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Fast of Gedalia is occurred in the tired day in Tishrey. This day is fast day, we fast in the Fast of Gedalia because Gedalia died.
History
Four hundred and ten years (410 years), the first Beit Hamikdash was. After four hundred and ten years, it was destroyed by the Babylonian army. Nevochadnechar (the king of Babel) came with his army to fight with the Israelis nation.
Nevochadnechar fought with Israel and enslaved them (in the king Yeoyakim time). After three years (3 years) Israel had rebelled against the king of Babylon for three years
The king of Babylon fought again and won the war, he took the king Yeoyakim and one thousand (1000) kids to Babylon.
After three month the king of Babylon fought again with Israel and won the war, he took with him the important Israelis people. He crowned Zedekiah (the brother of Yeoyakim) and gave soldiers to supervise the Zedekiah.
After eleven years Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon, the king came and destroyed Beit Hamikdash, he took the Israelis nation except the some poor people, and He crowned Gedalia the son of Hachikam.
The king of Ammon feared from Gedalia. He sent Ishmael (a bed jewish that want to be the king of Israel) to assassinate Gedalia. Gedalia's army minister said Gedalia that Ishmael wanted to assassinate him, however Gedalia refused to believe.
In the second day of Tishrey (the second day of Rosh Hashana) Ishmael came with group of people to Gedalia's house. Ishmael murdered Gedalia. The remains people feared and run to Egypt.
The king of Babylon thought the jewish people rebelled him and took the remains to Babylon.
This situation is described in the second part of the book "Melachim" chapter twenty five (25) and in "Irmiah" chapter Thirty-nine to forty-two (39-42)
The meaning of the Fast of Gedalia
Gedaliah's death completed the exile, all the jewish nation was come to Babylon by the king of Babylon and his army.
The custom of the Fast of Gedalia
We don't eat in the Fast of Gedalia for twelve hours. We started the fast in the sunrise and fast until the star rising. We read a special pray; we read a part of the Torah "Vaihal" (Section in "Tisa" "Shmot chapter Thirty-two)
In the night before the Fast of Gedalia we can eat, this fast is different from Tisha Beav (the fast in the ninth of Av) and Kippur day. In Tisha Beav and Kippur day we mustn't eat in the night before.
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