Why Asarah B'Teves Is the Strictest of the Minor Fasts
Why Asarah B'Teves Is the Strictest of the Minor Fasts
Part of Days on the Jewish Calendar: Tevet · 25:29
Explores the four minor fast days, why Asarah B'Teves alone can fall on Shabbos, and the idea that Hashem sends the cure (galus itself) before the full affliction arrives.
Audio Transcript
Avudraham says that if Asarah b'Tevet would come out on Shabbos, which 讜讘驻讜注诇 it can't, but if it would come out on Shabbos we'd have to fast on Shabbos. Not like every, even Tisha B'Av comes on a Shabbos sometimes, we fast on Sunday. No other taanis we fast on Shabbos. Yeah, Friday yeah, but it can never come on a Shabbos. But he says had it come out on Shabbos, we would fast on Shabbos. The reason is, he says, because by Asarah b'Tevet it says, \"讘注爪诐 讛讬讜诐 讛讝讛 住诪讱 诪诇讱 讘讘诇\". On this day, the king of Bavel surrounded, besieged Yerushalayim, but the expression is, \"讘注爪诐 讛讬讜诐\". Yom Kippur it says, \"讘注爪诐 讛讬讜诐 讛讝讛 转注谞讜 讗转 谞驻砖讜转讬讻诐\", we shall fast. Since it says here \"讘注爪诐\" on Yom Kippur, and Yom Kippur you fast on Shabbos, so Asarah b'Tevet is also. But the Rebbe asks, 讗诪谞诐 注讚讬讬谉 爪专讬讱 诇讛讘讬谉, we have to understand: 讛谉 讗诪转 砖讘谞讜讙注 诇注砖专讛 讘讟讘转 谞讗诪专 讘讻转讜讘 讘注爪诐 讛讬讜诐 讛讝讛 讻诪讜 讘讬讜诐 讛讻讬驻讜专讬诐. True, it says the same lashon by Asarah b'Tevet: 讘注爪诐, like it says Yom Kippur. 讜诪讝讛 诇诪讚讬谉, from that we learn out 砖讗讬诇讜 讛讬讛 讞诇 讘砖讘转 诇讗 讛讬讜 讬讻讜诇讬诐 诇讚讞讜转讜, had it come on a Shabbos we couldn't push it off. 讗讘诇 注讚讬讬谉 讚专讜砖 讘讬讗讜专, 诪讛讜 讛住讬讘讛? We have to understand what's the reason. Okay, we have a re'iyah, we have a proof, it's the din. But what's the reason 诇讬讬讞讜讚讜 砖诇 注砖专讛 讘讟讘转 诪砖讗专 讛爪讜诪讜转, that Asarah b'Tevet is different than every other fast day, 砖讬讛讗 讚讜诪讛 诇讬讜诐 讛讻讬驻讜专讬诐, that should be like Yom Kippur, 讗砖专 讻转讜爪讗讛 诪讝讛, as a result of it, 讛讜讟讙砖 讛讚讘专 讘讻转讜讘 讘注砖专讛 讘讟讘转 讘注爪诐 讛讬讜诐 讛讝讛? That there must be something special in Asarah b'Tevet that the Torah put it in such a word that we should compare it to Yom Kippur, 讜诪诪讬诇讗 fast on Shabbos. But what's the reason? This is just a fact, but the reason we don't know. 讜讻讚讘专讬 讻诪讛 驻注诪讬诐, the Rebbe said many times, 砖讛住讘专 讛讚讘专 爪专讬讱 诇讛讬讜转 诪讜讘谉 讘驻砖讟讜转 讙诐 诇讗谞砖讬诐 驻砖讜讟讬诐. The explanation can't be Kabbalah, all kinds, it has to be a very simple explanation that every simple person could understand, 讻砖诐 砖讞讜诪专讗 讝讜 砖讗讬诇讜 讛讬讛 讞诇 讘砖讘转 诇讗 讛讬讜 讬讻讜诇讬诐 诇讚讞讜转讜 诪讜讘谞转 讜砖讬讬讻转 讙诐 诇讗谞砖讬诐 驻砖讜讟讬诐 讘转讻诇讬转. Just like the din itself, the din that we say had it been on Shabbos you fast on Shabbos is a very simple din, and it applies to every simple person. So the reason behind it also has to be a simple reason, a simple reason why if Asarah b'Tevet be on Shabbos, it would be more strict than any other ta'anis that you would have to fast on Shabbos. 讜讘讜讜讚讗讬 讬砖 诇讝讛 讛住讘专讬诐 注诇 讚专讱 讛住讜讚, 讛讚专讜砖, 讜讛专诪讝, certainly there is 注诇 驻讬 拽讘诇讛 and derush and remez, all kinds of explanations, 讗讘诇 讘讬讞讚 注诐 讝讛, together with that, 讘讛讻专讞 砖讬砖谞讜 讙诐 讛住讘专 注诇 讚专讱 讛驻砖讟. It has to be a very simple explanation, too. 讛住讘专 砖讬转拽讘诇 讘砖讻诇讜 砖诇 驻砖讜讟 砖讘驻砖讜讟讬诐, an explanation that will be expected, accepted in the seichel of a simple person, a very simple person, 诪讘诇讬 诇讛诪转讬谉 注讚 砖讬讛讬讛 诇诪讚谉, 专诪讝谉, 讜讚专砖谉, 诪拽讜讘诇, 讘注诇 转讜专转 讛住讜讚, before he becomes a big lamdan and he becomes a big mekubal or big things, simple person should also understand. 讜讛讘讬讗讜专 讘讝讛 讘驻砖讟讜转, the explanation is very simple: 讛诪讗讜专注讜转 讚讚' 讛爪讜诪讜转 讘讗讜 讘讛诪砖讱 讝讛 诇讝讛. We
