CARLSBAD, Calif.—Question: How can something called a fast be slow? Answer: When one fasts for 25 hours it is always slow!

On Thursday, August 3rd Jews the world over will engage in our yearly commemoration of the destruction of both Holy Temples (The first Holy Temple was destroyed in 586 BCE by the Babylonians, and the second Holy Temple in 70 CE by the Romans). The date upon which these catastrophes occurred is the Ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, known in Hebrew as
Tisha B'Av.

Why we do fast on this day, and for that matter why do we ever fast? After all, what good does denying ourselves the basic necessities of life do? On the contrary, one can argue that we are in better condition to serve G-d when we are well fed and energetic.

The answer is as simple as it is obvious. When we purposely deny ourselves food and water for an extended period of time we really start to feel our inherent physical limitations. In such a state, when the body cries out for nourishment, we can begin to understand the frailties of our physical existence. The natural reaction is to become introspective, to gaze inwardly, and seek out deeper and more profound aspects of our lives.

Our minds will ultimately turn to the basic truth of our existence; to serve G-d with our whole beings, body and soul. Denying the body empowers the soul to again assert its primacy. Fasting serves as a physical reminder to the body that it is but a carrier, put in place to enable the soul to accomplish changes in this material world.

While this realization may not speed up the fast day it will allow us to give ourselves wholeheartedly over to the Source of all sustenance; our loving Father in
Heaven!