Stop worrying about fasting; especially when the country you are residing in gives you the right to exist in the first instance. Join the Army and do something to protect ypur country instead of worrying about whether to fast or not. You can fast in the Army as well! Israel needs every man woman and child to hold on to Israel.

All Fasts, are based on the premise that the root cause of all our problems, typified by the destruction of the Temple (tisha b'av) and related events (17 of Tammuz, etc) are due to Aveiros (sins) and that the solution to all is "tshuva"! We certainly fast because we accept our own deficiencies, and welcome the secular and the evil to join in communal repentance. So point one for the columnist! However, he envisions a "secular fast" for the secular, without reference to Hashem and his torah. It's one thing to admit our inadequacies, and pledge to change, it's another to celebrate the athiesm of Rabin, and his square. The only thing that ever unified the Jews, for thousands of years, is the Torah, (not zionism about 100 years old, and no longer accepted by anyone except Gush Emunim, not Kibbutzim, whose children are leaving to Los Angeles to marry shiksaa) So I endorse the columnist's proposal, that Rabbis get involved in attracting the secular to Ta'anesim preferably those experienced in attracting ba'ali tshuve, the goal and aim of our fasts!

Just for the fact that Judaism is still lasting after so much persecution over 3000 yrs should say much about G-d watching over us. we outlasted some of our greatest enemies, the babylonians, greeks, romans, persians, nazi germans etc. They wanted to rid us from the world, yet we still stand and we aren't even as many as most nations. Romans were 100's of millions and had their own land yet all gone. We didn't have our own land for almost 2000 yrs and persecuted yet we found our way back to Israel. As for us being terrorized: Would you punish your son if he was heading the wrong way, hit him if he was playing with fire. A loving father punishes his children to guide him. If he didn't love him he would leave him to be. Why do you think we suffer. Any other reason would be unfair judgement. As for the killings and holocausts we can only blame ourselves, we killed G-d from our lives.

Where they have always been, in the yeshivot, schools and batei knesset teaching torah. Where are you? In the brothels, on the beach, in the bedroom with goyim, assimilating, gambling, drugging, stealing, writing stupid articles which are not true. Asking stupid questions, turning your back on the Jewish people. Isn't it time you stopped lying and came home?

When a 4 year old boy and his grandmother were killed at Miron about 10 km from Karmiel? Please, go and look the family in the eye and sprout your nonsense. The Jewish people have survived because of our determination to live and not let others kill us, Just remember while you sit in your comfortable TV chair in the USA, that the world stood by while MY relatives and those of EVERY Jew on this planet were butchered by the Nazis and others. Every Israeli knows that when it comes to the push the only ones we can rely on are ourselves, our soldiers and our brains. If there is a Supreme Being who chose us, maybe this would be a good time for Him to look in on His "Chosen People" before more kids are killed by the maniacs Nasrallah, El Asad and the reincarnation of Hitler in Iran!

Psalm 91 - He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high - those whom live in constant prayer to the most high G_d. Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Get into the word and stop fighting each other. It is said the above refers to a prayer warrior living in the very folds of G_d's Heart. That is where I want to be.

Im pretty sure that there was no ark during the second temple time... maybe u meant first temple?! WHERE THE HELL DO U GET YOUR FACTS???

Why do you write this in this manner with hostility towards the Rabbis. You have the power of the pen and mass circulation. You and other members of the press could encourage fasting in an opinion column. Use your pen to be constructive and not destructive, unity not disunity will bring salvation and ultimate peace.

Andy ,your so shallow its a miracle they print your dreck. Your article is a sighn what you think of Torah and Gdoley Yisroel. The reason no general Tanis is Tanasim is not to demand H. to help us but its a meathod for us to do tshuvah. The 17th of Tamuz is 2000 yrs old and obviously you have not been machniah yourself todo tshuvah. WE thousands of real Jews did fast yesterday for this currant crisses.Its 2000 years old.We have to make another Tanis ?,In 2000 yrs all who want to hear about it, did. Why didnt they fast? its for all jews ,hey slo one the Rabbis did announce it didnt you hear about it its 2000 yrs old. Dont reply there will be no ans.Steve

