Tanit Bechorot

From Halachipedia

Which firstborns are obligated to fast?

  1. A firstborn of one’s mother or the firstborn of one’s father (or both) should fast on Erev Pesach. [1]
  2. The minhag is that women don’t fast. [2] However, Sephardic women who are firstborn should at least join in a Suedat Mitzvah in order to break the fast if possible. [3]
  3. Even a Levi or Cohen should fast. [4]
  4. A groom within 7 days of the wedding doesn’t have to fast on Taanit Bechorot. [5]
  5. A father should fast in place of his son who is a firstborn but is under Bar Mitzvah, according to the minhag to listen to a siyum, the father should go to the siyum in place of his son. [6]

Those who are unable to fast

  1. If someone will only be able to eat a very small amount because of the fast and won’t be able to fulfill the מצות of Matzah and 4 cups of wine, one shouldn’t fast but just have snacks (and not a meal). [7]

Tanti Bechorim on Friday and Shabbat

  1. If Erev Pesach falls out on Shabbat, some say that one is not obligated to fast while others say that one should fast on Thursday and such is the minhag. [8]The minhag is to do a Siyum on Thursday and exempt oneself from the fast[9], even those who fast Taanit Bechorot regular years. [10] Some say it’s preferable to make a siyum on Friday in addition to the one on Thursday. [11]
  2. If Erev Pesach falls out on Friday the fast should take place on that day. [12]

Minhag to join a Siyum

  1. Many are lenient to join in a siyum and to hear the end of the Maasechet and the siyum and then join for the Seudat Mitzvah and break the fast the rest of the day. [13]
  2. Some say that it’s critical to understand the last piece of Gemara to join for the siyum, however, the minhag is to be lenient in any circumstance. [14]
  3. Preferably after hearing the Siyum one should eat a KeBaytzah of Mezonot or bread as a meal for the Siyum, but some are lenient to allow breaking the fast for a siyum without eating there. [15]
  4. If one learned an entire maasechet except for one paragraph it’s sufficient for a Siyum. [16]

References

  1. ↑ S”A 470:1
  2. ↑ Rama 470:1, Mishna Brurah 470:4
  3. ↑ S”A 470:1, Sh”t Yachava Daat 3:25, Sh”t Yabea Omer 4:42
  4. ↑ Mishna Brurah 470:2
  5. ↑ Kovetz MeBet Levi (Nissan 5761 pg 86)
  6. ↑ Rama 470:2, Piskei Teshuvot 470:6, Yosef Daat (Dinei Chinuch 16:3)
  7. ↑ Mishna Brurah 470:2
  8. ↑ S”A and Rama 470:2
  9. ↑ Sh”t Igrot Moshe 4:69 writes that it’s sufficient to make a Siyum on Thursaday and Piskei Teshuvot 470:4 writes that such is the minhag. Sh"t Yachava Daat 1:91, Chazon Ovadyah Pesach pg 100, and Or Letzion 3:12(2) write that even though the strict law is that the firstborns are exempt it's preferable that they join in a siyum.
  10. ↑ Sh”t Elef Lecha Shlomo 1:386,
  11. ↑ Sh”t Teshuvot Vehanhagot 2:111, Sh”t Mishneh Halachot 7:65, Orchot Rabbenu (vol 2 pg 57)
  12. ↑ Mishna Brurah 470:5, Chazon Ovadyah Pesach pg 101 (5763 edition, pg 117)
  13. ↑ Mishna Brurah 470:10, Piskei Teshuvot 470:6, 8 based on Igrot Moshe 4:49, Maharsham 215, and Aruch HaShulchan 470:5
  14. ↑ Piskei Teshuvot 470:10
  15. ↑ Piskei Teshuvot 470:11, Halichot Shlomo 8:1
  16. ↑ Halichot Shlomo 8:2
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