"A terror victims' organization is encouraging people to wear sackcloth and put ashes on their foreheads at the Western Wall on Thursday, the Fast of Esther. The sunrise-to-sunset fast day before the Purim holiday recalls Queen Esther's uncle Mordechai who stood outside the king's court in "sackcloth and ashes" (Esther 4:1) because of a decree to kill all Jews in the Persian empire. The decree was overturned and the Jews conquered their enemies in a lightening change of events."

"Shifra Hoffman of Victims of Arab Terror International (VATI) said the government's plan to force Jews out of 25 communities demands that people fast with sackcloth and ashes. For more information, call (02) 582-1106."
 
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=78768