Friends!

Friends! Today is Israel's day of mourning and fasting. 17 Tammuz, according to the Jewish calendar, is considered to be the day of trouble, because in various years there were terrible events.

One of them was the construction of Jews golden calves after leaving Egypt. At that time, when Moses received on the Mount of Sinai the tablets of the Covenant, underneath, people managed to despair and betray their prophet and God. Despite the fact that they were just released from long-term slavery. After Moses saw people dancing around the idol, he broke the tables on the foot of Mount Sinai, struck by the hopelessness and the cowardice of the people.

On the same day, many years later, the enemies of Israel managed to break through the walls of Jerusalem. It took several weeks and the whole Temple was destroyed.

Another disaster of the 17th Tamuz occurred then the Captain of the Occupation Army of Apustamus, burnt the Scroll of the Torah publicly, and the idol was established in the Temple.

Centuries have passed, but the Israeli people still remember these troubles. On this day, the Jews are fasting to wake their hearts, go to the path of repentance, and once again understand how deeds and mistakes can lead to great troubles. People are trying to redress their sins and sins of their ancestors, which have happened because of ignorance, thirst or stupidity.

Friends, when we recognize our mistakes, we become stronger and we can prevent them from repeating in the future. I think Ukrainians should also be given a certain day in order to recall and analyze all the serious misfortunes that have occurred on the way to the nation's formation. In order to draw conclusions and further develop its state without repeating the mistakes of the past.