This year, the fast of Asara B'tevet, which marks the mourning of the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylonia, an event that began on that date and ultimately culminated in the destruction of the First Temple and the conquest of the Kingdom of Judah, falls on Friday. Which special laws are there to deal with this situation? and should we pray mincha or Kabbalat Shabbot early so as to be able to break our fasts earlier?
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The fast of 10th of Tevet falls on Friday only once every few years and it is the only fast day that can fall out on a Friday. The last time that Asara B'tevet was on a Friday was seven years ago and the next time that it will occur is in 2023 and 2024.
Does the fact that the fast falls on Friday affect prayer times? We need to remember that in any event, we need to begin mincha earlier than usual since mincha on a fast day includes reading the Torah with the haftorah and Birkat Kohanim, but since the fast is on the eve of Shabbat we do not say Tachanun or Avinu Malkeinu. So, the Gabbaim need to set the time for davening earlier than usual in order to finish mincha completely before shkiya.
In addition, if one wishes, there is a possibility to daven even earlier and then eat by nightfall. One can daven mincha even earlier than Plag HaMincha (in which case, there is no Birkat Kohanim) and then daven Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv at Plag HaMincha like some do on summer Shabbatot when Shabbat starts very late (known as "Early Shabbat").
If that is done by nightfall, one can make kiddush and begin eating. But one needs to make sure that if he does this, he remembers to repeat Kriyat Shema at the correct time – after Tzeit HaKochavim – because Shema was recited too early in the day when he davened Maariv. Therefore, it is worthwhile to say Shema in its entirety before beginning to eat so as not to forget it.
There are other laws concerning preparations for Shabbat: Because we are not speaking about one of the major fasts such as Yom Kippur it is permissible to shower as usual in honor of Shabbat, to shave and to iron one's clothes. Also, we find that one may be lenient and taste the Shabbat food as they are cooking to see if it is missing any spices or to check if it is sufficiently cooked. However, one may not swallow the food, but rather should spit it out after tasting.
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In addition, we need to remember that the Chief Rabbinate designated the fast of Asara B'tevet as a day to serve as the yahrtzeit of Holocaust victim whose actual yahrtzeits are unknown. Therefore, it is our custom to say Yizkor for Holocaust victims both at Shacharit and Mincha and it is correct to light a candle in the shul in their memories.
In prayer and hope that all that we will not need all of the laws that we have mentioned above but that this year we will merit what it says in Zecharia: "So says Hashem: (When Mashiach comes) the fast days…will be for Yehuda (the Jewish nation) days of happiness and holiday."
Rabbi Shlomo Sobol is the head of the Barkai Rabbinic organization and the Rabbi of Kehillat Shaarei Yonah Menachem.
