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Fast Days: Difference between revisions
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===Who Fasts=== | ===Who Fasts=== | ||
# 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> | # 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> | ||
# Anyone who isn't fasting for whatever reason should try to eat in private. <ref> Matei Ephraim 602:22, Shaare Ephraim 1:10, Minchas Elazar 3:3, Teshuvot Vihanhagot 2:265, Minhag Yisroel Torah 550:page 31, Nitai Gavriel (Bein Hametzarim) 1:page 64:footnote 22. </ref> | |||
# Even rabbis or teachers whose fasting may cause their learning to be of lower quality should fast on these fast days including Taanit Esther. <ref> Yabia Omer 2:28:7 </ref> | # Even rabbis or teachers whose fasting may cause their learning to be of lower quality should fast on these fast days including Taanit Esther. <ref> Yabia Omer 2:28:7 </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> | # 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> | ||
# A nursing woman is exempt from fasting on the fasts except for [[Tisha BeAv]]. Some say this includes a women who has finished nursing as long as she is within 2 years of the birth, and some say this only includes somebody who is actually nursing the baby. <ref> In Yechave Daat 1:35, Rav Ovadia Yosef concludes that if the woman feels sick she may eat, but if she feels like she can fast, she should try to fast. Or litzion 3:25:7 disagrees and says in that case she would only be exempt within thirty days of giving birth. This is also the ruling of Eishel Avraham Butchatch 550:1 </ref> | # A nursing woman is exempt from fasting on the fasts except for [[Tisha BeAv]]. Some say this includes a women who has finished nursing as long as she is within 2 years of the birth, and some say this only includes somebody who is actually nursing the baby. <ref> In Yechave Daat 1:35, Rav Ovadia Yosef concludes that if the woman feels sick she may eat, but if she feels like she can fast, she should try to fast. Or litzion 3:25:7 disagrees and says in that case she would only be exempt within thirty days of giving birth. This is also the ruling of Eishel Avraham Butchatch 550:1 </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. </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> | ||
# Old, sick people who suffer a lot from fasting are exempt from these fasts, including [[Tisha BeAv]]. <ref> Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 532 </ref> | # Old, sick people who suffer a lot from fasting are exempt from these fasts, including [[Tisha BeAv]]. <ref> Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 532 </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> | # 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> | ||
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===When does the fast end?=== | ===When does the fast end?=== | ||
# Any fast which one didn’t complete until [[Tzet HaKochavim]] is considered as though one didn't fast. <Ref> S”A 562:1, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 529. The Gemara in Taanit 12a says that the sun didn't set on is not considered a fast. Rabbeinu Yona quoted by the Rosh Shabbat 2:23 says from this gemara that the fast concludes at sunset. However, the Rosh himself in Taanit 1:12 says that the gemara is referring to the completion of the setting of the sun, namely tzet kavochavim. This is the source of the S"A 562:1. Aruch Hashulchan 562:9 and the Gra 562:2 say that since there are some rishonim who follow Rabbeinu Yona anyone who is lenient and relies on them should not be rebuked for it. see Aruch Hashulchan there who thinks this is also the opinion of the Rambam. </ref> | # Any fast which one didn’t complete until [[Tzet HaKochavim]] is considered as though one didn't fast. <Ref> S”A 562:1, Mordechai Taanis 631, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 529. The Gemara in Taanit 12a says that the sun didn't set on is not considered a fast. Rabbeinu Yona quoted by the Rosh Shabbat 2:23 says from this gemara that the fast concludes at sunset. However, the Rosh himself in Taanit 1:12 says that the gemara is referring to the completion of the