-5970
Rabbi's Study: +1-843-410-5989