וּבְיוֹם֩ עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֜ה לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֗ה נֶאֶסְפ֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּצ֣וֹם וּבְשַׂקִּ֔ים וַאֲדָמָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
В двадцать четвертый день месяца сыны Израилевы собрались с голодом и вретищем и землей на них.
English Explanation of Mishnah Taanit
Tractate Taanit is about the practice of fasting and offering special prayers in times of trouble, especially during a drought. The Bible is full of examples of the Israelites fasting, praying and engaging in other forms of supplication in order to entreat God to respond to their needs. The most famous of these cases is probably Esther who calls for a three-day fast to ensure her success and safety when entering in to speak to the king. See also Joel 1:14; Jeremiah 14:11-12; Jonah 3:5-8; Nehemiah 9:1; Daniel 9:3 and others.