Fast Days: Difference between revisions

# [[Tzom Gedalya]] commemorates the death of Gedalya Ben Achikam and the extinguishing of the spark of Yisrael causing the exile. <ref> Rambam (Taniyot 5:2), Chazon Ovadia (Laws of the Four Fasts, Halacha 3, Mishna Berura 549:2, Kitzur S"A 121:2 </ref>

# [[Asara BeTevet]] commemorates the tragedy of Nebuchadnezzar's laying siege on the city of Jerusalem. <ref> Rambam (Taniyot 5:2), Chazon Ovadia (Laws of the Four Fasts, Halacha 4), Mishna Berura 549:2, Kitzur S"A 121:3. </ref>

# If [[Asara BeTevet]] falls out to be on Friday one may taste the food if one spits it out and doesn’t swallow. <Ref>Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 42:61 based on S"A 567:1, Mishna Berura 567:6, Kaf Hachaim 567:10 </ref>

# [[Shiva Asar BeTamuz]] commemorates 5 things: 1) The Luchot were broken. 2) The Korban Tamid in the 1st Bet Hamikdash was abolished.  3) In the 2nd Bet Hamikdash destruction, the city of Jerusalem was breached. 4) The Torah was burned by Apostomus. 5) An idol was put in the Bet Hamikdash. <ref> Mishna Taanit 26b, Rambam Taaniyot 5:2, Shibbolei Haleket 263, Chayei Adam 133:4, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 121:4, Aruch Hashulchan 549:3, Chazon Ovadia (Laws of the Four Fasts, Halacha 1), Mishna Berura 549:2, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 527. </ref>

# Everybody is obligated to fasts on these public fast days. <ref> Rambam Hilchot Taanit 1:4, S"A 550:1, Chayei Adam 133:6, Yabia Omer 1:33, Mishna Berura 550:1, Aruch Hashulchan 459:5, Kitzur S"A 121:11.  </ref>

# A pregnant woman need not fast on these fasts except for [[Tisha BeAv]]. <ref> Rama 550:1, S"A 554:5, Pri Megadim Eishel Avraham 550:1, Aruch Hashulchan 550:3, Yechave Daat 1:35. The gemara in Pesachim 54b says that pregnant women and nursing women are required to fast on [[Yom Kippur]] and Tisha B'Av, implying that they are not required to fast on the other fast days. Hagahot Maimoniot Taaniot 5:1 says that this is because the other fasts are optional in nature. Yechave Daat 1:35 says that this begins from the end of the first trimester whether she feels the pain or not, unless she is having pains earlier in which case her exemption would start earlier. Mishna Berura 550:3 and Aruch Hashulchan 550:3 say that it starts 40 days into pregnancy unless she has an unusual amount of pain. </ref> According to Ashkenazim, this is only true if the pregnant woman is having pain or they are weak, however, according to Sephardim, this is true even if the woman isn't in pain.<ref>Rama 550:1 writes that pregnant or nursing woman are exempt from the three fast days (except [[Tisha BeAv]]) only if they are in a lot of pain. Then he adds even if they're not in a lot of pain they're not obligated to fast but rather that is the minhag unless they are in pain. Mishna Brurah 550:5 writes that if the woman is weak she doesn't have to be strict to fast. S"A 554:5, however, seems to say that pregnant and nursing women are exempt whether or not they are in pain. Yalkut Yosef 550:9-10 rules that in general pregnant and nursing women are exempt from fasting on the three minor fasts besides for [[Tisha BeAv]].</ref>Nonetheless, if the woman isn't fasting she shouldn't eat to enjoyment but rather only what is necessary. <Ref>S"A 554:5, Mishna Brurah 550:5</ref>

# One who is sick, even if there is no danger of dying is exempt from fasting and shouldn't fast. <ref> Mishna Berura 550:4, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 531, Aruch Hashulchan 550:6, Teshuvot Vihanhagot 4:123. </ref>

# One need not train his children to fast, even at the age of 12 for boys or eleven for girls. <ref> Mishna Berura 550:5 and Biur Halacha "hakol" Yalkut Yosef Dinei [[Chinuch]] Katan page 239 and Moadim page 530, Eliya Rabbah 550:7, Chanoch Lanaar 21:footnote 9, Halichot Shlomo Moadim 2:page 398:3. Mishna Berura 550:5 based on Magen Avraham 550:2 and Chayei Adam 133:6 say that when children do not fast they should only eat the amount of food they need but Halichot Shlomo Moadim 2:page 398:footnote 10 says that this is not the custom. </ref> Although many boys have the custom to fast three fasts before they become bar-mitzvah, but this custom has no source. <ref> Halichot Shlomo Moadim 2:page 399:footnote 11. </ref>

