Posted on 12/30/25
Baltimore, MD - Dec. 30, 2025 - Asara B'Teves (the fast of the 10th month, צום העשירי) is one of the most stringent fasts of the Jewish calendrical year. It is the only fast that we observe on a Friday, and like Yom Kippur, we would observe this fast if, in theory, it were to fall on Shabbos!
But why? Why is Asara B'Teves so serious?
Because it marks the "beginning of the churban" – the beginning of the end. On Asara B'Teves of the year 3336 (425 BCE), Nevuchadnezar, the king of Bavel, surrounded Jerusalem, laying siege to our holy city. This was a dark moment in Jewish history, a moment that marked the beginning of the chain of events which ultimately led to the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash on the 9th of Av (in 3338).
But something else also happened on this day, a couple thousand years later.
Reb Nosson of Breslov, the primary student of Rebbe Nachman, passed away on December 20, 1844, which was the 10th of Teves of the year 5605. Reb Nosson was the individual responsible for revealing and transmitting Rebbe Nachman's transformative teachings to the world. His yahrzeit is commemorated today, on Asara B'Teves.
While it may seem like two very unrelated happenings (the fast of the 10th and Reb Nosson's yahrzeit), there is certainly an incredible element of hashgacha at play.
Today, you don't need to put on glasses to see that yidden are thirsty for chassidus. Jews from all backgrounds are connecting to this chelek of Torah that is redemptive, multi-layered, seeped in meaning, and speaks to the neshama. It is Torah that is infused with what we call "Geula consciousness." And while many gravitate to various types of chassidus, there is certainly a pull and drive towards Breslov Torah that is so obvious and apparent.
Reb Nosson writes in Chayei Moharan (346) how Rebbe Nachman once said that once his sefer Likutei Moharan emerged into the world, it was אתחלתא דגאולה , the beginning of redemption .
The Torah of Breslov is redemptive at its core, as it speaks to the nekuda tova of a person, the part of us that is holy and pure; the part of us that never despairs because it doesn't even know what despair is!
The irony of Reb Nosson's yahrzeit on Asara B'Teves is astounding. Asara B'Teves was a day that marked the "beginning of the churban," while in contrast, the Torah of Rebbe Nachman – as revealed to us through his student, Reb Nosson – is said to be the "beginning of geula."
Prior to his passing, Reb Nosson said: "מקווה אני שדף אחד מספרי רבינו יהווה תיקון לכל - I hope that even one page from the books of Rabbeinu will serve as a tikkun (rectification) for everyone.”
He was so right.
Countless yidden have not just benefited, but have been positively transformed from the various Breslov teachings, and of course, we are indebted to Reb Nosson for taking responsibility to literally bring these books to life. From the deep wisdom of Likutei Moharan, to the expansive Sefer HaMidos, to the mysterious Sipurei Maasios, and to the masterful Likutei Halachos, the Breslov seforim (and there are indeed many more!) are taking the world by storm, and ironically, through the learning of these holy works and building a connection to the tzadik, they are giving people a sense of calm/hope amidst the crazy storm of life.
So, it's true, on one hand this is a sad day, as it represents the enemy's siege surrounding our holy city and people. It represents a period of darkness and concealment.
But, on the other hand, as Divine hashgacha would have it, this day would also become a day focused on the proliferation of Toras chassidus, and Toras Breslov in particular; thus, the very day that is said to be the "beginning of churban" is infused with a deeper reality, namely, that it is a day very much associated with the "beginning of geula."
The siege which took place on Asara B'Teves continues to surround us, albeit in other modern and sophisticated forms of external pressure that seek to guide us away from the nekuda tova, the holy and good core that exists within each and every one of us.
In the Book of Ezekiel (24:1-2), when we are told about the fast of Asara B'Teves, it states: "סמך מלך בבל אל ירושלים בעצם היום הזה - the king of Bavel has laid siege to Jerusalem on this very day."
The words בעצם היום הזה tell us something deeper. This day is about עצם, our עצמיות (essence). The king of Bavel, representing the Yetzer Hara, tries to make us focus outward; he lays siege on us. Through this negative influence, we become surrounded by tumah, surrounded by voices telling us how bad we are, surrounded by all the ugly choices and decisions we've made over the course of our lives, and surrounded by all the impure and unholy thoughts of despair.
But guess what? Despite the surrounding siege that screams at us from all sides, we are reminded: בעצם היום הזה, that this day of Asara B'Teves is a day in which we can focus not on the external siege, but instead learn to focus on עצם, on our inner essence of goodness, on that holy core we all have, on the nekuda tova; we can focus inwardly, on the part of us that is us .
It has been said that the final battle of Gog U'Magog will be a battle of Emunah. Of course, on a most basic level, this refers to Emunah in Hashem. But, my friends, we must not lose sight of the fact that an extension of this battle is the aspect of Emunah in ourselves .
The Torah of chassidus, and in particular that of Breslov, speaks to this point. Encouraging us to look away from the external siege that looks scary and frightening, and instead to look inward and have Emunah in ourselves. It's a Torah that guides us to live with geula consciousness, that reminds us to never give up hope, that helps us connect back to our nekuda tova, the core part of us which is completely pure, untainted, and constantly striving for more joy and connection to Hashem.
So today, on Asara B'Teves, a day marked as the " beginning of the churban ," may we all tap into the lessons that Reb Nosson brought to the world, and in that merit, may we be zoche to taste the " beginning of geula ."
Have a meaningful and uplifting day!
Ori Strum