look in the four, there are four fast days of the year. Actually there are more. Yom Kippur, but that's a different one, that's in the Chumash. Then there are four fast days besides Ta'anis Esther. Ta'anis Esther, again, is a separate fast, because that's a zecher for the fast that they fasted then, but in connection to the 讞讜专讘谉 讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖, there are four: Asarah b'Tevet, and then Shivah Asar b'Tammuz, Tishah b'Av, and Tzom Gedaliah. Now, these are four fasts that came before because of four things that happened, four events which came as a continuation one of the other. Not like like sometimes you would say there are four things happened, nothing connected, but they're four different things, and each one deserves a fast. No, these are different of inyanim that comes 讘讛诪砖讱, he says. 讛讬讬谞讜 砖讻诇 诪讗讜专注 讘讗 诇讗讞专 讜讛拽讚诪转 讛诪讗讜专注 砖诇驻谞讬讜. Each happening happened because of something that happened before. 讛诪讗讜专注 讚讬状讝 讘转诪讜讝 讛讜讘拽注讛 讛注讬专, what happened on Shivah Asar b'Tammuz? That's when they cracked the wall, they broke through the wall of Yerushalayim. 讘讗 诇讗讞专 讛拽讚诪转 讛诪爪讜专 注诇 讬讚讬 砖住诪讱 讘注砖专讛 讘讟讘转. That comes after Asarah b'Tevet. Asarah b'Tevet, Nevuchadnetzar besieged Yerushalayim around the whole wall. Now
after he was around the whole wall and was trying to get in, finally, finally, he broke the wall. 讛诪讗讜专注 讚转砖注讛 讘讗讘, 讞讜专讘谉 讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖, what happened on Tishah b'Av, destruction of 讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖, 讘讗 诇讗讞专 讛拽讚诪转 讛诪讗讜专注讜转 讚诪爪讜专 讜讘拽讬注转 讞讜诪转 讛注讬专. That came after Asarah b'Tevet, they surrounded the city, and then on Shivah Asar b'Tammuz they broke the wall. So then after that, the next step was they came into Yerushalayim, they broke the wall, they came to Yerushalayim, and then on on Tishah b'Av they destroyed the Beit Hamikdash. What What was going on with the siege before they broke the wall? That was how many months? They were trying. No, three years. Three years? Mhm. They besieged. Three yeah, they tried Two and a half. Two and a half years, I'm saying be'erech. 讜诇讗讞专 诪讗讜专注讜转 讗诇讜 讘讛诪砖讱 诇讛诐, and after that happened, first thing was Asarah b'Tevet, they besieged the city, then they broke the wall, then they destroyed the Beit Hamikdash, then 讘讗 诪讗讜专注 Tzom Gedalyah, then Tzom Gedalyah. What happened Tzom Gedalyah? After the 讞讜专讘谉 讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖, 讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖 was destroyed, Yidden went to galut, there were still some remnants of Yiddishkeit in Eretz Yisrael, and it was headed by Gedalyah. When they killed Gedalyah, that cleaned out, that ruined Yiddish... 拽讬讬讟 in Eretz Yisrael completely. So then we fast for that too, but that came as a result of the churban Beit Hamikdash. 讜讘驻砖讟讜转, 驻砖讜讟 驻砖讟 means like this: 诇讗讞专 砖谞诪诇讗讛 讛住讗讛, after Yidden were did were so terrible that the Eibershter, like, couldn't take it anymore, 讛讬讛 讛诪讗讜专注 讚住诪讱 诪诇讱 讘讘诇 注诇 讬专讜砖诇讬诐. That's what happened that day, the the 诪诇讱 讘讘诇, the king of 讘讘诇 surrounded 讬专讜砖诇讬诐. 诪转讜讱 转拽讜讜讛, the Eibershter hoped, 砖讘专讗讜转诐 讝讗转 讬讞讝专讜 讘转砖讜讘讛, that Yidden will see that it's not pashut. The the navi kept on warning them, \"Do teshuvah, otherwise it'll be destruction.\" And they actually saw it started happening! He surrounded 讬专讜砖诇讬诐, so the Eibershter hoped they'd do teshuvah. 讻讗砖专 诇讗 谞讬爪诇讜 讗转 讛讝诪谉 讜诇讗 注砖讜 转砖讜讘讛, they didn't take a they didn't use that opportunity and they didn't do 转砖讜讘讛, 讘讗 讛诪讗讜专注 讚讛讜讘拽注讛 讛注讬专, next thing happened, they broke the wall, the city. 讻讗砖专 讙诐 诪讗讜专注 讝讛 诇讗 注讝专 砖讬住讜专讜 讜讬砖讜讘讜 讘转砖讜讘讛, this didn't help they should do 转砖讜讘讛, 讘讗 讛诪讗讜专注 讚讞讜专讘谉 讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖, came the churban, destruction of Beis Hamikdash. 诇讗讞专 讝讛, and then it came even worse, 讛诪讗讜专注 讚讛专讬讙转 讙讚诇讬讛, they killed Gedaliah. 