Questions tagged [fast-days]
Days where Jews refrain from eating and drinking.
238
questions
0
votes
0answers
17 views
The Fast of Gedaliah [duplicate]
Why must we fast on Tzom Gedalya? Was he the greatest leader Bnai Yisroel had that we fast on account of his assasination? Was Moshe not a greater leader for he took us out of Egypt yet we do not ...
0
votes
0answers
16 views
How are sunrise and sundown observed in places with 24-hour day/nights [duplicate]
Some practices are time bound by sunrise or sunset (e.g. fasting on Yom Kippur). Far northern/southern areas have 24 hour long day/nights at certain times of the year, so a sundown/sunrise never ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Do communities set public fast days for hurricanes or other natural disasters?
I hear occasionally about fast days in Israel when there's no rain. Some examples are in this answer. From one of the links there, R' Mosheh Lichtenstein is not in favor of fasting for rain in a ...
5
votes
1answer
39 views
What happens if an individual accidentally says Aneinu before Re'eh instead of during Shema Koleinu?
Let’s say that a congregant, who’s normally supposed to say Aneinu in Shema Koleinu instead of before Re'eh, accidentally says it as a stand-alone Beracha before Re'eh. He doesn’t realize until well ...
2
votes
1answer
38 views
Accidentally ended שמע קולנו with העונה בעת צרה
What should you do if, on a fast day, you said Aneinu in Shema Koleinu and then accidentally continued with the conclusion for Aneinu, ברוך אתה ה' העונה בעת צרה, instead of finishing with כי אתה שומע?
...
5
votes
1answer
46 views
When does a private fast begin?
When does a private fast (תענית יחיד) begin? At sunset or at dawn? Is it considered a fast like Yom Kippur (24 hr.) or like a half-day fast?
Are there any sources that address this?
3
votes
0answers
20 views
Can a single fast be used for multiple purposes? [duplicate]
Brachos daf 31b says that one who fasts on Shabbos should fast another day to atone for his fast. Suppose the next day is a previously ordained fast (e.g 17th of Tammuz, etc.), does that fast count to ...
5
votes
1answer
182 views
Restaurants opening on fast days
Assuming a kosher restaurant or a café that attracts significant quantity of non-Jewish customers, what is their policy on fast days?
Do they keep open? If so, what do they do with Jews, who have ...
5
votes
2answers
97 views
Can a public fast day be used for a Yahrtzeit fast?
Some people have a minhag to fast on a yahrtzeit (see Shulchan Aruch OC 567,7-9). If the day of the yahrtzeit occurs on a public fast day such as 17 Tamuz, can the fasting done then count for the ...
1
vote
3answers
291 views
Talmudic concept of a sensitive individual--“istus?”
There is a Talmudic term I've heard mentioned in passing but have not been able to locate. It relates to the concept of a person who is especially sensitive to physical discomfort in situations such ...
1
vote
2answers
99 views
How much time passes before we understand that the drought hasn’t ended?
In ta’anis (1:5-7) the Mishnayos discuss how and when to fast for rain in a drought, for example:
הִגִּיעַ רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ כִּסְלֵו וְלֹא יָרְדוּ גְשָׁמִים, בֵּית דִּין גּוֹזְרִין שָׁלשׁ תַּעֲנִיוֹת ...
3
votes
1answer
39 views
What happens if someone misses a day of Bahab?
Let’s say that someone, for whatever reason (say he forgot it was Behab), accepted upon himself to fast Behab but didn’t fast one of the days (say, for instance, he fasted Monday but not Thursday).
...
4
votes
1answer
70 views
Why not start BaHaB on Iyar / Marcheshvan 3?
Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 492 discusses the custom some have to fast on Monday, Thursday and Monday (BaHaB) following the months of Nissan and Tishrei. Rama in his gloss notes that the custom is to ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
is it permitted to swallow spit on a fast day?
is it permitted to swallow spit on a fast day or must one spit? this would lead to worse dehydration and if the motivation isn't eating but ridding the saliva in one's mouth without becoming ...
4
votes
1answer
109 views
Fasting to increase chances of getting prayer answered
It used to be that rabbis made the community fast to increase their chances of getting their prayers answered. This was done particularly if rain was late in coming. (The first thing God promises if ...
5
votes
1answer
83 views
How the 72 hours straight fast was possibly allowed?
We know that the danger of fasting two consecutive days is the reason Yom Kippur (and all other fasts) is not celebrated two days outside Israel.
And still Ester commanded on the 3-day fast (Ester 4,...
4
votes
1answer
74 views
Why was Ta'anis Esther established? The story has a happy ending!