Message from Persian Kabbalist Chacham Z: Chacham Z comes from Mashad, Iran. He is an anonymous tzaddik reminiscent of the Chalban, one that looks like a fishmonger or a milkman on the outside. Don't let that fool you. If you want to feel true humility, then discuss Torah - Talmud or esoteric - with Chacham Z. His blessings are like money in the bank. Today, Chacham Z came to Ashdod. I couldn't believe what I saw - he was distributing free books of Psalms to passersby, ice cream for children (to relieve their worry), vegetables for the poor, and pastries to soldiers. He had an entire welcome wagon in his battered Fiat 127, model 1981. He called me over and blessed me, and said "Hashem will do tremendous miracles. Iran is in big trouble. If Israel does a warning strike on a secondary Iranian town, such as Isfahan or Mashad, they will succeed! Achmadinejad will see the strong arm of Hashem if he doesn't back off of Israel. The Torah says we shall dwell alone - we don't need America or anybody else's help! If the Iranians persist in attacking Israel, then Tehran will be hit with a nuclear weapon. Hashem wants us to do Tshuva, so He chastises us. But, He will protect us against Iran. Let the IDF fight fearlessly and with no restraint from the nations of the world. We must support our dear soldiers with tshuva and Torah!" He wished me "Shabbat Shalom" and drove away. If you're questioning Chacham Z's authenticity, an hour after I spoke to him, Achmedinejad came out with this statement. Iran is scared, but like other tyrants, he'll run to his own destruction. Wait and see, it's all comin' down. http://lazerbrody.typepad.com/lazer_beams/2006/07/emuna_news_bull_4.html

What a stupid article, full of hate against religious people. Mr Friedman, you, like your leftist friends do everything in your power to eradicate judaism from our culture & now you're criying like an idiot to have the rabbi teaching you the 17th Tammuz fast !! What's the matter with you ? If you really want to know about this go to any bet knesset or open any kind of religious book to know about it. But don't expect any Rabbi to call upon people to respect fast , because you will be the first one to condemn them ,to write an article against them & yell against "religious coersion". What a shame, it's because of people like you that the israeli people are divided. I am a secular person & I can't stand the hate & the insults that I read in your article. Why YNET has this kind of peolple writting articles ?

People like you who promote hatred and separation between brothers, insulting our sages, the ones responsible for mantaining our culture. Shame on you..., and im not religious. Shabat Shalom. (ynet should make a serious review on its opinion writers).

A vast majority of the world dislike/hate Jews whether we're traditionalists or modernists. For them, all Jews are evil and the cause of all misery on Earth. In light of this fact, both sides of the issue can debate this until the rockets fall on our heads. Baruch HaShem.

With a question like this.....is it any wonder we have enemies outside? This is what you call propaganda against the Jewish nation... Not that we need any.......right now!!!!!! Hashem help us!

Has anyone noticed that the Kassams and Katys are not discriminating in who they blast to the next life, or who they injure? Orthodox, secular, Reform, Conservative and those unaffilicated, are not being singled out by Hamas and Hezbollah, nor will Iranian nukes someday, show preference in what kind of Jew gets killed under the mushroom cloud. Let's be honest, whether the rabbis inform the public or whether any educated Israeli should simply read a religous book about holidays...who cares? Israel is a Jewish state AND a state for the Jewish people. I'm sure 6m victims of the Holocaust would have appreciated a viable, Israel, prior to WW2..an Israel capable of sheltering them from Hitler's legions. Let's face something, we Jews have a multitide of holidays..and somethings one or more gets lost in the current happenings...LIKE A 2 FRONT WAR, SPREADING FURTHER..with, G-d forbid, Syrian Scuds (loaded with WMD) falling on Tel Aviv. Me thinks it's time for all the bad mouthing to stop, in Israel. All Israelis are in the same fix...as the saying goes, and pity the consequences if they are divided anymore.

Mr. Friedman is severely out of touch with reality. Blaming rabbis for secular jews not fasting because they don't make an easier religion? It's like blaming doctors for obesity because they don't make easier diets.

Dear Sir I think if the Jewish people in Israel were so concern with the last week tragedies which are still going on maybe as solidarity and without pointing a finger at the Rabbis we all observed the 17th of Tamuz which actually marks 5 different tragedies that has accrued to the Jewish people in the past. And what do you know History does repeat it self and again because Sinatt Chinam and because we don’t get along together we tragedies hunt us once again. I think this is a time for self reflection for the whole of the Jewish people where ever they are. May this ongoing tragedy will speedily end now

You hate religion. My grandfather was in the holocuast and he loves, prays to, and thanks God. He never asked for an answer! The lot one receives in this world is for reasons we are not to dare explore. If one were to understand G-d fully then he wouldn't be G-d.....do you have and religious education?

A great idea to use the fast day as a means of unity. Rav Shteinman and Rav Elyashiv just announced that stopping conflicts among ourselves will lead us out of this mess. Instead of berating the Rabbis in a mean spirited manner couldn't you have called a Rabbi to ask him this , especially a person of your position? Try speaking in amore respectful tine and really listening what the Rabbis have been saying and you would act more civil.

OK, Andy, now the Chief Rabbinate has called for the secular Jews to fast on Tisha B'Av. Logic demands that you praise them. I'm waiting.

No -- the source refers to the Ark in the synagogue, not in the Temple. I studied and completed that tractate a couple of years ago. Keep learning.

The rabbis have to accentuate the positive and thereby eliminate the negative automatically