Fast days
Tenth of Tevetעֲשָׂרָה בְּטֵבֵת
1 day – from dawn until nightfall · 10 Tevet
- Bible
- Halakhah
- Minhag
- Folk custom
- Modern practice
- Interpretation
- Transliteration
- Asara B'Tevet
- Pronunciation
- asa-RA be-TE-vet
- Duration
- 1 day – from dawn until nightfall
In 60 seconds
The Tenth of Tevet recalls the day on which King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon began the siege of Jerusalem. The siege led to the breaching of the walls, the destruction of the Temple and exile. It is the earliest link in the chain of events that culminates on Tisha B'Av, and so the fast is seen as the beginning of the catastrophe. It is a minor fast from dawn until nightfall. It is the only fast that can fall on a Friday; under the fixed calendar it never falls on Shabbat. After the Second World War the Israeli Chief Rabbinate also designated it as the day of general kaddish for victims of the Shoah whose date of death is unknown.
This year
When
Begins
Sunday, 20 December 2026, at dawn (06:10)
Ends
Sunday, 20 December 2026, after nightfall (16:57)
1 day
Begins
Sunday, 9 January 2028, at dawn (06:13)
Ends
Sunday, 9 January 2028, after nightfall (17:14)
1 day
Begins
Thursday, 28 December 2028, at dawn (06:13)
Ends
Thursday, 28 December 2028, after nightfall (17:03)
1 day
Times for Prague · Diaspora
History and origins
In the ninth year of the reign of Zedekiah, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar came against Jerusalem with his whole army and besieged it.1,2,3
After 1948 the Israeli Chief Rabbinate declared 10 Tevet the "day of general kaddish" (yom ha-kaddish ha-klali) for victims of the Shoah whose date of death is unknown.
Religious meaning
Some medieval commentators point to Ezekiel's words "write down the name of this day" and infer from them the exceptional gravity of the day; there is even an opinion that this fast would be kept on Shabbat.6
Core traditions
The day has a subdued character: penitential prayers are said, and in Israel memorial events are held with the recitation of kaddish and psalms.
How it is observed
A minor fast: no eating or drinking from dawn until nightfall. The other restrictions of Tisha B'Av do not apply. According to the Shulchan Arukh, the fast should be accompanied by repentance and self-examination, not hunger alone.7
If 10 Tevet falls on a Friday, the fast continues until nightfall and Shabbat is welcomed while fasting.
Prayers and blessings
Anenu in the Amidah, selichot, Avinu Malkeinu (except on Friday afternoon) and the reading of Exodus 32 and 34 at the afternoon prayer, as on the other minor fasts.8
Symbols and objects
The day has no objects of its own; in Israel it is associated with lighting memorial candles for victims of the Shoah.
Traditional foods
There are no established special dishes.
Differences between communities
The day of general kaddish has been adopted mainly by Israeli and traditional communities; in the diaspora, victims of the Shoah are remembered rather on Yom HaShoah or on 27 January.
In the Czech lands
No particular customs are documented for the Czech setting; general practice follows the Ashkenazi rite.
For children
Long ago a foreign army surrounded Jerusalem. Jews remember this day by fasting. It is the first of the sad days that led to the destruction of the Temple.
FAQ
Why fast for the siege and not only for the destruction?
Tradition sees the start of the siege as the beginning of the catastrophe that then led to the breaching of the walls (17 Tammuz) and the destruction of the Temple (9 Av).
Can 10 Tevet fall on Shabbat?
No. In the fixed Jewish calendar this is not possible; it can, however, fall on a Friday.
What is the day of general kaddish?
A day on which kaddish is recited in Israel for victims of the Shoah whose date of death is unknown to their relatives.⁂ To verify