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Among the numerous Festivals and Events in Israel, the 17th of Tammuz is an occasion which bears a flavor distinct from the festive days of Hanukah or Passover. This day for the Jews, is a time for lamenting the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. The 17th of Tammuz in Israel is therefore an event marked in a somber mood. The day signals a national mourning which lasts for three weeks till Tisha B'Av. As the country mourns and fasts to recount the ancient loss, the 17th of Tammuz stands as a day which bears considerable importance in the Jewish calendar. The day gets its name as it is observed on the seventeenth day of Tammuz when five catastrophes led to the fall of Jerusalem. The Bible narrates how Moses broke the tablets at Mount Sinai and the walls of Jerusalem were breached to indicate the impending doom. As a succession of disasters occurred, the 17th day of Tammuz became a day for lamenting the wrongs which had caused the loss. The day is one of the four days on which the prophets recommend a fast. The 17th of Tammuz at Israel, as in the other Jewish countries, is a time for repenting the events of the day which had caused the Jews an immense sorrow and loss. As a day devoted to mourning, the 17th of Tammuz is spent in a day long fast. The holy books too direct the Jews to fast on the day, so as to make them comprehend the wrongs done and discern the value of what had been lost. The day involves a number of other customs, which the Jewish community across the globe observes. A number of prayers including the Aneinu, Avinu Malkeinu and Slichos are recited to recount the Exodus and the restoration of the Temple. As the prayers continue till the evening, the Jews break their fast only after dusk. As no fasting is permitted on the Shabbat, the 17th of Tammuz is postponed till Sunday on the years when it falls on a Saturday.
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