Fast Days

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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). [1] 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).

Tzom Gedalya

  1. Tzom Gedalya is observed on the 3rd of Tishri. [2]
  2. Tzom Gedalya commemorates the death of Gedalya Ben Achikam and the extinguishing of the spark of Yisrael causing the exile. [3]

Asara BeTevet

  1. Asara BeTevet commemorates the tragedy of Nebuchadnezzar's laying siege on the city of Jerusalem. [4]

Shiva Asar BeTamuz

  1. 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. [5]
  2. The fast of Shiva Asar BeTamuz is observed on the seventeenth of Tamuz and not the ninth of Tamuz. [6]

Tisha BeAv

  1. Please see the separate article for Tisha BeAv.

Communal fast days

Who Fasts

  1. Everybody is obligated to fasts on these public fast days. [7]
  2. Even rabbis or teachers whose fasting may cause their learning to be of lower quality should fast on these fast days including Taanit Esther. [8]
  3. A pregnant woman need not fast on these fasts except for Tisha B'av. [9]
  4. A nursing woman is exempt from fasting on the fasts except for Tisha B'av. 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. [10]
  5. One who is sick, even if there is no danger of dying is exempt from fasting and shouldn't fast. [11]
  6. One need not train his children to fast, even at the age of 12, but should limit what the child eats at least a little bit if the child is old enough to understand what we are mourning for. [12]

When does the fast start?

  1. Communal fasts which do not start at night only begin at Olot HaShachar. [13]
  2. 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. [14] 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. [15] 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. [16]

When does the fast end?

  1. Any fast which one didn’t complete until Tzet HaKochavim is considered as though one didn't fast. [17]
  2. Even if Asara b'tevet falls out on a Friday one should fast until tzet hakovachim even though the fast would carry into shabbat. [18]
  3. Even somebody who ends Shabbat according to the time of Rabbeinu Tam, may be lenient and end these rabbinic fasts according to the time of the Gra. [19]

Travel

  1. Some poskim says that one who travels during a fast, should finish the fast according to his arrival destination. [20]

Washing oneself and swimming

  1. 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. [21]
    1. If Asara BeTevet falls out on Friday, one shouldn’t be strict and rather should wash oneself because of Kavod Shabbat. [22]
  2. One shouldn’t go swimming in a pool or ocean on a fast day. [23]

Brushing one’s teeth

  1. According to Sephardim, for all fasts besides Tisha BeAv and Yom Kippur, in a case of need one may rinse one’s mouth with less than a Reviyit of water as long as one is careful to spit it out completely. According to Ashkenazim, only if one is in pain may one rinse one’s mouth and in such a case one should bend one’s head downward so one doesn’t swallow any water. On Tisha BeAv one may rinse one’s mouth only if one is in great pain, and on Yom Kippur one must be strict. [24]
  2. According to Sephardim, those who regularly brush their teeth with toothbrush and toothpaste may brush on a fast day with less than a Reviyit of water as long as they bend over while rinsing and spit it out afterwards. [25]
  3. One may swallow saliva that accumulates in one’s mouth. [26] Some say that if it’s easy one should be strict and spit it out. [27] While others say that the minhag is to be lenient altogether. [28]

Recitation of Aneinu

  1. The addition of aneinu is recited by the sephardim during Shacharit and Mincha [29] , and for the ashkenazim only in mincha. [30]

Other Halachas of fast days

  1. On all of these rabbinic fasts besides for tisha b'av one is permitted to wash, anoint, wear leather, and have relations. [31]
  2. On the Shabbat prior to Asara Bitevet and Shiva Asar bitammuz, we announce the day of the fast prior to saying mussaf. [32]
  3. 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. [33]

If one made a Bracha by accident

  1. 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. [34]

If one ate or drank inadvertently

  1. If one ate by mistake on a fast day he should nevertheless continue fasting afterwards. [35]

Smoking

  1. It’s permissible to smoke on a fast day except on Tisha BeAv (disregarding whether it’s permissible to smoke because of the health issue). [36]

