Tanit Bechorot: Difference between revisions

# In commemoration of the miracle that Hashem saved the firstborn Jews from the plague of the firstborn, the firstborns fast on Tanit Bechorot, which is on Erev Pesach. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 470:1, Kaf HaChaim 470:1, Tur 470:1. The original source for this fast is Masechet Sofrim 21:3. Kaf Hachayim 470:30 explains that even though the miracle happened on the fifteen we fast on the fourteenth because we don't fat on yom tov. </ref>

# A firstborn of one’s mother or the firstborn of one’s father (or both) should fast on Erev Pesach. <Ref>S”A 470:1, </ref> The reason is that Hashem killed both the firstborns of the father and of the mother in Egypt. <ref>Mishna Brurah 470:2, Kaf Hachayim 470:2. </ref>

# The minhag is that women don’t fast. <Ref>Rama 470:1, Mishna Brurah 470:4 </ref> However, Sephardic women who are firstborn should at least join in a Suedat Mitzvah in order to break the fast if possible. <Ref>S”A 470:1, Sh”t Yachava Daat 3:25, Sh”t Yabea Omer 4:42. However, see Kaf HaChaim 470:17 quotes Chida and Ben Ish Chai that the sephardic minhag is to follow Rama. </ref> Even for those who the custom is for women to fast, if the women is pregnant or nursing she shouldn't fat. <ref> Mishna Berura 470:9, Kaf Hachayim 470:15 and 21. </ref>  

# 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. <Ref>Rama 470:2, Piskei Teshuvot 470:6, Yosef Daat (Dinei Chinuch 16:3) </ref>

# The Rama writes that if the father is a firstborn, the mother should fast for her firstborn son who is under Bar Mitzvah. <ref>Rama 470:2</ref> However, the Mishna Brurah quotes some poskim who say that the father's fast counts for the son as well. Therefore, the Mishna Brurah allows a mother to be lenient if she is in pain. <ref> Mishna Brurah 470:9 </ref>

# The Aruch HaShulchan writes that we no longer have the minhag that a parent should fast for a firstborn son who is under Bar Mitzvah. <ref>Aruch HaShulchan 470:4</ref>

# If someone will only be able to eat a very small amount because of the fast and won’t be able to fulfill the mitzvot of Matzah and 4 cups of wine, one shouldn’t fast. Nevertheless, it is preferable that he just have snacks and not a meal. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 470:2 </ref>

# 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. The minhag follows the latter opinion. <Ref>S”A and Rama 470:2</ref> The minhag is to do a Siyum on Thursday and exempt oneself from the fast <Ref>Sh”t Igrot Moshe 4:69 writes that it’s sufficient to make a Siyum on Thursday and Piskei Teshuvot 470:4 writes that such is the minhag. Sh"t Yachava Daat 1:91, Chazon Ovadyah Pesach pg 100, and Or Letzion 3:12(2) write that even though the strict law is that the firstborns are exempt it's preferable that they join in a Siyum.</ref>, even those who fast Tanit Bechorot regular years. <Ref> Sh”t Elef Lecha Shlomo 1:386,  </ref> Some say it’s preferable to make a Siyum on Friday in addition to the one on Thursday. <Ref>Sh”t Teshuvot Vehanhagot 2:111, Sh”t Mishneh Halachot 7:65, Orchot Rabbenu (vol 2 pg 57) </ref>

# If Erev Pesach falls out on Friday, the fast should take place on that day. <ref>Mishna Brurah 470:5, Chazon Ovadyah Pesach pg 101 (5763 edition, pg 117) </ref>

# 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. <ref>Mishna Brurah 470:10, Piskei Teshuvot 470:6, 8 based on Igrot Moshe 4:49, Maharsham 215, Ben Ish Chai Tzav 25, Kaf Hachayim 470:10 and Aruch HaShulchan 470:5</ref>

# 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. <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 470:10 </ref>

# Preferably, after hearing the Siyum one should eat a KeBaytzah of Mezonot or bread as a meal for the Siyum. Some are lenient and allow one to break the fast after hearing a Siyum without eating there. <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 470:11, Halichot Shlomo 8:1 </ref>

# If one learned an entire Maasechet except for one paragraph, it’s sufficient for a Siyum. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo 8:2 </ref>

==References==