10th of Tevet: The Fast That Started It All

Asarah B’Tevet—the 10th day of the Hebrew month of Tevet—is a minor Jewish fast day that commemorates a major turning point in Jewish history. In 2025, it falls on January 9. We fast from dawn to nightfall, not to punish ourselves, but to reflect, refocus, and remember.

On this day in 425 BCE, the Babylonian Empire laid siege to Jerusalem. It was the beginning of the destruction of the First Temple, a spiritual and national catastrophe that would lead to exile, disconnection, and centuries of struggle. The fast isn’t about one explosion of tragedy—it’s about the first crack in the wall, the moment things started to fall apart.

Interestingly, this day also folds in two other events: the death of Ezra the Scribe, who helped revive Jewish life after exile, and the translation of the Torah into Greek, which some rabbis saw as a spiritual downgrade—turning sacred wisdom into just another book on a shelf.

In modern times, Asarah B’Tevet has taken on added meaning: it’s the official day to say Kaddish for Holocaust victims whose yahrzeits are unknown.

Whether or not you fast, this day offers a quiet moment to ask: Where am I going? What do I need to rebuild? And what can I do to bring light into places that still feel broken?