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Fast Days: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Destruction_temple.jpg|200px|right]]
[[Image:Destruction_temple.jpg|200px|right]]
All Jews fast on the four fast days mentioned by the prophets which are: Tzom Gedalya (the third of Tishrei), Asara BeTevet (tenth of Tevet), [[Shiva Asar BeTamuz]] (seventeenth of Tamuz), and Tisha BeAv (ninth of Av). <ref>The prophet Zechariyah (8:19) stated that in the future the fast of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth will become days of happiness for the Jews. In Gemara [[Rosh Hashana]] 18b, Rabbi Akiva explains that number in the pasuk refers to the number of the month. Thus, the fast of fourth is the ninth of Tamuz, the fifth is the ninth of Av, the seventh is the third of Tishrei (fast of Gedalyah), and tenth is tenth of Tevet. The Tur 549:1 and Rambam (Taniot 5:4) rule like Rabbi Akiva. Tur 549:2 explains that on the ninth of Tamuz the wall of Yerushalyim was broken by the first Bet HaMikdash, however, nowadays we fast on the seventeenth of Tamuz when the wall of Yerushalyim was broken by the second Bet HaMikdash. These four fasts are codified as halacha by the Rambam (Taniot 5:2-3), S”A 549:1, Mishna Brurah 549:1, and Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 527). </ref> The significance and background of these fasts are explained below. The first three are discussed in this article. For the other fasts please see the following links: [[Tisha BeAv]], [[Tanit Ester]], [[Tanit Bechorim]]. Another related page is [[Commemoration of the Destruction of the Temple]] ([[Zecher LeChurban]]).
All Jews fast on the four fast days mentioned by the prophets which are: Tzom Gedalya (the third of Tishrei), Asara BeTevet (tenth of Tevet), [[Shiva Asar BeTamuz]] (seventeenth of Tamuz), and Tisha BeAv (ninth of Av). <ref>The prophet Zechariyah (8:19) stated that in the future the fast of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth will become days of happiness for the Jews. In Gemara [[Rosh Hashana]] 18b, Rabbi Akiva explains that number in the pasuk refers to the number of the month. Thus, the fast of fourth is the ninth of Tamuz, the fifth is the ninth of Av, the seventh is the third of Tishrei (fast of Gedalyah), and tenth is tenth of Tevet. The Tur 549:1 and Rambam (Taniot 5:4) rule like Rabbi Akiva. Tur 549:2 explains that on the ninth of Tamuz the wall of Yerushalyim was broken by the first Bet HaMikdash, however, nowadays we fast on the seventeenth of Tamuz when the wall of Yerushalyim was broken by the second Bet HaMikdash. These four fasts are codified as halacha by the Rambam (Taniot 5:2-3), S”A 549:1, Mishna Brurah 549:1, and Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 527). </ref> The significance and background of these fasts are explained below. The first three are discussed in this article. For the other fasts please see the following links: [[Tisha BeAv]], [[Tanit Ester]], and [[Tanit Bechorim]]. Another related page is [[Commemoration of the Destruction of the Temple]] ([[Zecher LeChurban]]).


==Tzom Gedalya==
==Tzom Gedalya==
# Tzom Gedalya is observed on the 3rd of Tishri. <ref> Chazon Ovadia (Laws of the Four Fasts, Halacha 3) Shulchan Aruch 549:1, Rambam Taaniyot 5:2. </ref>
# Tzom Gedalya is observed on the 3rd of Tishri. <ref> Chazon Ovadia (Laws of the Four Fasts, Halacha 3), Shulchan Aruch 549:1, Rambam Taaniyot 5:2. </ref>
# 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>
# 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>


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# [[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>
# [[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>
# The fast of [[Shiva Asar BeTamuz]] is observed on the seventeenth of Tamuz and not the ninth of Tamuz. <ref>Tur 549:2 explains that on the ninth of Tamuz the wall of Yerushalyim was broken by the first Bet HaMikdash, however, nowadays we fast on the seventeenth of Tamuz which was when the wall of Yerushalyim was broken by the second Bet HaMikdash. This codified as halacha by the Rambam (Taniot 5:2-3), S”A 549:2, Mishna Brurah 549:1, and Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 527).  </ref>
# The fast of [[Shiva Asar BeTamuz]] is observed on the seventeenth of Tamuz and not the ninth of Tamuz. <ref>Tur 549:2 explains that on the ninth of Tamuz the wall of Yerushalyim was broken by the first Bet HaMikdash, however, nowadays we fast on the seventeenth of Tamuz which was when the wall of Yerushalyim was broken by the second Bet HaMikdash. This codified as halacha by the Rambam (Taniot 5:2-3), S”A 549:2, Mishna Brurah 549:1, and Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 527).  </ref>
==Tisha BeAv==
# Please see the separate article for [[Tisha BeAv]].


==Communal fast days==
==Communal fast days==
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# 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>
# 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 (v. 5, p. 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>  
# 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 (v. 2, p. 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>
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# A kohen who is not fasting, should not go up for birkat kohanim during mincha. <ref> Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 551 </ref>  
# A kohen who is not fasting, should not go up for birkat kohanim during mincha. <ref> Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 551 </ref>  
# If mincha went past sunset, birkat kohanim may still be recited within thirteen and a half minutes but not after that. <ref> Yechave Daat 6:40 </ref>
# If mincha went past sunset, birkat kohanim may still be recited within thirteen and a half minutes but not after that. <ref> Yechave Daat 6:40 </ref>
==Individual fast days==


==Related Pages==
==Related Pages==