Tasting food

  1. According to Sephardim, on a fast day besides Tisha BeAv and Yom Kippur one may taste food (to see if it’s spiced) up to a Reviyit as long as one spits it out afterwards. According to Ashkenazim, one may not taste food on any communal fast day except where one needs to taste a food for a Suedat Mitzvah to see if it’s spiced well. [37]
  2. Preferably one should be strict when making sure to have less than a Reviyit to consider this Reviyit to include anything one tasted the whole day, however, the strict law is that one only has to make sure to have less than a Reviyit each time one tastes. [38]

Tasting food on Friday

  1. In general, it’s a mitzvah to taste the Shabbat food before Shabbat to know if tastes right (Tasting food in preparation of Shabbat). However, on Friday of Shabbat Chazon, one shouldn’t taste the food. [39]
  2. If Asara BeTevet falls out to be on Friday one may taste the food if one spits it out and doesn’t swallow. [40]

Making a Shehecheyanu

  1. It’s permitted to make a Shehecheyanu on a fast day. [41]

Taking a haircut

  1. There’s a dispute whether one may take a haircut on a fast day and it’s preferable not to. [42]

Making a hundred Brachot

  1. Some Sephardim had the minhag to wear tefillin on fast days at Mincha so as to complete 100 Brachot, however the widespread minhag isn’t so. [43]

Giving Tzedaka

  1. It’s customary to give Tzedaka at Mincha on a fast day, the value of the amount of food one would have eaten that day. [44]

Doing Teshuva

  1. The primary purpose of the Fast days is to inspire a person to do Teshuva and remember his sins and the sins of our fathers which caused the tragedy which is being commemorated to occur. Thus, a person should should make time on a fast day to think about one's actions and do Teshuva. Those people who take walks and do other activities which are a waste of time when they are fasting have missed a major point of the fast. Nonetheless, one may not exempt oneself with only doing Teshuva because fasting on these days is a Mitzvah MeDivrei HaNevim. [45]