讜谞诪爪讗, so it comes out, 砖讛诪讗讜专注 讚注砖专讛 讘讟讘转, 住诪讜讱, 住诪讱 诪诇讱 讘讘诇 注诇 讬专讜砖诇讬诐, 讛诪爪讜专 注诇 讬专讜砖诇讬诐, so the thing that happened on Asarah B'Teves, when the king of Bavel besieged 讬专讜砖诇讬诐, 诪讛讜讜讛 讛转讞诇讛 讜住讬讘讛 诇讻诇 讛砖转诇砖诇讜转 讛诪讗讜专注讜转 讚砖讗专 讛爪讜诪讜转. That's the beginning and that's the first thing that caused what later on continued that all the other fasts are about. 砖讛专讬 讗诇讜诇讬 讛诪爪讜专 注诇 讬专讜砖诇讬诐, if not for the siege on 讬专讜砖诇讬诐, 诇讗 讛讬讛 砖讬讬讱 讛诪讗讜专注 讚讛讘拽注转 讞讜诪转 讛注讬专. They couldn't break the wall, you got to first surround Yerushalayim. So that started, then they broke the wall, 讜诇讗讞专 诪讻谉 讞讜专讘谉 讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖. You wouldn't have a 讞讜专讘谉 讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖 if you wouldn't have Asarah B'Teves. 讝讛讜 讛讘讬讗讜专 讛驻砖讜讟 讛谞讜讙注 诇讛讞讜诪专讗 讚注砖专讛 讘讟讘转. This is the
simple explanation why Asarah B'Teves is so strict, 讻驻讬 砖诪讘讬谉 讙诐 驻砖讜讟 砖讘驻砖讜讟讬诐, as a even a simple person would understand, 注讚 讻诪讛 谞讜讙注 讛转讞诇转 讛注谞讬讬谉. This just shows how the beginning is the most important part, 砖讗讝 谞拽诇 注讚讬讬谉 诇诪谞讜注 讗转 讛讚讘专 讛讘诇转讬 专爪讜讬 诪注讬拽专讜. In the beginning you could avoid the beginning, and if you avoid the beginning, nothing happens. 讜诇讗讬讚讱, on the other hand, 讗诐 诇讗 诪讜谞注讬诐 讗转 讛讛转讞诇讛, if you don't stop it in the beginning, 讛专讬 讘讛转讞诇讛 讝讜 讻诇讜诇 讻讘专 讻诇 讛砖转诇砖诇讜转 讛诪讗讜专注讜转 砖讬讘讜讗讜 讘讚专讱 讛讟讘注. This beginning contains in a potential form everything that naturally will come out of it, 讗诐 诇讗 讬谞爪诇讜 讗转 讛讝诪谉 砖谞讬转谉 诪诇诪注诇讛 讻讚讬 诇砖讜讘 讘转砖讜讘讛, if they will not do teshuvah. 诪爪讚 讛注谞讬讬谉 讚诪爪讜讛 讙讜专专转 诪爪讜讛 讜注讘讬专讛 讙讜专专转 注讘讬专讛. Just like a mitzvah brings another mitzvah, same thing an aveirah brings another aveirah. If you don't do the beginning, you start off with one bad thing, it'll schlep you to more. What kind of hashgachah? Huh? Yeah, it shows on the other side what kind of hashgachah He had, He gave the opportunity, He started He didn't start He could have right away destroyed the Beis Hamikdash! You saw it was happening and still Still, He started a little bit, oh yeah. And the Rebbe will say in the next sichah even more. 讜诪讝讛 诪讜讘谉 讙诐 讘谞讜讙注 诇讘讬讟讜诇 讻诇 注谞讬讬谉 讛爪讜诐 讜讛驻讬讻转讜 诇讬讜诐 讟讜讘. So now
when we know that the Aibershter said that the future He will mevatel, nullify the fast day, and it'll turn into a Yom Tov. 砖诪讻讬讜讜谉 砖注砖专讛 讘讟讘转 讛转讞诇讛 讜住讬讘讛 讚讻诇 讛爪讜诪讜转, seeing that Asarah B'Teves is the beginning of all the fast days, 讛专讬 讻砖诪讛驻讻讬诐 讗讜转讜 诇讬讜诐 讟讜讘, when it'll turn into a 讬讜诐 讟讜讘, 诪讛驻讻讬诐 讘讚专讱 诪诪讬诇讗 讻诇 砖讗专 讛爪讜诪讜转 诇讬诪讬诐 讟讜讘讬诐 讜诇讬诪讬 砖砖讜谉 讜砖诪讞讛. Automatically all the other Yamim Tovim will also turn to simchah, because if the beginning is everything follows. So if that'll be good everything follows, and this was bad and everything follows. So now here, in this sichah the Rebbe continues like this: Will we be celebrating something? Sure, we'll make a Yom Tov. So, because other Yom Tovim, I remember, going to fall off. No, we're going to celebrate. Why worry? No, no, they won't fall off. We'll celebrate. Tisha B'Av will be a big Yom Tov. Asara B'Tevet will be a big Yom Tov. We'll have Chanukah and Purim. I'm saying the other Yom Tovim supposedly falling off, so we'll have Chanukah and Purim, and we'll have the No, they will stay. We won't make a big fuss over it. That will be also. 讚注专 转注谞讬转 驻讜谉 注砖专讛 讘讟讘转 讗讬讝 诪讟注诐 讝讛 讜讜讗住 讘讗 讬注谞注诐 讟讗讙 住诪讱 诪诇讱 讘讘诇 注诇 讬专讜砖诇讬诐 讜讛讘讬讗讛 讘诪爪讜专 讜诪爪讜拽. The reason for the fast of Asara B'Tevet, because that's that day that the king of Bavel and the laid siege on Yerushalayim. But here in this 砖讬讞讛 讗讬讝 谞讜讙注 the expression. The expression in Tanach is 住诪讱 诪诇讱 讘讘诇, which means he got close to, the word 住诪讱 means close, he got close and he surrounded Yerushalayim. 讗讘注专 讚注专 注讬拽专 转讜讻谉 讙讬讟 讗谉 讻诇 讛注谞讬讬谉 讚讙诇讜转, that was the beginning of the whole concept of galut. 