Fast of Gedalia
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The Fast of Gedalia (or Gedaliah) (IPA: [ˌgɛdlˈaɪə] or IPA: [gɪˈdɑlyə]) (Hebrew צום גדליה, Tzom Gedaliah) is a Jewish fast from dawn till dusk to commemorate the death of the governor of Judah of that name.
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[edit] Origins
When the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem, he deported the poor inhabitants and left a simple man, Gedaliah, son of Achikam, in charge of the now-Babylonian province. Many Jews who had fled to Moab, Ammon, Edom, and other neighboring lands returned to the land of Judah, tended the vineyards given to them by the king of Babylonia, and enjoyed a new respite after their earlier oppression.
The King of Ammon, however, hostile and envious of the Judean remnant, sent a Jew, Yishmael Ben Netaniah, to assassinate Gedaliah. In the seventh month (Tishrei), Yishmael came to Gedaliah in the town of Mitzpa, and was received cordially. Gedaliah had been warned of his guest's murderous intent, but refused to believe his informants, having the belief that their report was mere slander. Yishmael murdered Gedaliah, together with most of the Jews who had joined him and many Babylonians whom the Babylonian King had left with Gedaliah. The remaining Jews feared the vengeance of the Babylonian King (seeing as his chosen ruler, Gedaliah, had been killed by a Jew) and fled to Egypt.
[edit] In Hebrew Bible
The events are recounted in the Hebrew Bible in 2 Kings 25:25-26
- But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldeans that were with him at Mizpah.
- And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces, arose, and came to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.
[edit] Institution of fast
The surviving remnant of Jews was thus dispersed and the land remained desolate. In remembrance of these tribulations, Jewish sages instituted the 'Fast of the Seventh' (see Zechariah 8:19) on the day of Gedaliah's assassination in the seventh month.
There is some suggestion that Gedaliah was slain on the first day of Tishri, but the fast was postponed till after Rosh Hashanah, since fasting is prohibited during a festival. Concerning this fast day, the Rabbis have said that its aim is to establish that the death of the righteous is likened to the burning of the house of God. Just as they ordained a fast upon the destruction of the Jewish Temple, likewise they ordained a fast upon the death of Gedaliah.
[edit] Dates
The fast is observed immediately after the second day of the High Holy Day of Rosh Hashana, the third of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar. The equivalent Gregorian date for The Fast of Gedalia changes every year, since the two calendars are not aligned.
When Rosh Hashanah falls on Thursday and Friday, the fast is postponed till Sunday (which would be the fourth of Tishrei), since no public fast may be observed on Shabbat (Saturday) with the exception of Yom Kippur.
In 2006, this fast day was observed on September 25. In 2007, this fast day is observed on September 16. In 2008, this fast day is observed on October 2. In 2009, this fast day is observed on September 21.
[edit] Observances
The fast is observed from daybreak until the stars appear at night. As a minor fast day, other laws of mourning are not required. The cantor includes the prayer Aneinu in the repetition of the Shachrit and in private recitation of the Mincha amidah. The Avinu Malkeinu prayer is recited. A Torah scroll is taken from the ark, the Thirteen Divine Attributes are said, and the Passages of Vayechal are read from the Torah (Exodus 32:11-14 and 34:1-10). The same Torah reading and also a Haftorah reading are added at Mincha.
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| Jewish holidays | Shabbat · Rosh Chodesh · Rosh Hashanah · Fast of Gedalia · Yom Kippur · Sukkot · Hoshanah Rabbah · Shemini Atzeret · Simchat Torah · Hanukkah · Tenth of Tevet · Tu Bishvat · Fast of Esther · Purim · Fast of the Firstborn · Pesach · Counting of the Omer · Lag Ba'omer · Shavuot · 17th of Tammuz · The Three Weeks · The Nine Days · Tisha B'Av · Tu B'Av |
| National holidays of Israel | Yom HaShoah · Yom Hazikaron · Yom Ha'atzmaut · Yom Yerushalayim |
