Questions tagged [fast-days]
Days where Jews refrain from eating and drinking.
276
questions
1
vote
1
answer
214
views
If one fasted on Shabbos, is he obligated to fast another day?
If one fasted on Shabbos, is he obligated to fast another fast in addition to the fast that he fasted on Shabbos?
user31965
0
votes
0
answers
44
views
The Regalim and the Fasts
Looking for resources --
Are there any texts which discuss the parallels between the 3 regalim and the 3 fast days in the cycle of the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash?
Off the top of my head, I can ...
- 37.4k
1
vote
0
answers
90
views
When were the minor fast days decreed by the rabbis?
Five of the six annual fast days are rabbinic and four are "minor" (i.e., daylight fasts). When, historically, were these five fast days decreed and which is the last to be decreed by the ...
- 7,764
2
votes
4
answers
297
views
Why was Yom HaShoah not established as a fast day?
Why was Yom HaShoah, the memorial day for the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, not established as a fast day? That would be consistent as we fast on other days when we commemorate past ...
- 7,764
2
votes
1
answer
42
views
Why are some rabbinic fasts daylight and tisha b'av is full day? [duplicate]
The 4 minor fasts and Tisha B'Av are rabbinic. Why is only one rabbinic fast a full day and the other rabbinic fasts are daylight fasts rather than full day?
- 7,764
1
vote
1
answer
62
views
Personal Fast and Davening
If one is undertaking a personal fast (let's say for teshuvah/kapparah purposes), should one add "Aneinu" to his personal shemoneh esrei at minchah? If one normally says Shalom Rav at Mincha ...
- 49
6
votes
0
answers
83
views
Source for a quote from the Chofetz Chayim
A friend of mine told me a while back that he read somewhere that the Chofetz Chayim was quoted as saying that if he could, he would annul all rabbinic fasts, for in our lowly generation these fasts ...
- 754
2
votes
2
answers
286
views
Why is there no Ta'anit Esther Katan?
In a leap year, Purim is marked in the second Adar. In the first Adar, the 14th is noted as Purim Katan and the day after, as Shushan Purim Katan. The implications are limited (basically) to slight ...
- 37.4k
0
votes
0
answers
59
views
Is there a Halachic book on regular fasting?
I’d like to take on regular fasting for health reasons. My Rav permits this. He also permits it to weaken desire.
But there are so many contradictory opinions that are hard to reconcile in the ...
- 709
0
votes
0
answers
156
views
Acceptability of gentile fasting
Something was brought up in a lecture by Rabbi Mizrachi (I'm not sure which video) where he says that Muslims try to follow everything Jews do--and they try to "one up" so to speak. The ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
75
views
What was "the day" Beis Hillel and Beis Shammai disagreed?
The Shulchan Aruch OC (580:2) codifies the list of sad days some have the custom to fast for, which includes at the end:
בט' בו נחלקו בית שמאי ובית הלל - The ninth of Adar is when Beis
Shammai and ...
- 13.2k
0
votes
1
answer
81
views
Isaiah 58 and the way we fast
I certainly don't want to offend anyone, but if it is asked in Isaiah 58 whether it is this manner of fasting that G-d has chose; when one starves oneself, practices self-denial, afflicting one's soul ...
- 7,268
0
votes
1
answer
67
views
Why was God's injunction through Zechariah, on rejoicing, not followed?
With the return home from Babylon, the Temple rebuilt, and idolatry vanquished, God said, through the prophet Zechariah, that from now on the four fast days commemorating the destruction of the First ...
- 19.1k
1
vote
1
answer
74
views
Voluntary fast requirements?
If one accepts to take on a voluntary fast, is there a specific minimum or maximum time one must fast for (I.e. sunrise to sunset)? Also with voluntary fasts is it acceptable for one to take upon a ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
160
views
Why this common greeting: Tzom kal?
Tzom kal (easy fast) is a common greeting before the 9th of Av, but why? It runs counter to the adage, "No pain, no gain". The no pain adage seems similar to L'fum tzaara agra – according ...
- 7,764
1
vote
2
answers
119
views
Must one fast if her stomach hurts?
If someone's stomach hurts on Sheva asar b'tammuz, should she fast? Or do these extenuating circumstances free her from her obligation?
- 892
2
votes
1
answer
456
views
Is there a source for Pidyon Haben seuda equivalent to 84 fasts?
In this answer, @Motel quotes an oft-quoted idea that partaking of a seudas Pidyon Haben is equivalent to fasting for 84 days. This is fabled to be alluded to in the words 'פדיום' (Bamidbar 3:49), ...
- 7,619
6
votes
1
answer
232
views
Chatam Sofer on Tenth of Tevet falling on the Shabbat
Abudarham argued that should we not use a calculated calendar and should Tenth of Tevet fall on the Shabbat, we would be required to fast instead of postponing it. He learns this from the common ...
- 7,262
5
votes
1
answer
221
views
Looking for Ibn Ezra Riddle
I'm looking for the Hebrew of an Ibn Ezra riddle related to fast days: "the short, the long, the black, the white, the man, the woman."
Does anyone have a source, or the Hebrew for this?
...
- 369
1
vote
1
answer
120
views
Why do rabbinical fasts which start on Erev Shabbos still end at tzeis hakochavim if we are forbidden from fasting on Shabbos?
Why do rabbinical fasts(i.e. all fasts apart from Yom Kippur) which start on Erev Shabbos still end at tzeis hakochavim if we are forbidden from fasting on Shabbos?
- 775
3
votes
1
answer
98
views
Halachic ramifications of using a digital lollipop
A device known as the digital lollipop sends electric signals to the tongue, stimulating taste. It can theoretically represent any taste, when correctly coupled with a smelling device, similar to how ...