讚讬 砖驻注讟注专讚讬拽注 诪讗讜专注讜转, 砖讘注讛 注砖专 讘转诪讜讝 讛讜讘拽注讛 讛注讬专, what happened later, on Shiva Asar B'Tammuz they broke the wall, Tisha B'Av was the 讞讜专讘谉 讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖, 讗讜谉 讗讬谉 讙' 讘转砖专讬, 讗讜 讘专讗砖 讛砖谞讛 讛专讬讙转 讙讚诇讬讛, on third day of Tishrei, or 讘讗诪转 it was on Rosh Hashanah, they killed 讙讚诇讬讛, 讗讬讝 讙注讜讜注谉 讘注爪诐 讗 讛诪砖讱 驻讜谉 讚讬 诪爪讜专 注诇 讬专讜砖诇讬诐, that was simply a continuation of the siege on Yerushalayim. 诪砖诇讬诐 讚注专 专讘讬 讗讝讜讬 讜讜讬 注专 专注讚讟 讘讗专讬讻讜转, he says over what he said in the other sicha, like I said other times, that 讚讗住 讗讬讝 讚讬 讛住讘专讛 讗讬谉 讚注诐 讗讘讜讚专讛诐, das Abudraham, this is the explanation in the opinion of the Abudraham, 讗讝 讚注专 转注谞讬转 驻讜谉 注砖专讛 讘讟讘转 讜讜讗住 讛讗讟 讝讬讱 讗 转讜拽祝 讜讞讜诪专讗 诇讙讘讬 讛讗讟 讝讬讱 讗 转讜拽祝 讜讞讜诪专讗 诇讙讘讬 讚讬 讗谞讚注专注 讚' 爪讜诪讜转, 讙' 爪讜诪讜转, that Asara B'Tevet is stricter than the other three 讗讝 讗驻讬诇讜 讛讬讛 讞诇 讘砖讘转 诇讗 讛讬讜 讬讻讜诇讬诐 诇讚讞讜转讜 诇讬讜诐 诪讞专. Had it come on Shabbos we wouldn't push it off, 诪驻谞讬 砖谞讗诪专 讘讜 讘注爪诐 讛讬讜诐 讛讝讛 讻诪讜 讘讬讜诐 讛讻讬驻讜专讬诐. It says 讘注爪诐, it's like Yom Kippur. And the Rebbe says here what's take the reason, why would that be stricter? Like he said before at length, 讜讜讬讘讗诇讚 讗讝 注专 讗讬讝 讚注专 诪拽讜专 驻讜谉 讗诇注 住讬讘讜转, the 讙' 爪讜诪讜转, 讗讬讝 注专 讚注专讬讘注专 诪注专 讞诪讜专 讜讜讬 讚讬 讙' 爪讜诪讜转. Since he's the source of them all, that's why he's more strict. And in the 讛注专讛 the Rebbe says that even 注诇 驻讬 讛诇讻讛 that we don't pasken like the Abudraham, we pasken that if 注砖专讛 讘讟讘转 would come on Shabbos, we would not fast. Does it? But still, 讬砖 讞讜诪专讗 讘注砖专讛 讘讟讘转, even nowadays, see something stricter in 注砖专讛 讘讟讘转 than the others. What? That only 注砖专讛 讘讟讘转 can come out on a Friday, and we fast into Shabbos, even if you daven Maariv early, which means as far as you're concerned Shabbos started. 注砖专讛 讘讟讘转 Friday, you got to wait till nightfall into Shabbos with your fast. That means that there is a connection of 注砖专讛 讘讟讘转 even on Shabbos, even though on Shabbos itself we wouldn't fast. Maybe I missed it, does can it fall out on Shabbos? No. Okay. The way they set up the calendar, so that it wouldn't. 讜讜讬讘讗诇讚 讗讝 讞讜专讘谉 讘讬转 砖谞讬 讗讜谉 讚注专 讙诇讜转 砖诇讗讞专讬 讝讛, now all this that we said before on 注砖专讛 讘讟讘转 was by the 讘讬转 专讗砖讜谉, the first Beis Hamikdash, not the second. But the Rebbe wants to say that this is the beginning of even the second churban, and even of the of the galus that we're in now, which came later. Why? Since the second 讘讬转, the churban of the second Beis Hamikdash and the galus that came, is a 讛诪砖讱 驻讜谉 讞讜专讘谉 讘讬转 专讗砖讜谉, it's a continuation of the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash. 讜讘驻专讟 讗讝 讗驻讬诇讜 讚讬 讙讗讜诇讛 讘讝诪谉 讘讬转 砖谞讬 讗讬讝 谞讬砖讟 讙注讜讜注谉 讗 讙讗讜诇讛 砖诇讬诪讛, 讗讬谉 讘讬转 砖谞讬 讞住专讜 讛' 讚讘专讬诐, besides that, when they destroyed the first Beis Hamikdash, it never real never really was fixed completely. Because the second Beis Hamikdash was not like the first. It had five special things missing. It's not like the first. So, it means that the galus started then and never never stopped. It's still continuous, so the second 讘讬转 and the churban of the second is a continuation. Actually it says when they built the second Beis Hamikdash the 诇砖讜谉 is 讛爪注讬专讬诐 砖诪讞讬诐 讜讛讝拽谞讬诐 讘讜讻讬诐. The young people were happy, they danced, the Beis Hamikdash, and the old people who remembered the pre- first one were crying. They remembered how the first one was with the 讗专讜谉, with all the different things, with the Anyway, so this is a continuation. 拽讜诪讟 讗讜讬住, 讗讝 注砖专讛 讘讟讘转 讗讬讝 讚讬 讛转讞诇讛 讗讜谉 住讬讘讛 驻讜谉 讻诇诇讜转 注谞讬谉 讛讙诇讜转. So Asarah b'Tevet is the beginning of galut, even of our galut, of the whole galut concept started with Asarah b'Tevet. 转讜专讛 讝讗讙讟 讗