setting of the sun, namely tzet kavochavim. This is the source of the S"A 562:1. Aruch Hashulchan 562:9 and the Gra 562:2 say that since there are some rishonim who follow Rabbeinu Yona anyone who is lenient and relies on them should not be rebuked for it. see Aruch Hashulchan there who thinks this is also the opinion of the Rambam. </ref> | ||
# Even if Asara b'tevet falls out on a Friday one should fast until tzet hakovachim even though the fast would carry into shabbat. <ref> Shulchan Arukh 249:4. Rama there quotes an opinion that if you pray early and finish [[Mariv/Arvit|Arvit]] before [[Tzet HaKochavim]] you should eat, but then says that nevertheless on a public fast one should fast until [[Tzet HaKochavim]] and on a private fast, eat after davening. </ref> | # Even if Asara b'tevet falls out on a Friday one should fast until tzet hakovachim even though the fast would carry into shabbat. <ref> Shulchan Arukh 249:4. Rama there quotes an opinion that if you pray early and finish [[Mariv/Arvit|Arvit]] before [[Tzet HaKochavim]] you should eat, but then says that nevertheless on a public fast one should fast until [[Tzet HaKochavim]] and on a private fast, eat after davening. </ref> | ||
# | # Some poskim allow somebody who ends Shabbat according to the time of Rabbeinu Tam, to be lenient and end these rabbinic fasts according to the time of the Gra, <ref> Yalkut Yosef 293:4, Shearim Metzuyanim Bihalacha 123:4, Nitai Gavriel Bein Hamitzarim page 57 </ref> while other say he should wait <ref> Yisroel V’hazemanim 1:pages 573-578, Nitai Gavriel bein hamitzarim page 58. </ref> | ||
'''Travel''' | '''Travel''' | ||
# Some poskim says that one who travels during a fast, should finish the fast according to his arrival destination. <ref> Iggerot Moshe 3:96, [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=2183 Rabbi Eli Mansour in the names of Rav Moshe and Chacham Ovadia Yosef] This applies even if on [[Tisha BeAv]] his fast will last less than 24 hours. However, Sh"t Yaskil Avdi 8:38 says that although the public fast ends according to the time of his place of arrival, an individual has a personal obligation to fast twenty hours on [[Tisha BeAv]] and that he should continue fasting into the tenth of Av to complete his 24 hours. </ref> | # Some poskim says that one who travels during a fast, should finish the fast according to his arrival destination, whether this makes it longer or shorter. <ref> Iggerot Moshe 3:96, [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=2183 Rabbi Eli Mansour in the names of Rav Moshe and Chacham Ovadia Yosef], Vilechitcha Baderech page 59:1. This applies even if on [[Tisha BeAv]] his fast will last less than 24 hours. However, Sh"t Yaskil Avdi 8:38 says that although the public fast ends according to the time of his place of arrival, an individual has a personal obligation to fast twenty hours on [[Tisha BeAv]] and that he should continue fasting into the tenth of Av to complete his 24 hours. </ref> | ||
===Washing oneself and swimming=== | ===Washing oneself and swimming=== | ||
# A Baal Nefesh should be strict not to wash oneself in hot water or anoint oneself, however it’s permitted to wash with cold water or wash one’s hands, feet, and face with hot water. <Ref> Mishna Brurah 550:6 and Shaar HaTzion 550:8. Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 530 permits washing one's body with hot water, but adds that one who is strict is praiseworthy. </ref> | # A Baal Nefesh should be strict not to wash oneself in hot water or anoint oneself, however it’s permitted to wash with cold water or wash one’s hands, feet, and face with hot water. <Ref> Mishna Brurah 550:6 and Shaar HaTzion 550:8. Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 530 permits washing one's body with hot water, but adds that one who is strict is praiseworthy. </ref> | ||
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# On the Shabbat prior to Asara Bitevet and Shiva Asar bitammuz, we announce the day of the fast prior to saying mussaf. <ref> Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 530 </ref> | # On the Shabbat prior to Asara Bitevet and Shiva Asar bitammuz, we announce the day of the fast prior to saying mussaf. <ref> Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 530 </ref> | ||
