Thursday, 9 January 2025

Fasting on Friday: the strange case of 10 Tevet

Just two days ago Beit Knesset Hanassi was privileged to host, together with OU Israel, a wonderful lecture by Rabbi Hershel Schachter on Asarah be'Tevet and the implications of that solemn day falling on a Friday. Rabbi Schachter has a whole list of responsibilities to shoulder, being Senior Posek for OU Kosher and Rosh Yeshiva RIETS/Yeshiva University -- but he still found time to come and speak to us for nearly an hour on this highly topical issue. 

OU Israel has posted Rabbi Schachter's shiur in full on its YouTube channel. So, if you didn't get the chance to hear it in person, or if you were there but want to do some chazarah and revise it before tomorrow's tzom, you can enjoy it by clicking here

For the record, tomorrow's fast begins at 4.55 am and it goes out at 5.17 pm. If you are fasting, we wish you a צום קל (tzom kal), an easy fast -- and also a meaningful one.

Finding Purpose in the Long Journey: Vayetzei 5786

This piece was first published in Hanassi Highlights, 27 November 2025. You can also read it in Ivrit here . There is a puzzling phrase at...