讻诇诇, the Torah says a rule, 讗讝 讛拽讘\"讛 诪拽讚讬诐 专驻讜讗讛 诇诪讻讛, the 讗讜讬讘注专砖讟注专 gives the cure before the disease, for the sickness. Anything bad that the 讗讜讬讘注专砖讟注专 makes happen, he gives you a cure before that. 砖驻讬专讜砖讜 it means 注专 讙讬讟 讗讬诐 讻讞 爪讜 讛讗讘谉 讚注诐 讗讜驻谉 讛讻讬 谞注诇讛 讗讬谉 专驻讜讗讛, he gives the ability before he even gives the the problem, he gives the power of having the true cure, in such a way, 讜讜讗住 讚讗住 讗讬讝 讘讗讜驻谉 驻讜谉 诇讗 注砖讛 诪诇讗讻讛. That when you have a cure, usually there's two ways usually a cure means, from now on you're cured. But when you were sick, you were sick. The 讗讜讬讘注专砖讟注专 says, I will make a cure. If I cure you, I will cure you in such a way that you never was sick. Which we don't understand how it could be, how could you change the past, but that's what it is. 谞讬砖讟 谞讗专 讗讝 注住 讗讬讝 讗 专驻讜讗讛 讜讜讗住 讛注诇驻讟 诪讻讗谉 讜诇讛讘讗, not only a cure that helps from now and on, 讗讚注专 讗驻讬诇讜 讗 专驻讜讗讛 讜讜讗住 驻讜注诇'讟 诇诪驻专注, but even or something even that now works for retroactive, 谞讗专 谞讗讱 诪注专, 诪诇讻转讞讬诇讛 诇讗 注砖讛 诪诇讗讻讛, the 讗讜讬讘注专砖讟注专 makes the cure in such a way as if it never was there. Just like in the, in the Hayom Yom, the game, dots or something, paper, pencil. Yeah. No, it says it's a refuah. What do we see is like people become sick and they die, very young, 18, 16? Yeah. So? Always Hashem is 诪拽讚讬诐 专驻讜讗讛? When they become very sick and they...? Yeah, there's ability for a refuah, just like over here he's going to say. But b'foal there was no refuah, he's going to say there was a refuah before the galut and and it didn't help. We see in a person's life there's a refuah. I'm stam not I don't know if there's always like that, and not always is 住'讗讬讝 讚讗讱 讗 讻诇诇, a person sometimes is sick and doesn't get cured from it. That's what I'm saying. Young people, 诪讬讟谉 讚专讬谞注谉, they die. Doesn't mean that every time a person is sick then he has to have a cure. Hashem is 诪拽讚讬诐 专驻讜讗讛. Yeah, wherever... First of all, we're talking about a 讻诇诇讜转'讚讬拽注 讝讗讱, but you can't say by person people never die. So where's the refuah? A person dies because he's sick. An older person dies, it's part of nature, so to say. So, that's what I'm saying. That's why 谞注诪讟 a person, 注专 讗讬讝 30, 讗讜谉 注专 讛讗讟 讙注讻讗驻讟 a sickness. No, by him that was his time to die. It wasn't like a It wasn't normal, this guy's time came. But when the time doesn't have to come and there's a choice of yeah or not, the 讗讜讬讘注专砖讟注专 gives you the ability. Not always do you utilize it. But if the time comes for a person to die... So, you need the cure after the How can you say everything the 讗讜讬讘注专砖讟注专 does is for the good? We always have to have bitachon. I'm not going to get into that subject, but you have to have bitachon. When a person is sick, he has to have bitachon that you'll get cured. Right? It's bitachon. And if a person has bitachon, he gets cured. So how come we have such tzadikim, they were sick and they died? I don't know, this is a different Maybe it's a practical answer that the cure before the sickness is a preventative medicine. If you do everything right, you won't get sick. After you get sick, you need a you need a cure after the after the sickness. No. What he says is, 诪拽讚讬诐 专驻讜讗讛, the cure that when you get sick, you should be able to cure it. And cure it in such a way as if it never happened. That there is a possibility. And then we have to know what it is. Not always it happens. But what I'm saying is the time comes to this, but but sometimes Maybe maybe the point is we have to find out what it is, and we and we. Oh, maybe, and if we'd find out, we wouldn't Maybe, maybe, I don't know. The point is 讗讬讱 驻讗专砖讟讗谞注谞讙 讗讝讜讬, when it gained a makkah of galus. So galus is a big makkah. It's a plague. It's a sickness. Is 讛拽讚讜砖 讘专讜讱 讛讜讗 诪拽讚讬诐 专驻讜讗讛 诇诪讻讛. So there must be something before the galus already, 讚注专 讗讜讬讘注专砖讟注专 gave the cure for it. 谞讗专 讗讬讬讚注专 注住, noch 讗讬讬讚注专 注住 讛讗讟 讝讬讱 讗谞讙注讛讜讬讘谉 讚注专 注谞讬谉 驻讜谉 讙诇讜转, before the galus started. And when was that? 