I understand why we fast the other public fast days (Tisha B'av, 17 Tammuz, Tzom Gedaliah). All of these fasts commemorate events which we are still affected by (primarily lack of a Beis Hamikdash).
...
5
votes
2answers
145 views
Relief from fasting while traveling?
I fly multiple times a week nearly every week for work. It has happened a few times that I had to travel on a minor fast day and I was at times surprised to see visibly religious people eating and ...
2
votes
1answer
93 views
Do we fast when someone trips and falls while holding a Sefer Torah?
When dropping a Sefer Torah, the custom is to fast, but what is the minhag if I trip and fall while holding a Sefer Torah?
1
vote
0answers
137 views
Are you allowed to Vape on a fast day?
I was told that Vape has sugar in it. Are you inhailing enough for it to constitute a Shiur, and so not be able to Vape on a fast day?
2
votes
1answer
70 views
Accepting a fast upon oneself after the prayer of Mincha
If someone wants to do a personal fast (taanit) and forgot to receive it during Mincha. Can he still receive it after Mincha before the day is out? What should he recite?
4
votes
1answer
137 views
Does Judaism forbid fasting on Fridays and Saturdays? If so, where is this rule written and what is the reasoning behind it?
I was reading the deuterocanonical Book of Judith, and I came across the following:
Judith had lived as a widow in her house for three years and four months.
She pitched a tent for herself on ...
2
votes
1answer
46 views
Is one forbidden to fast between Yom Kippur and Sukot?
I heard once that one shouldn’t fast between Yom Kippur and the end of Sukot , not sure its reason or if it’s an accurate statement
0
votes
3answers
77 views
What's the point of fasting?
What does fasting do? Is it to put us in a certain mindset? If so how does it do so? Does the pain itself atone? If so how and why? Or is it some other reason?
11
votes
1answer
155 views
Fast some other day if can't fast on Yom Kippur?
If someone is sufficiently ill on Yom Kippur to be halachically allowed to eat, would there be any value in him fasting for a whole day after he gets well? I'm sure it would be voluntary, but is it ...
3
votes
0answers
35 views
Adjust the selicho “מַשְׂאַת כַּפַּי" when the kehillo is not fasting on Yom Kippur Koton?
Related: Who observes Yom Kippur Katan, and how?
In the mincha service of Yom Kippur Koton, the selicho “מַשְׂאַת כַּפַּי” is said:
1 חזן מַשְׂאַת כַּפַּי מִנְחַת עֶרֶב רְצֵה נָא בְכֹשֶׁר, ...
1
vote
1answer
60 views
What to do if bar mitzvah is on a fast day
Just out of curiosity, what does one do if his bar mitzvah falls on a fast day such as Yom Kippur or Tisha BeAv or any other of the 6 fast days?
Is the seudah passed on to the next day? The previous ...
3
votes
0answers
64 views
Who should NOT accept upon himself a voluntary fast?
Taanit 12b states that only if one has the ability is fasting positive.
The Shulchan Aruch (YD 245:17) states that a melamed a Torah teacher of children should not fast, (see Aruch ha-Shulchan) a ...
5
votes
1answer
77 views
When were these fasts observed?
The Tur (Orach Chayim 580), quoting the Bahag (Laws of the Ninth of Av), gives a list of days on which to fast. This list is copied or mentioned by some other rishonim (as quoted in the footnote to ...
6
votes
1answer
212 views
Meaningful ways to spend Tisha b'Av?
I am struggling a bit on Tisha b'Av to find meaningful ways to spend the day. I am looking for advice on meaningful activities that fulfill the intent of the day (mourning for Jerusalem and the ...
5
votes
3answers
162 views
Why did Rebbe want to get rid of Tishah b’Av Nidcheh?
Megillah 5a-b:
אמר רבי אלעזר אמר רבי חנינא רבי נטע נטיעה בפורים ורחץ בקרונה של צפורי בשבעה עשר בתמוז ובקש לעקור תשעה באב ולא הודו לו אמר לפניו רבי אבא בר זבדא רבי לא כך היה מעשה אלא תשעה באב שחל ...
1
vote
1answer
47 views
Nosebleed during fast
What does Halacha bring down about nosebleed during a fast? Can one flush out their nose with water? On fasts in which washing the hands and/or body is prohibited, would one be permitted to wash ...
4
votes
1answer
414 views
Caffeine while fasting
May a person take a caffeine tablet during their fast? The tablet would be placed under the tongue and dissolved without drinking any water so no food or water would be ingested.
