17^th of Fourthmonth: צוֹם

(Zᵊkhar•yâhꞋ 8.19)

In the מְצָרִים

וְעֵת צָרָה הִיא לְיַעֲקֹב (Yi•rᵊmᵊyâhꞋu 30.7)

This צוֹם memorializes the breaching of the walls of Yᵊru•shâ•laꞋyim in the time of the Beit ha-Mi•qᵊdâshꞋ hâ-Ri•shonꞋ (Yi•rᵊmᵊyâhꞋu 39.2, where the date is the 9^th) and Titus' breaching the walls of Yᵊru•shâ•laꞋyim during the time of the Beit ha-Mi•qᵊdâshꞋ ha-Shein•iꞋ.

This is a dawn-to-dusk צוֹם from food and drink. Medical considerations take precedence over all fasting. Children under the age of בר/בת מצוה aren't required to fast. However, for several years approaching the age of בר/בת מצוה, children should be allotted — for the entirety of the day —, a gradually reduced amount of food and liquids, realizing this goal by the age of בר/בת מצוה.

מְצָרִים: Between 17^th of Fourthmonth & 9^th of Fifthmonth

This צוֹם begins three weeks of mourning (abstention from cutting one's hair, from wearing new clothes, from parties, celebrations, weddings and the like).

הֲלִיכוֹת תֵּימָן

(Excerpts from the book by ר' יוֹסֵף קָאפֵח)

In the מְצָרִים between the 17^th of Fourthmonth and the 9^th of 5^thmonth, no women are married, no parties of friends are held and in general joy is to be minimized; no new clothes are worn and no significant shopping is done. The days between the 17^th of 4^thmonth) and the 9^th of 5^thmonth are called the מְצָרִים.

Unlike other traditions, it was customary to eat bâ•sârꞋ – even after Rosh KhoꞋdësh of 5^thmonth. Even on ërꞋëv צוֹם, they ate bâ•sârꞋ, except for the very last meal before the צוֹם – the סְעוּדָּה מַפְסֶקֶת – according to the Din.

On a שַׁבָּת that falls on the 9^th of 5^thmonth, no haircuts are done and no dignities are done and no washed clothes are worn, from adults to children, according to Ha•lâkh•âhꞋ. On the day of the צוֹם everyone fasts with no exceptions, including pregnant or breastfeeding women. On the ërꞋëv of the 9^th of 5^thmonth, during Mi•nᵊkh•âhꞋ, everyone would pray individually in their own home.

After the tᵊphil•âhꞋ of Mi•nᵊkh•âhꞋ, the סְעוּדָּה מַפְסֶקֶת is eaten. For this meal, Matz•âhꞋ-breads are customarily baked – because it is thought not to digest quickly; and, thus, the hunger won't be as bothersome to those who are fasting during the long hours of the צוֹם.

The bread is broken up into small pieces, each one about like an olive or less, and they are put in a bowl. After pouring some butter over it, a few eggs are broken on top and everything is heated over the fire. Finally, a bit of honey or sugar is poured over the top. This is the main dish for the סְעוּדָּה מַפְסֶקֶת.

As a sign of mourning this meal is eaten on the ground (or floor) rather than at a table. Likewise [this meal is] not eaten in the dining room, but, rather, in the kitchen,near the oven and stove, in order to distinguish it from an ordinary day.

Whoever wants, eats a few more slices of bread with khi•lᵊb•âh, on the condition it wasn't boiled, so that there aren't two cooked dishes in the same meal, according to Ha•lâkh•âhꞋ.

For desert after the meal, fruits are served, usually grapes, קַהְוָה is drunk as much as possible, [people] change their shoes to black cloth shoes and whomever does not have cloth shoes walks barefoot.

Insights into the liturgy that was practiced back in Yemen, though their present-day liturgy here in Yi•sᵊrâ•eilꞋ seems to be somewhat less emotional and demonstrative, are also included in the הֲלִיכוֹת תֵּימָן by ר' יוֹסֵף קָאפֵח

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