Individual fast days

Related Pages

References

  1. ↑ 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).
  2. ↑ Chazon Ovadia (Laws of the Four Fasts, Halacha 3) Shulchan Aruch 549:1, Rambam Taaniyot 5:2.
  3. ↑ Rambam (Taniyot 5:2), Chazon Ovadia (Laws of the Four Fasts, Halacha 3, Mishna Berura 549:2
  4. ↑ Rambam (Taniyot 5:2), Chazon Ovadia (Laws of the Four Fasts, Halacha 4), Mishna Berura 549:2
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ 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).
  7. ↑ S"A 550:1, Yabia Omer 1:33
  8. ↑ Yabia Omer 2:28:7
  9. ↑ Rama 550:1, Yechave Daat 1:35. Rav Ovadia Yosef says there that this begins from the end of the first trimester, unless she is having pains earlier. Mishna Berura 550:3 says that it starts 40 days into pregnancy unless she has an unusual amount of pain. 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.
  10. ↑ In Yechave Daat 1:35 concludes that if the woman feels sick she may eat, but if she feels like she can fast, she should fast.
  11. ↑ Mishna Berura 550:4, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 531.
  12. ↑ Mishna Berura 550:5
  13. ↑ S"A 564:1, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 529, gemara taanit 12a.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ 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 Yabea Omer 5:22(5), Piskei Teshuvot 564:1 and 89:21.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. ↑ Shulchan Arukh 249:4. Rama there quotes an opinion that if you pray early and finish 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.
  19. ↑ Yalkut Yosef 293:4
  20. ↑ Iggerot Moshe 3:96. This applies even if on Tisha B'av 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 B'av and that he should continue fasting into the tenth of Av to complete his 24 hours.
  21. ↑ 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.
  22. ↑ Mishna Brurah 550:6
  23. ↑ Piskei Teshuvot 550:6 and Sh”t Bear Moshe 3:77
  24. ↑
    • S”A 567:3 writes that it’s improper to rinse one’s mouth on a fast day. Magan Avraham 567:6 writes that this is only according to the Rama who says not to taste food on any fast day, however, according to S”A who allows tasting on fast days besides for Tisha BeAv and Yom Kippur it is only improper if one rinses one’s mouth with more than a Reviyit. However, Kaf HaChaim 567:13 quotes the Nahar Shalom, Bigdei Yesha, and Maamer Mordechai who differentiate between tasting and rinsing and so Kaf HaChaim concludes that one shouldn’t rinse even with less than a Reviyit. Yet, Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taniyot pg 27-8) rules like the Magan Avraham that for Sephardim in a case of need one may rinse one’s mouth with less than a Reviyit of water. Even though regarding brushing one’s teeth (pg 28) he adds that one should bend over according to the stringency of the Chaye Adam, regarding rinsing with less than a Reviyit it seems that one doesn’t have to bend over and such is the language of the summary (pg 515).
    • Chaye Adam 132:20 writes that if one is in great pain one may rinse one’s mouth even on Tish BeAv if one is careful to bend one’s head downward so that one doesn’t come to swallow anything but one may not do so on Yom Kippur. Kaf Hachaim 567:14 quotes this. Mishna Brurah 567:11 differentiates saying that all fasts days one may rinse one’s mouth if one is in pain and by Tisha BeAv one may rinse one’s mouth only if one is in great pain and on Yom Kippur one must be strict. Sh”t Minchat Yitzchak 4:109(1) agrees with Mishna Brurah that for most fasts one may rinse if one is in pain and for Tisha BeAv one may only rinse if one is in great pain.
  25. ↑
    • Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taniyot pg 28) rules that those who regularly brush their teeth with toothbrush and toothpaste may brush on a fast day with less than a Reviyit of water as long as they bend over while rinsing and spit it out afterwards. Rabbi Mansour on DailyHalacha.com agrees but adds that one shouldn't even gargle.
    • Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 534) writes that for all fast days besides Tisha BeAv one if it will be difficult for one not to brush one is allowed to brush one's teeth as long as one doesn't put a Reviyit of water in one's mouth at a time and ensures that one doesn't swallow any water.
    • Sh”t Minchat Yitzchak 4:109(2) rules that someone who has bad breath on Tisha BeAv may brush his teeth without water in order to pray with a clean mouth.
  26. ↑ Mishna Brurah 567:13
  27. ↑ Chaye Adam 132:22, Mateh Efraim 612:7, Moadim UZmanim 1:59
  28. ↑ Piskei Teshuvot 567:2, Bet Meir, Ashel Avraham, Aruch HaShulchan 567:4
  29. ↑ 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.
  30. ↑ 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.
  31. ↑ S"A 550:2, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 530. 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 quotes this as well but notes that one should continue to wear leather shoes so as not to publicize it too much.
  32. ↑ Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 530
  33. ↑ Yechave Daat 3:67
  34. ↑ Birkei Yosef 568, Sh”t Yabea Omer Y”D 2:5(6), O”C 10:41, Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S”A 550:26) 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, 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. Rav Mordechai Eliyahu quotes the differing opinions and doesn't give a ruling.
  35. ↑ 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.
  36. ↑ Sh”t Yechava Daat 5:39, Sh”t Yabea Omer 1:33
  37. ↑ S”A 567:1 writes that on any fast day one may taste food up to a Reviyit as long as one spits it all out except for Tisha BeAv and Yom Kippur when it’s forbidden. Rama 567:1 writes that the minhag is not to taste any food on any communal fast. Mishna Brurah 567:6 writes that one may only be lenient in a case where one has to taste food that’s being prepared for a Seudat Mitzvah to see if it’s spiced well. However, Rav Ovadyah in Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taniyot pg 27) rules like S”A.
  38. ↑ S”A 567:2 quotes a dispute whether one is allowed to taste up to a Reviyit and the Reviyit is a combination of anything one tasted the whole day or that one may taste up to a Reviyit many times if at each time it is less than a Reviyit (according to the explanation of Mishna Brurah 567:7 and 9). Kaf HaChaim 567:12 rules that the halacha follows the second opinion but preferably one should be strict for the first opinion as well. Mishna Brurah 567:8 also implies this.
  39. ↑ Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 42:61
  40. ↑ Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 42:61
  41. ↑ Piskei Teshuvot 550:8 in name of Pri Megadim A”A 551:42 and Kaf HaChaim 550:209
  42. ↑ Rav Chaim Palagi in Ruach Chaim 566:4 is strict. Or Letzion and Piskei Teshuvot 550:8 agree. However, Yalkut Yosef and Tzitz Eliezer are lenient.
  43. ↑ Sh”t Yechava Daat 2:67
  44. ↑ Mishna Brurah 566:12
  45. ↑ Mishna Brurah 549:1
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