3
votes
1answer
90 views
When a seudat mitzvah and minor fast both fall on Shabbat
The 31st day of a bechor's life falls on 17 Tammuz, which this year falls on Shabbat. The ta'anit for 17 Tammuz is observed the following day, on 18 Tammuz.
Should the Pidyon HaBen be postponed to ...
2
votes
2answers
87 views
Do parts of a minor fast start before morning?
I've always understood that minor fasts run from morning (a bit before dawn) until nightfall. An answer to What activities (other than eating and drinking) are forbidden on minor fasts?, however, ...
4
votes
1answer
561 views
Why is fasting not permitted in the first 12 day of Sivan?
The Yahrzeit for my father falls on 7 Sivan. In the past it was always my custom to fast on 8 Sivan unless it was a Shabbat. Then I would fast on 9 Sivan.
This came up in discussion with my (Chabad) ...
5
votes
0answers
84 views
Why is an infant firstborn child not simply exempt from the firstborns' fast?
The Fast of the First Born was instituted for the day before the first Passover Seder.
I have an older brother, so I'm not obligated to fast then. But my first child was a son, and he is obligated to ...
2
votes
1answer
92 views
Firstborn is sick on erev Pesach
What is the halacha regarding the fast if a firstborn is sick on erev Pesach and can't attend a siyum?
4
votes
1answer
131 views
Why is there no Kaddish after Torah reading at mincha on a fast day?
Every Torah reading is followed by half Kaddish, except for Shabbat and fast day mincha.
Mishnah Berurah #4 on O.C. 292:1 says that on Shabbat and fast days we don't say Kaddish after Torah reading ...
3
votes
0answers
44 views
Why are the “five afflictions” applied to Tish'a B'Av?
This answer explains how the 5 forms of affliction are derived. I understand that on Yom Kippur, the Torah specifically says that we should afflict ourselves.
WHy are these 5 afflictions applied to ...
3
votes
1answer
107 views
Can one say the fast-day selichos before the morning prayers?
There seem to be two sorts of selichos: (1) those in Elul and the 10 days of Repentance and (2) the selichos for fast days.
Type (1) are typically said before all the morning prayers and type (2) ...
1
vote
1answer
787 views
Throat lozenge on fast day
If someone has a sore throat on a fast day (excluding yom kippur) may he suck on a throat lozenge (Ricola)* or do we consider that breaking the fast?
*throat lozenge has flavor and one needs to make ...
2
votes
1answer
109 views
Is eating with a peg allowed on a fast day
A cancer patient who cant use his mouth has his food going straight into the lower stomach using what is called a peg. It is a milk based food which is considered kosher but not for pesach according ...
0
votes
2answers
588 views
Are breastfeeding mothers exempt from fasting on Yom Kippur?
If a mother is breastfeeding, is she obligated to fast on days such as yom kippur? If not, is there some traditional/symbolic gesture women practice, for example abstaining from their favorite foods?
3
votes
1answer
92 views
Should a child wash his hands before eating on Yom Kippur?
I know that you're not allowed to eat or wash on Yom Kippur. But suppose a child (not obligated to fast) is going to eat bread - should he wash his hands before eating it?
5
votes
1answer
81 views
Source for Rema re: Fasting in Sefer Tanya
Orach Chaim Simman 580 Seif 1 the SA writes
אֵלּוּ הַיָּמִים שֶׁאֵרְעוּ בָּהֶם צָרוֹת לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְרָאוּי לְהִתְעַנּוֹת בָּהֶם; וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמִּקְּצָתָם בְּרֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ, יֵשׁ מִי שֶׁאוֹמֵר ...
0
votes
0answers
99 views
Why is Tisha b'Av stricter than other mitzvos with regard to rabbinical prohibitions for a choleh?
Why is Tisha b'Av apparently stricter than other mitzvos--including Shabbos--with regards to rabbinical prohibitions for a choleh? On Shabbos, one who is in a state of choleh kol gufo (debilitating ...
1
vote
1answer
218 views
Burying a body and fasting on tisha bav
If one needs to bury a body on tisha bav but there is a heat wave, should the person refrain from burying the body until after tisha bav as to not have to break the fast? Or does the mitzvah of מת ...
1
vote
0answers
76 views
Are movies allowed in Tishe bAv?
i realised some of shuls,including Orthodox and Chabad, will air flims on Tisha bAv, after the fast starts. They included films about topics like fighting got Eretz Yisrael.
What is the halacha about ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Breaking a fast with meat
Someone told me that it's assur (or inappropriate? either way...) to break any fast with meat. They didn't have a source, and I wasn't familiar with one, so I looked into it. I only found one relevant ...