讚讗住 讗讬讝 讙注讜讜注谉 注砖专讛 讘讟讘转 住诪讱 诪诇讱 讘讘诇 讗讜讬祝 讬专讜砖诇讬诐, when he surrounded Yerushalayim. 讛讗讟 讚注专 讗讜讬讘注专砖讟注专 砖讜讬谉 讗谞讙注讜讜讬讝谉 讗讬谉 讜讜讗住 注住 讘讗砖讟讬讬讟 讚讬 专驻讜讗讛, 讗讬谉 讗谉 讗讜驻谉 讜讜讗住 讟讗诪注专 讜讜讗诇讟 讚讗住 讬讗 讗驻讙注讛讗诇讟谉, he already gave them the refuah in such a way that had they kept the refuah, the galus would never come. And that's in the galus itself, in the beginning of the galus we see it. Where do we see it? 讚讬 讞讝状诇 讝讗讙谉 讗讝 讚讬 住讬讘讛 驻讜谞注诐 转讜拽祝 讗讜谉 讗专讬讻讜转 驻讜谉 讙诇讜转 讛讗讞专讜谉 讘讬讝 注住 诇注爪讟 讗讬讝 谞转讙诇讛 讛拽抓, 讗讬讝 讚注专 注谞讬谉 驻讜谉 砖谞讗转 讞谞诐. Chazal say what's the reason why we're in galus? This galus. Because of hatred, there's no Ahavat Yisrael. People don't love each other, they hate each other. 注诇 驻讬 讝讛 驻砖讜讟 讗讝 讚讬 专驻讜讗讛 讙讗讜诇讛 of galus is the 讛讬驻讜讱, 讗讛讘转 讞谞诐, 讗讛讘转 讬砖专讗诇, 讜砖诇讬诪讜转 讚讗讞讚讜转 讬砖专讗诇. So what's the
cure to the galus, obviously? Ahavat Yisrael. Love another Yid. Just like they hated him for no reason, if you love a Yid for no reason, that's the cure. That's when concerning this galus. See the first galus, that wasn't the reason. Other reasons, because avodah zarah, yeah. But this galus this galus the reason is because of 讗讛讘转 砖谞讗转 讞谞诐. Then the Rebbe says no, 讗讜讬讱 讘谞讜讙注 爪讜诐 讞讜专讘谉 讘讬转 专讗砖讜谉, 讜讜讗住 讗讬讝 讙注讜讜注谉 谞讬讟 诪爪讚 讚讬 住讬讘讛 讛谞状诇, destruction of the first Beit Hamikdash which wasn't for that reason, 谞讗专 爪讜诇讬讘 讚讬 讙壮 注讘讬专讜转 注讘讜讚讛 讝专讛, 讙诇讜讬 注专讬讜转, 砖驻讬讻讜转 讚诪讬诐, for the three aveirot of adultery, murder, and and idol worship. Even in the 讙讬诇讜讬 讗诇讜拽讜转, how can you have these three capital sins? Towards the end, some, but not by some was 讙讬诇讜讬 讗诇讜拽讜转, by some was that. Huh? Safe. Some, like some was 讙讬诇讜讬 讗诇讜拽讜转, some people they were. It's enforced, it's enforced. Yeah, by some, that's some people. 讗讬讚讱 讗讘注专 讬讚讜注 讜讜讗住 讞讝状诇 讝讗讙谉, we know that the chachamim tell us 讗讝 讗驻讬诇讜 讜讜注谉 讗讬讚谉 讝注谞注谉 专讞诪谞讗 诇讬爪诇谉 注讜讘讚讬 注讘讜讚讛 讝专讛, even when Yidden do the worst things, they worship idols, 讗讜讬讘 讝讬讬 讝注谞注谉 讘讗讞讚讜转, 拽注谉 拽讬讬谞注专 谞讬砖讟 讛讗讘谉 拽讬讬谉 砖诇讬讟讛 讗讜讬祝 讝讬讬. The worst situation, if 讗讬讚谉 are achdut, if they're united, nothing will happen to them. So comes out that even the 讞讜专讘谉 讘讬转 the first 讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖, there was a problem with achdut. Had they not this wasn't the reason for the galut, but they had that problem. If they wouldn't have that problem, if there would be achdut, no matter how bad they were,
there wouldn't be a 讞讜专讘谉 讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖. Really? Yeah. Here in 讚讗讱? I mean everybody is worshiping avodah zarah, if you know they're destroyed. So it doesn't mean that everybody had No, they weren't achdut, yeah. Each one fought the other guy about avodah zarah. I I worship better than you. 讟讗拽注 讜讜讬 讝讬讬 讝讗讙谉, so since the whole reason for the galut is not having 讗讛讘转 讬砖专讗诇, we have to say 讗讝 谞讗讱 讗讬讬讚注专 注住 讛讗讟 讝讬讱 讗谞讙注讛讜讬讘谉 讚讬 诪讻讛 驻讜谉 讙诇讜转, so we must say that before the galut started, 讗讬讝 讗讬谉 讚注诐 诪爪讜专 讙讜驻讗 住诪讱 诪诇讱 讘讘诇 讛讗讟 讝讬讱 讚注专 讗讜讬讘注专砖讟注专 讙注讙注讘谉, 讚注专 讗讜讬讘注专砖讟注专 讙注讙注讘谉 讚注诐 讻讞 驻讜谉 砖诇讜诐 驻讜谉 讗讞讚讜转, 诪拽讚讬诐 专驻讜讗讛 诇诪讻讛. In the idea of him surrounding Yerushalayim, which was the the beginning of the galut, contained the cure for the galut. What's the cure for the galut? Achdut. The fact that he surrounded Yerushalayim gave them an ability to have achdut, which would avoided, have avoided the churban. He explains, 讚注专 讘讬讗讜专 讘讝讛. 讚讬 驻注讜诇讛 驻讜谉 讗 诪爪讜专 讘驻砖讟讜转 讗讬讝, what's a siege when somebody, an army besieges a city? What does that mean? 讗讬谉 讬讜爪讗 讜讗讬谉 讘讗. They close up the city, no one can go out, no one could come in. 拽讬讬谞注专 驻讜谉 讚讬 讘讗诇讗讙注专讟注 砖讟讗指讟 拽注谉 谞讬砖讟 讗专讜讬住讙讬讬谉, no one could go out. 讛讬讬谞讟 讗讝讜讬 住'讗讬讝 讗 诪爪讘 讜讜讗住 讗诇注 诪讜讝谉 讘诇讬讬讘谉 爪讜讝讗诪注谉 讗讬谉 讚讬 讝注诇讘注 砖讟讗指讟.
