Questions on The Fast of Gedalia to be addressed:
- Lots of great people died throughout Jewish History. Why do we remember his death more than any others?
- What is the significance of Gedalia dying during the Aseres Yimei Teshuva?
- What is the exact date that Gedalia died?
- What actually was the aftermath of Gedalia’s death?
- There are four fasts remembering the churban. All of them are named after the date in the month with the exception of The Fast of Gedalia. Why?
WHEN did it happen?
The Fast of Gedalia, known as”Tzoim Gedalia”, falls on the 3rd of Tishrei, unless Rosh Hashana falls on a Thursday and Friday meaning that the 3rd of Tishrei falls on a Shabbos, then the fast day is pushed off to Sunday – the 4th of Tishrei. It falls as one of the Aseres Yimai Teshuva, the ten days of repentance. However, there are opinions that really Gedalia’s death took place on the second day of Rosh Hashana. However, since we do not fast on Rosh Hashana therefore it is pushed off to the next available day, the third of Tishrei.
WHAT happened? 
The Fast of Gedalia is the fourth and final of the the four public fast instituted to remember the churban, destruction of the Beis Hamikdosh. It follows on from after Tisha BiAv, when the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem and killed or exiled most of its inhabitants and appointed Gedalia, son of Achikam, as governor of the now-Babylonian province of Yehuda. Many Jews who had fled to the surrounding lands of Moab, Ammon, and Edom returned to Yehuda and enjoyed some peace.
However, this was short lived. Baalis, king of Ammon, was hostile and envious of the remaning Jews and sent a Jew, Yishmoel Ben Nesaniah to assassinate Gedalia. Yishmoel came to and was welcomed by Gedalia in the town of Mitzpa. This was despite the fact he had been warned of Yishmoel’s murderous intentions, but he refused to believe this. Yishmoel murdered Gedalia, together with most of the Jews who had joined him and many Babylonians whom the Babylonian King had left with Gedalia. The remaining Jews feared the vengeance of the Babylonian King (in view of the fact that the King’s chosen ruler, Gedalia, had been killed by a Jew) and fled to Mitzrayim. This symbolised the final stage in the churban.
WHY did it happen?
The Fast of Gedalia falls during the ten days of teshuva. What is significant about this tragedy occurring then? Why is this fast named differently to the other three whom are all named after the date in the month – Asara BiTeves, 17th of Tammuz and Tisha BiAv – whilst this is named after a person, Gedalia?
It happened BECAUSE…
The Fast of Gedalia comes with a special message falling at this time of year in Tishrei, during the ten days of repentance. The other three fasts are called after a date in the year since these months are potentially bad times for the Jews and the tragedies were carried out by the enemy. The naming of “The Fast of Gedalia” comes to express that the real catastrophe came about from within, from a fellow Jew, during a time of year, Tishrei that is a good time, when there should have been extra unity as symbolised happening before Yom Kippur when there is needed first forgiveness between man before Hashem forgives the sins done to Him. This lack of unity and even breaking of togetherness is a strong reminder and integrates within these days as a warning of the dangers of not doing this and the potentially fatal outcomes. Other great people have died at the hands of enemies. However, Gedalia was killed by a fellow Jew.
A BIT DEEPER…
There are four fasts commemorating the churban.
- Asara BiTeves – when the Babylonian King besieged Yerushalayim.
- 17th Tammuz – when the walls of Yerushalayim were breached.
- Tisha BiAv – when the Holy Beis Hamikdosh was burnt.
- Tzoim Gedalia – when the remnant Jews all left Eretz Yisroel.
These four fasts parallel the four letters of the Shem HaVaya. By the leaving of Mitzrayim This Name was revealed and it was meant to be followed by the immediate and permanent entry into Eretz Yisroel. However, instead this pathway reversed and instead of more revelation and closeness to Hashem, through sin the Yiden became more distant. This caused the Shem HaVaya to now start coming hidden seen in these four fasts and stages of churban with the last being the need to leave Eretz Yisroel – the land of direct communication and connection to Hashem. This is the great sadness associated with the Fast of Gedalia.
Other allusions to The Fast of Gedalia:
- The ten days of the repentance parallel the ten commandments. The The Fast of Gedalia falling on the third of Tishrei parallels the commandment not to kill. Since the Jews in that generation had sinned so much instead the opposite happened on this day in the form of the killing of Gedalia. (‘יערות דבש ח”ב דרוש א)
- The Zohar (I:170b) says that there are 365 sinews in a person paralleling the 365 days of the solar year. The Gid Hanoshe parallels the day of Tisha BiAv. There are four sinews included in the sinew of Gid Hanoshe. These parallel the four fasts commemorating the churban. Two of these in each thigh – the right and left leg. There is the sinew that is closest to the bone and is totally forbidden and punishable while the outer one is less severe being forbidden but not punishable. The two inner sinews represent the stricter of the four fasts, namely Tisha BiAv and The Fast of Gedalia. The outer two sinews represent the more lenient fasts of Asora BiTeves and the 17th of Tammuz. (‘יערות דבש ח”ב דרוש ז)
Other questions on The Fast of Gedalia to think about:
- Other fasts are called Taanis, e.g. Taanis Ester. Why is The Fast of Gedalia known as Tzoim Gedalia instead of Taanis Gedalia? What is the difference between the word Taanis and Tzoim?