- 3,559
2
votes
1
answer
117
views
The prohibition of eating before davening starts when? [duplicate]
One is not supposed to eat before davening Shacharit , though the halacha has various exceptions or special cases.
What is considered "before"? If I wake before dawn and start my day, does ...
- 37.4k
0
votes
2
answers
76
views
Why celebrate on Rosh HaShanah while on Yom Kippur we afflict ourselves
On the day of Rosh Hashanah we will be inscribed and on Yom Kippur it will be sealed. So why don’t we fast or repent more on Rosh Hashanah and celebrate Yom Kippur because the judgement is sealed? Why ...
- 711
1
vote
0
answers
56
views
If one vowed to fast for a set period of time, would he continue at sunset after Shabbat?
So say someone had vowed to personally fast for a certain amount of time, and a portion of this time overlapped with Shabbat. Now it is known that we are forbidden from fasting during Shabbat, except ...
- 319
4
votes
0
answers
90
views
Smoking versus snuffing tabac on Tisha Beav [duplicate]
In SA OC 554 the Caf Hachyim SK 3 rules that to smoke hookah is prohibited almost before Chats it, if not as a mean to treat constipation. But in SK 4 he allows to snuff tabac.
My question is if to ...
- 22.5k
5
votes
1
answer
311
views
Is it permissible to learn Hilchot Teshuva on Tisha Beav?
The Shulchan Aruch paskens (OC 554) that it is forbidden to learn most parts of Torah on Tisha Beav, except for a few small sections about aveilut.
The question is: the Shulchan Aruch doesn't ...
- 957
2
votes
0
answers
44
views
Why specifically a date on Yom Kippur?
Often times a kezayis or beitza is the amount of food necessary to transgress a food related prohibition. Why is a date specifically the quantity one must eat to be liable on Yom Kippur?
Shulchan ...
- 13.2k
-4
votes
1
answer
145
views
Who SHOULD accept a taanit dibbur?
If one is home with his family (especially these days when everyone is home, all day), would it be fair to his family members not to speak to them (besides strict divrei Torah)?
EDIT:
In what cases ...
- 628
1
vote
1
answer
115
views
"Anenu" for taanit le'shaot - fasting half day
If one would practically only be missing breakfast, could he say anenu in shacharit and finsh the fast (and not in mincha by which time he has eaten)? or must anenu in shacharit go together with ...
- 628
9
votes
1
answer
302
views
Who is "the author of the Shulchan Aruch" in this teshuvah of Rashbash?
The Rashbash (R' Shlomo Duran, the son of the Rashbatz, d. 1467) has a teshuvah (#360) written during an epidemic (unfortunately all too relevant now). At the time when he wrote this teshuvah, the ...
- 7,667
5
votes
2
answers
224
views
Does the COVID19 epidemic in NYC qualify as "Dever B'ir - a Plague in the City"?
Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim, 576) defines dever r"l or pestilence as an epidemic killing 3 people in 3 days (not 3 people in 4 days; not 3 people in 2 days) for a city of 500 working age men. How is ...
- 1,299
0
votes
0
answers
42
views
What is the difference between a sickness and a plague?
Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim, Siman 576) discusses fasting and praying for Dever (a plague), and also for a sickness (choli). What is the difference between sickness and plague?
- 1,299
5
votes
0
answers
117
views
Fasting in Nissan for epidemic
In general we refrain from observing fast days during the month of Nissan (S"A O"C 429:2). There are some exceptions, like a taanis chalom.
For a communal distress such as a deadly epidemic a ...
- 3,455
2
votes
2
answers
802
views
Taanis bechorim when unable to attend a siyum [duplicate]
This year, due to coronavirus related isolation measures, the probability is that a bechor would be unable to attend an actual siyum on erev pesach.
Can a bechor see a siyum online or must he fast on ...
- 42.7k
5
votes
2
answers
197
views
Day of Yosef’s Sale
I saw in a medrash - but can’t recall where - that the brothers sold Yosef on the tenth of Teveis.
Does any which medrash I could find this in?
- 6,787
0
votes
0
answers
76
views
Fast days and אל ארך אפים
I have heard various opinions about saying Keil erekh apayim before the Torah reading on fast days.* Most say that we should only do that if the public fast day falls on Monday or Thursday. What are ...
- 7,262
3
votes
0
answers
67
views
Is water included in the mitzvah of fasting?
Generally speaking, when the Torah is discussing the concept of fasting, whether on individual fasts or public fasts, it mentions the prohibition of neither eating, nor drinking.
But water has a ...
- 13.4k
3
votes
1
answer
91
views
Holocaust Remembrance Fast Day
Rabbi Yom Tov Schwarz (See: “EYES TO SEE: Recovering Ethical Torah Principles Lost in the Holocaust”) argues that the Jewish people (led by the Torah observant community) should designate a fast day ...
- 431
3
votes
2
answers
104
views
Why fast 3 days and not more or less?
Starting with the Mishna in Ta'anis 1.4 we learn that there are occasions (lack of rain in this case) when we fast BeHaB, i.e. Monday, Thursday, and Monday.
הִגִּיעַ שִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר בְּמַרְחֶשְׁוָן ...
- 42.5k
2
votes
1
answer
84
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 ...
- 9,037
5
votes
1
answer
56
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 ...
- 33.8k
2
votes
1
answer
58
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?
...
- 9,037
5
votes
1
answer
82
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?
- 95
3
votes
0
answers
22
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 ...
- 1,737
5
votes
1
answer
230
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 ...
- 7,262
5
votes
2
answers
113
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 ...
- 69.6k
1
vote
3
answers
566
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
2
answers
105
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 ...
- 2,841
3
votes
1
answer
253
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).
...
- 33.8k
4
votes
1
answer
123
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 ...
- 40.2k