Number one, everyone has to stay here. It's normally, it brings out That's what he's going to say, everyone must be here under the circumstances. 讗讜谉 拽讬讬谉 驻专注诪讚注专, 谞讬砖讟 驻讜谉 转讜砖讘讬 讛注讬专, 拽注谉 谞讬砖讟 讗专讬讬谉, 住'讗讬讝 讚讗专讟 谞讗专 讗讬讚谉, no one outside could come in. So in this case, when they surrounded Yerushalayim, people from all 讗讬讚谉 stayed all 讗讬讚谉. Couldn't go out, no one, no 讙讜讬 from the outside, anybody could come in. Stranger. Huh? A stranger. Stranger. 驻讜谉 讗谉 注讬专, no one could go out and come in or out from where? From the city of 讬专讜砖诇讬诐, 讜讜讗住 注谞讬谞讛 讗讬讝, what's Yerushalayim? 注讬专 砖讞讜讘专讛 诇讛 讬讞讚讬讜, 讗讬讝 诪讞讘专 讜诪讗讞讚 讗诇注 讗讬讚谉. It says Yerushalayim is a city that unites all people. But if it's open, so sometimes a stranger from the outside and people could leave, so that's not achdut. But when you can't go out and you must be stuck in Yerushalayim, it's a city of achdut. 谞讗讱 诪注专, 讚注专 注谞讬谉 驻讜谉 讬专讜砖诇讬诐 讗讬讝 讜讜讬 讗谞讙注讚讬讬讟 讗讬谉 讗讬专 谞讗诪注谉 讬专讗讛 砖诇诐. The word Yerushalayim means 砖诇讬诪讜转 讛注讬专 having 讬专讗转 砖诪讬诐 complete. 讜讜讬 注住 砖讟讬讬讟 讗讬谉 专讗砖讜谞讬诐, it says in the 专讗砖讜谞讬诐, 讗讝 讬专讜砖诇讬诐 讛讗讟 诪砖驻讬注 讙注讜讜注谉 讬专讗转 砖诪讬诐, 讜讜讬讬诇 讚讬 讗诇注 讜讜讗住 驻诇注讙谉 讚讗专讟 拽讜诪注谉 讛讗讘谉 讙注讝注谉 讚讬 注讘讜讚讛 讗讬谉 讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖. People would come to Yerushalayim, see the Beit Hamikdash and everything, they would get 讬专讗转 砖诪讬诐. 讗讜谉 讚讗住 讗讬讝 讜讜讗住 讗讬讝 驻讗专讘诇讬讘谉 谞讗讱 讝讬讬注专 讗讜诪拽注专谉 讝讬讱 讗讛讬讬诐, and they would take it along, come home. 讚注专 诪爪讜专 of Yerushalayim brings, so when you're the the siege on Yerushalayim brought, 讗讝 谞讬砖讟 谞讗专 讝讗诇谉 讗诇注 讗讬讚谉 讝讬讬谉 讘讗讞讚讜转, not only they'll all be together, 谞讗专 谞讗讱 诪注专, 讗讝 讚讬 讗讞讚讜转 讝讗诇 讝讬讬谉 讗讬谉 讗谉 讗专讟 驻讗专 砖诇讬诪讜转 讛讬专讗讛. The 讗讞讚讜转 will be in connection to Yerushalayim, which is 讬专讗转 砖诪讬诐, an 讗讞讚讜转 讜讜讗住 讗讬讝 诪讬讜住讚 讗讜讬祝 转讜专讛 讜诪爪讜转 讜拽讚讜砖讛. An 讗讞讚讜转 is 诪讬讜住讚 on it. And 讘讻诇诇 when there is a tzarah, people are united. Whenever the people are they're all in the same problem so you get united.
讚讬 讛转讞诇讛 驻讜谉 注谞讬谉 讛讙诇讜转 讗讬讝 讙注讜讜注谉 讘讗讜驻谉 讗讝 讚讬 诪讻讛 讙讜驻讗 讛讗讟 讙注讚讗专驻讟 讙注讘谉 讝讬讬谉 讚讬 专驻讜讗讛. The 诪讻讛, the beginning of the galut was the siege on Yerushalayim. That itself could have brought the cure. That itself brought 讗讞讚讜转, which was the cure for the galut. 讗讚专讘讛, 讚讬 专驻讜讗讛 讗讬讝 拽讜讚诐 诇诪讻讛, the cure came before the problem. 讚注专 注谞讬谉 驻讜谉 讗讞讚讜转 讜讜讗住 讚注专 诪爪讜专 讗讬讝 讙注讘谉, the unity that comes from this siege, 讛讬讬讘讟 讝讬讱 讗谉 讘讙诇讜讬 讘讗诇讚 讘讬讬诐 讗谞讛讬讬讘 驻讜谉 讚注诐 诪爪讜专, that starts right away, 谞讗讱 讗讬讬讚注专 诪注谉 讛讬讬讘讟 讗谉 驻讬诇谉 讚讬 诪讻讛 讗讜谉 爪专讜转 驻讜谉 讚注诐 诪爪讜专. See what happens when you have a siege? After a while you don't have enough food, you don't have enough this, but in the beginning you don't feel the problem. So the good part of it, which brought unity, you felt the first second. As soon as they closed the doors, they surrounded Yerushalayim, finished, now there's 讗讞讚讜转. The tzarah they first felt later. 讜注诇 讗讞转 讻诪讛 讜讻诪讛 讗讬讬讚注专 注住 拽讜诪讟 讚讬 诪讟专讛 讝讬讬 讝讗诇谉 讚讜专讱 讚注诐 诪爪讜专 讗讬讬谞注诪注谉 讚讬 砖讟讗讟, certainly before they conquered Yerushalayim. 讜注驻状讬 讝讛 讗讬讝 诪讜讘谉 讚注专 讗讜讬住讚专讜拽 驻讜谉 讚注专 诪爪讜专 砖讗讬谞讜 专讙讬诇 讻诇诇. In Tanach, in pasuk, when it says that he surrounded Yerushalayim, it should have said he made 诪爪讜专, 诪爪讜专 means a siege. It says 住诪讱 诪诇讱 讘讘诇, 驻讜谉 砖讜专砖 驻讜谉 住诪讬讻讛 讗讜谉 讛讬诇祝. The word 住诪讱 means to help. It also has the meaning of surrounding, but also has a meaning of help, because when he surrounded Yerushalayim he helped the 讗讬讚谉, he helped the 讗讬讚谉 get united. 讗讜谉 谞讗讱 诪注专, 讚讗住 讗讬讝 谞讬砖讟 讙注讜讜注谉 讗 诪爪讘 讜讜讗住 讗诇注 讗讬讚谉 讛讗讘谉 讝讬讱 讗专讬讬谞讙注砖讟注诇讟 讘讘讞讬专转诐. This fact that they were 讘讗讞讚讜转 wasn't that they chose it, 谞讗专 谞讘讜讻讚谞爪专 讛讗讟 诪讻专讬注 讙注讜讜注谉 讚讬 讗讬讚谉 爪讜 讙注驻讬谞注谉 讝讬讱 讗讬谉 讗 诪爪讘 讜讜讗住 注诇 驻讬 讚专讱 讛讟讘注 讗讬讝 讙注讜讜注谉 讙注讘专讗讻讟 讗讞讚讜转 讬砖专讗诇 讗讬谉 讬专讜砖诇讬诐. They were forced to it. Yerushalayim Nevuchadnetzar surrounded and he forced them to be united in Yerushalayim, in the city of Yerushalayim to get zusammen 讗讬谉 讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖. 