# A restaurant or store owner should preferably refrain from giving out food unless it is known that it is for sick people or for after the fast, and even if there are other places where people can access food. <ref> Yechave Daat 3:67. Beer Moshe 8:95 permits leaving a canteen or soda machine open in a camp for those who aren't fasting, and Shevet Hakehati 4:155:1 permits leaving a store open for those not fasting. </ref> | # A restaurant or store owner should preferably refrain from giving out food unless it is known that it is for sick people or for after the fast, and even if there are other places where people can access food. <ref> Yechave Daat 3:67. Beer Moshe 8:95 permits leaving a canteen or soda machine open in a camp for those who aren't fasting, and Shevet Hakehati 4:155:1 permits leaving a store open for those not fasting. </ref> | ||
'''Eating Before the Fast''' | |||
# Some poskim say that one should avoid eating too much before a fast, as this may make him feel the fasting less. <Ref> Eliya Rabbah 563:1, Kaf Hachayim 549:11 </ref> | |||
'''Medicine''' | '''Medicine''' | ||
# Prescribed medications may be taken, and if one has difficulty swallowing the pills they may use a minimal amount of water, the amount needed to swallow them. <ref> Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach quoted in Nishmas Avraham 5: page 46, Nitai Gavriel page 30 </ref> | # Prescribed medications may be taken, and if one has difficulty swallowing the pills they may use a minimal amount of water, the amount needed to swallow them. <ref> Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach quoted in Nishmas Avraham 5: page 46, Nitai Gavriel page 30 </ref> | ||
# Some poskim permit taking caffeine suppositories during the fast, to avoid caffeine related headaches. <ref> Maharsham 1:123:page 178, Chelkat Yaakov 2:83, Contemporary Halachic Problems 2:page 26. </ref> | |||
'''If one made a Bracha by accident''' | '''If one made a Bracha by accident''' | ||
# According to Sephardim, if one made a Bracha by accident and then realized that it was a fast day, one should eat a very small amount just enough that one can taste it and continue on fasting. According to Ashkenazim, one shouldn't taste anything but just say Baruch Shem. <Ref> Birkei Yosef 568, Sh”t Yabea Omer Y”D 2:5(6), O”C 4:41 and 10:41, Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S”A 550:26 and Tefilla 1:89) however, Kaf HaChaim 568:16, Daat Torah (of the Maharsham) 568:1, Sh”t Mishneh Halachot 7:80, Sh”t Shevet Sofer O”C 25, [http://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/shiur.asp?id=411#7a Peninei Halacha (Rabbi Elazar Melamed)], Halachos of Brachos (Rabbi Bodner, pg 207, note 39), and Piskei Teshuvot 568:2 rule that one shouldn’t eat it but rather say Baruch Shem. Teshuvot VeHanhagot 1:329 writes that one should taste it, not swallow, and then spit it out. [http://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/printShiur.aspx/1762 Rav Mordechai Eliyahu] quotes the differing opinions and doesn't give a ruling. </ref> | # According to Sephardim, if one made a Bracha by accident and then realized that it was a fast day, one should eat a very small amount just enough that one can taste it and continue on fasting. According to Ashkenazim, one shouldn't taste anything but just say Baruch Shem. <Ref> Birkei Yosef 568, Sh”t Yabea Omer Y”D 2:5(6), O”C 4:41 and 10:41, Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S”A 550:26 and Tefilla 1:89) however, Kaf HaChaim 568:16, Daat Torah (of the Maharsham) 568:1, Sh”t Mishneh Halachot 7:80, Sh”t Shevet Sofer O”C 25, [http://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/shiur.asp?id=411#7a Peninei Halacha (Rabbi Elazar Melamed)], Halachos of Brachos (Rabbi Bodner, pg 207, note 39), and Piskei Teshuvot 568:2 rule that one shouldn’t eat it but rather say Baruch Shem. Teshuvot VeHanhagot 1:329 writes that one should taste it, not swallow, and then spit it out. [http://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/printShiur.aspx/1762 Rav Mordechai Eliyahu] quotes the differing opinions and doesn't give a ruling. </ref> | ||