# If one went to sleep at night and wakes up before [[Olot HaShachar]] one may not eat unless one stipulated before going to sleep that one didn’t begin the fast and one would eat and drink before [[Olot HaShachar]]. <Ref> S”A 564:1 writes that if one doesn't go to sleep one may continue to eat until Olot HaSachar and if one went to sleep one may still eat if one made a stipulation that one will continue to eat after he wakes up before [[Olot HaShachar]] (according to the explanation of Mishna Brurah 564:4). This is based on the gemara taanit 12a which says that although the fast the fast begins at amud hashachar if one goes to sleep than the fast begins then. The Yerushalmi Taanit 1:4 allows for this stipulation before going to sleep that you intend to eat before amud hashachar. Rama 564:1 comments that one doesn't need to make a stipulation for drinks. However, Mishna Brurah 564:6 writes that the achronim say it's preferable to make a stipulation for both foods and drinks. </ref> However, the Zohar is strict even such a case and one should only be lenient regarding drinks or if it's difficult to fast without eating before [[Olot HaShachar]]. <ref> Even though the S"A 564:1 makes no mention of the Zohar, the Mishna Brurah 564:28 and Yalkut Yosef (Tefilah, vol 1, pg 126, 89:43, and 550:3) quote the Zohar which is strict regarding eating after one slept before [[Olot HaShachar]], however, the Zohar isn't strict about drinking. Yalkut Yosef adds that if it's difficult for one to fast if one doesn't eat before [[Olot HaShachar]] one may do so (after stipulating before going to sleep). See Sh”t Yabia Omer 5:22(5), Piskei Teshuvot 564:1 and 89:21. </ref> If one didn't make a stipulation before going to sleep and one woke up before [[Olot HaShachar]], one is permitted to drink before [[Olot HaShachar]]. <reF> Mishna Berura 564:6 as well as Kaf HaChaim 564:10 both say that if you for some reason did not make this stipulation before you went to sleep and you woke up before dawn thirsty you are permitted to drink. Shevet hakehasi 1:180 says that one who didn't know this halachah and ate in the morning without having made the stipulation the night before, may still recite aneinu. </ref>

# The addition of aneinu is recited by the sephardim during [[Shacharit]] and [[Mincha]] <ref> Shulchan Aruch 565:3 because even if you don't end up finishing the fast because you get sick from fasting, it is still a public fast day. Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 536 adds that one recites aneinu at night on tisha b’av. </ref> , and for the ashkenazim only in [[mincha]]. <ref> Mishna Berura 557:3, Rama 565:3.  Mishna Berura 568:10 says that you should even say aneinu if you daven [[Mincha]] gedola because even if you end up eating you at least fasted until [[chatzot]]. </ref>

# On a weekday other than a monday and thursday, somebody who is not fasting may not receive an aliya to the torah. <ref> Mishna Berura 566:19, Aruch Hashulchan 566:11, Rivevot Ephraim 3:338:2. The Halichot Shlomo Moadim 2:13:footnote 10  says if one ate a small amount of food he may still receive an aliya on a fast day.  </ref> On a monday or thursday, since there is torah reading anyway, some poskim permit it. <ref> Magen Avraham 566:8 one who is not fasting may receive an aliyah because the torah would have been read even if not for the fast, while the Maamar Mordechai 566:5 disagrees since the content of the Torah reading is for that of a fast day and not for the week's parsha.  Mishna Brurah 566:19 says if one was already called up everyone agrees that he may go up. Yalkut Yosef page 549 says that even if you were called up by name, you should explain to them that you are not fasting, and even adds that this applies where you are currently fasting but do not plan on finishing the fast. </ref>  

# On all of these rabbinic fasts besides for tisha b'av one is permitted to wash, anoint, wear leather, and have relations. <ref> S"A 550:2, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 530, Aruch Hashulchan 550:2. This is unlike the Ramban in Torat HaAdam (Chavel edition, page 244) who says that all of these fast days last from sunset the night before, and all the activities that are forbidden on tisha b'av are forbidden on these as well. The Shla Taanit 43b says the only reason not everybody accepted this is because it is something that is too hard for all of the congregation to hold, but on a personal level each person should make an effort to refrain from this. Mishna Berura 550:6 and Kaf Hachayim 550:10 quote this as well but notes that one should continue to wear leather shoes so as not to publicize it too much. </ref>

# One should be careful to control his [[anger]] on a fast day. <ref> Baer Heitiv 568:22, Kaf Hachayim 549:11, Mishna Berura 558:50. </ref>

# If one ate by mistake on a fast day he should nevertheless continue fasting afterwards. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 568:1. Mishna Berura 568:1 says this also applies if you ate on purpose. Mishna Berura 568:3 says that you can even say aneinu during the shemoneh esrei during public fast days. Yabia Omer YD 1:14:8 says you can only recite aneinu if you have eaten less than a [[kezayit]]. </ref>