Tanit Bechorim

From Halachipedia
  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. 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). [6]
  6. 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. [7]The minhag is to do a Siyum on Thursday and exempt oneself from the fast[8], even those who fast Taanit Bechorot regular years. [9] Some say it’s preferable to make a siyum on Friday in addition to the one on Thursday. [10]
  7. If Erev Pesach falls out on Friday the fast should take place on that day. [11]
  8. 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. [12]
  9. 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. [13]
  10. 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. [14]
  11. If one learned an entire maasechet except for one paragraph it’s sufficient for a Siyum. [15]
  12. 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. [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. Mishna Brurah 470:2
  7. S”A and Rama 470:2
  8. 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 (and Chazon Ovadyah Pesach pg 100) writes that even though the strict law is that the firstborns are exempt it's preferable that they join in a siyum.
  9. Sh”t Elef Lecha Shlomo 1:386,
  10. Sh”t Teshuvot Vehanhagot 2:111, Sh”t Mishneh Halachot 7:65, Orchot Rabbenu (vol 2 pg 57)
  11. Mishna Brurah 470:5, Chazon Ovadyah Pesach pg 101 (5763 edition, pg 117)
  12. Mishna Brurah 470:10, Piskei Teshuvot 470:6, 8 based on Igrot Moshe 4:49, Maharsham 215, and Aruch HaShulchan 470:5
  13. Piskei Teshuvot 470:10
  14. Piskei Teshuvot 470:11, Halichot Shlomo 8:1
  15. Halichot Shlomo 8:2
  16. Rama 470:2, Piskei Teshuvot 470:6, Yosef Daat (Dinei Chinuch 16:3)