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When Protection Is Withdrawn: The Halakhic Meaning of the Tenth of Tevet

by Ram ben Ze'ev


When Protection Is Withdrawn: The Halakhic Meaning of the Tenth of Tevet
When Protection Is Withdrawn: The Halakhic Meaning of the Tenth of Tevet

The fast of the Tenth of Tevet is not a historical reenactment nor a gesture of mourning directed outward. From a halakhic perspective, it is an inward act, rooted in responsibility rather than accusation. The siege of Jerusalem that began on this day is remembered not because of the cruelty of our enemies, but because of what was revealed about ourselves when Divine protection was withdrawn.


This approach is articulated with clarity by Rambam, who teaches that fast days were established not as responses to political defeat or military failure, but as instruments of spiritual awakening. The purpose of fasting is to arouse the heart, to open the pathways of teshuvah, and to force a confrontation with the truth that calamity is not random. When suffering occurs, halakha directs us away from blaming external forces and toward examining our deeds.



According to this understanding, tragedies that befall the Jewish people are not framed as punishments in the simplistic sense. Rather, they reflect a מצב of hester panim, a concealment of Divine protection. G-D does not cease to govern the world; instead, the shelter that once stood between us and harm is removed. Even something as minor as stubbing one’s toe is not outside this framework. Nothing is accidental, yet not every hardship is retribution. Often, it is the silence that follows neglect, the absence of protection where vigilance once stood.


The Rambam emphasises that fasting recalls not only our present conduct but also the patterns of behaviour inherited and repeated across generations. When the same failures persist, the consequences echo. This remembrance is not meant to induce despair, but accountability. Confession, both personal and collective, becomes the mechanism through which the heart is softened and realignment begins.


Halakha therefore understands the Tenth of Tevet as a day of humility rather than grief, of clarity rather than blame. We fast to internalise that redemption is not delayed by enemies, but by ourselves. When conduct improves, protection returns. When hearts are humbled and repentance is sincere, the concealment lifts.


This is why the fast is observed. Not to curse the darkness, but to remove what caused the light to be hidden.



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