A little-known fast traditionally occurs on the 3^rd of Tishrei, the day after Rosh Hashanah (unless that day happens to fall on a Shabbat, in which case it is delayed until Sunday): Tzom Gedaliah, or the Fast of Gedaliah. Zechariah 8:19 describes Tzom Gedaliah as one of four fasts that will morph into a day of joy and celebration upon the return of Moshiach.

The purpose of fasting on this particular occasion is to honor the death of high-ranking Gedaliah ben Achikam, who was a beloved governor of Judea after the Temple was destroyed and the Jews were exiled from Jerusalem into Babylonia. Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylonia, did permit a certain small group of Jewish people to remain in the land; those Jews largely lived in poverty, though some were permitted to work the vineyards to sustain their livelihoods and provide for their families.

Gedaliah, who is briefly mentioned in 2 Kings 25 and Jeremiah 40 and 41, also known as Gedaliahu, was known for uniting the Jews that had taken off to Edom, Moab, or Ammon after their exile and encouraging these individuals to return to Judah. He did this by providing opportunities for work for these exiled Jews by tending to the vineyards of the region. Gedaliah urged the Jewish people living in Judea to simply do their work in the vineyards, return home, and live simple, faithful, and productive lives. Meanwhile, he would do the heavy lifting in securing geopolitical reconciliation and peace in the region.

The reign of Gedaliah did not last long, however. Meanwhile, Ishmael ben Netaniah, a member of the family of the King of Ammon, was sent to cause trouble for Gedaliah in pursuit of leadership over the land of Judea. The King of Ammon was believed to be less than thrilled and perhaps even envious of the concept of a Jewish individual successfully leading the land of Judea. Ishmael, coming from the Davidic line, may have felt even he personally had a right to lead Judea.

Ishmael, along with ten others, came to the town of Mitzpeh to supposedly fellowship with Gedaliah shortly before or after Rosh Hashanah (depending on which historical account you read). Upon the conclusion of their meal together, Ishmael assassinated Gedaliah and those who were most closely associated with Gedaliah and were in attendance at this meal, discarding the remains of all of them in a nearby pit.

Unfortunately, Gedaliah had been warned that Ishmael may not have had the purest of intentions with the so-called fellowship meal, but Gedaliah, with rose-colored glasses, refused to believe the warnings and assumed the warnings were some type of gossip or misrepresentation. Yochanan ben Kore’ach had even offered to kill Ishmael prior to Gedaliah’s death based on the red flags. Gedialiah brushed aside the warnings, however, assuming the rumors to be lies and slander against Ishmael.

Gedaliah’s death resulted in many Jews losing their lives; those who survived sought refuge in safer lands, such as Egypt, where they did not have to fear for their lives. The Jews self-exiled to Egypt, fearing retribution; Gedaliah’s death basically ended Jewish life in Israel for an extended period of time. Gedaliah was the last Jewish leader in Israel for many centuries, until Hasmonean rule.

The fast, originally referred to as the “Fast of the Seventh,” is believed to have been instituted by the sages shortly after Gedaliah’s assassination. Some believe that Gedaliah was actually murdered on Tishrei, but the fast was implemented after Rosh Hashanah due to prohibitions on fasting during major Jewish festivals. Yet, the rabbis felt it was important to honor this righteous Jew’s life, stating it was analogous to the burning of the house of God or the destruction of the Temple.

Shortly after his assassination, some Jewish people attempted to make a pilgrimage to his presumed graveside for purposes of mourning, but these individuals were also killed by Ishmael.  Generally, the fast does not run from sundown to sundown but rather dawns until the first stars twinkle in the twilight sky, similar to some other fasts in Jewish life. There are no prohibitions on work or school on this particular day.

Customarily, as one would expect with any fast, one abstains from eating or drinking during the Tzom Gedaliah. As a minor fast (compared to Yom Kippur and Tisha B'av), it is permitted to bathe, participate in martial relations, wear leather, and anoint the sick. As with any other fast, there are exceptions to the Shulchan Aurukh’s requirements to fast for those who are pregnant, nursing, under bar/bat mitzvah age, or sick.

There are other references to the fast in Zechariah 7-8, in which there is discussion about whether it is essential to continue honoring the destruction of the Temple all these centuries later. These concerns are never directly addressed in scripture, but God does promise hope and a future, as He promises each of us. Zechariah also acknowledges the four fast days that were implemented post-Judah. Some speculate that by asking only about one of the fast days and not all four, perhaps the Jewish people did not necessarily observe all four fast days universally. The Talmud more clearly acknowledges the Fast of Gedaliah, as the rabbis appoint 3 Tishrei for the fast as stated in Rosh Hashanah 18b, stating that the death of such a righteous individual is as equally tragic as the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem.

During synagogue services, it is not uncommon on this particular day to recite the Avinu Malkeinu, Aneinu, and Selichot prayers, in addition to the vayechal and other passages from the Torah (e.g., Exodus 32:11–14 and 34:1–10).  As with other fast days, the Tachanun is omitted from the liturgy.

In a story that highlights the consequences of misplaced trust and the dangers of betrayal, one can still take away from the story the themes of faith and obedience to God’s will, even in challenging circumstances. Gedaliah did not have an easy task in front of him as he attempted to rebuild and maintain a vibrant, faithful Jewish community in the Holy Land in the aftermath of significant upheaval.

Yet, despite his life ending tragically, Gedaliah did his best to remain faithful to God and to his Jewish countrymen despite the challenges facing him. May we draw meaningful parallels with our own lives, seeking to honor God and his ways no matter the adversity we may be facing.