Becoming Jewish - Tzom Gedaliah

Tzom Gedaliah, a minor holiday, is a Rabbinic fast day that occurs on 3 Tishri (in September or October). It is a day-fast that commemorates the assassination of Gedaliah Ben Achikam. It is celebrated by prayer and the reading of the Thirteen Divine Attributes.

Among the refugees who had joined Gedaliah in Mizpah was Yishmael, the son of Nataniah, a descendant of the royal house of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah. Baalis the king of Ammon, who had been following with apprehension the regrowth of Judah under its new governor Gedaliah, encouraged and sent Yishmael to assassinate him. In the seventh month (Tishrei) Yishmael came to Gedaliah in the town of Mizpah in Benjamin, and was received cordially. Gedaliah had been warned of his guest's murderous intent, but refused to believe his informants, believing that their report was mere slander. Yishmael murdered Gedaliah, together with most of the Jews who had joined him and many Babylonians whom Nebuchadnezzar had left with Gedaliah.

Jeremiah 41:2-3: (2) And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him arose and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, with the sword, and he slew him, whom the king of Babylon had appointed in the land, (3) and all the Jews who were with him, with Gedaliah in Mizpah, and the Chaldeans who were found there, the men of war, Ishmael smote.

Additional Information: Tzom Gedaliah

THE THIRTEEN DIVINE ATTRIBUTES
Exodus 34:5-7

Hashem descended in a cloud and stood with him there, and He called out with the Name Hashem. Hashem passed before him and proclaimed: Hashem, Hashem, G-d, Compassionate and Gracious, Slow to Anger, and Abundant in Kindness and Truth; Preserver of Kindness for thousands of generations, Forgiver of Iniquity, Willful Sin, and Error, and Who Cleanses--but does not cleanse completely, recalling the iniquity of parents upon children and grandchildren, to the third and fourth generations.

Page Updated: 03/07/10