讗讜谉 讚讗住 讛讗讟 诪讘讟诇 讙注讜讜注谉 讚注诐 诪爪讘, he made The enemy did something without knowing, did something that the 讗讬讚谉 should be able to do something to get him away. Wow. 讘讬讝 讗讬谉 讗谉 讗讜驻谉 驻讜谉 讜讬谞讜住讜 诪诇驻谞讬讜, they did the cure and would have made him go away, and there wouldn't have been any problem with Yerushalayim. That was working with the 讙讜讬诐. 谞讗专 诪注谉 讛讗讟 What happened, bottom line, 谞讗专 诪注谉 讛讗讟 讚讗讱 讛讗讟 讚讗讱 讘讞讬专讛 讞驻砖讬转. 讗讬讚谉 have free choice, 讛讗讟 讚注专 诪爪讘 驻讜谉 诪爪讜专 谞讬砖讟 讗讜讬住讙注讟讗谉 讗谉 讗讞讚讜转 讗诪讬转讬转. It didn't It caused some achdus, but it didn't cause enough, 讜诪诪讬诇讗 讛讗讟 谞讘讜讻讚谞爪专 讙注拽注谞讟 讗驻讝讬讬谉 讛诪砖诇讬讟, and so Nevuchadnetzar could have the control, and Asarah b'Tevet came, and the 讞讜专讘谉 讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖 came. Now he
says, 讚注专 注谞讬谉 驻讜谉 讚讬 讚壮 爪讜诪讜转 讗讬讝 讚讗讱, the whole purpose of these fast days is 诇注讜专专 讛诇讘讘讜转 讜诇驻转讜讞 讚专讻讬 讛转砖讜讘讛, to awaken our hearts and to open us to teshuvah. 讘驻专讟 讚讜专讱 讚注诐 讝讬讻专讜谉 驻讜谉 讚讬 讚讘专讬诐 讜讜讗住 讛讗讘谉 讙注讜讜注谉 讘注转 讛爪专讛, 谞讜砖注讜 诪诪谞讛, that if you remember what happened then, it'll make us do teshuvah. 讗讬讝 驻讗专砖讟讗谞讚讬拽, from that we understand, 讗讝 注砖专讛 讘讟讘转 讚注专诪讗谞讟 讚讬 讗讬讚谉 诇讻转讞讬诇讛 讗讝 讚注专 讜讜注讙 爪讜 诪讘讟诇 讝讬讬谉 注转 讛爪专讛 讗讬讝 through 讗讛讘转 讬砖专讗诇 讜讗讞讚讜转 讬砖专讗诇. When it comes to Asarah b'Tevet and we have to think, what is it that it means to tell us? That we should do things to change the fast day, it shouldn't be a fast day anymore, we should bring Mashiach. So if you think what Asarah b'Tevet is, it makes you realize that the whole purpose is 讗讛讘转 讬砖专讗诇 and 讗讞讚讜转 讬砖专讗诇. 讗讝 讗诇注 讗讬讚谉 讚讗专驻谉 讝讬讱 讗谞砖诇讬住谉 爪讜讝讗诪注谉, all the 讗讬讚谉 have to get together. 讘讬讝 讗讬谉 讗谉 讗讜驻谉 驻讜谉 讞讘讜专讛 诇讗讞讚, 驻砖讜讟 to unite. 讗讜谉 讗谉 讗讞讚讜转 讜讜讗住 讗讬讝 驻讗专讘讜谞讚谉 诪讬讟 砖诇讬诪讜转 讛讬专讗讛 讘讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖 讛驻谞讬诪讬 讜砖讻谞转讬 讘转讜讻诐 诪讬讜住讚 讗讜讬祝 转讜专讛 讜诪爪讜转 注砖讛, and the unity We can have every all the 讗讬讚谉 could get together to play baseball! That's not what unity what you mean. Unity that's in connection to Yerushalayim, to yirat Shamayim, connected to into Torah u'mitzvot, to 讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖. 讗讜谉 讚注诪讗诇讟 讜讜注讟 讝讬讬谉 讚注专 讘讬讟讜诇 讛爪讜诪讜转, then the fast days will get nullified, 讗讜谉 谞讗讱 诪注专, 讝讬讬 讜讜注诇谉 谞转讛驻讱 讜讜注专谉 诇讬诪讬 砖砖讜谉 讜砖诪讞讛, they
will become 讬诪讬诐 讟讜讘讬诐 and happy days, 讜诪讻讬讜谉 讗讝 讚注专 注谞讬谉 驻讜谉 注砖专讛 讘讟讘转 讗讬讝 讙专注住注专 讜讜讬 讚讬 讗谞讚注专注 爪讜诪讜转, since the fast day the 爪专讛 of Asarah b'Tevet is worse than the others, like we said before, 讜讜注讟 讗讜讬讱 讚讬 注诇讬讛 讝讬讬谉 讙专注住注专. So when it'll become good, it'll be even greater than the rest. 讗讝 注住 讜讜注讟 讝讬讬谉 讗讬谉 讗 诪讚专讬讙讛 驻讜谉 讘注爪诐 讛讬讜诐 讛讝讛, when it'll become good, it'll become like Yom Kippur. The 讚讜讙诪讛 is 讬讜诐 讻讬驻讜专 诇诪注诇讬讜转讗. What now it's like Yom Kippur in a bad way that we have to fast on Shabbos. It'll be like Yom Kippur in a good way, 砖讘转 砖讘转讜谉 讜讜讗住 讗讬讝 讛注讻注专 驻讜谉 砖讘转, 注砖讬专讬 讬讛讬讛 拽讜讚砖, it's gonna be the holiest day of the year. That's it. It says you should ask to see Mashiach, but we have a fast day. 注砖讬专讬, 注砖讬专讬 this order, right? It's interesting, because what happens after the birth of Mashiach? You know, if you look at it as far as 讬诪讬诐 讟讜讘讬诐 go, and what could be greater than that? The feast of Leviathan seems to be on a higher, you know, another level up. If if you look in this order. Must be. Just, you know, I would think it would be Asarah B'Tevet because it's the first. See, Asarah B'Tevet became my favorite fast day. Why? Because it was Shimon's baby brit. Oh!