Tanit Ester: Difference between revisions

# It’s the Minhag of Yisrael to fast on the 13th of Adar<ref>Sefer Eshkol 2:3 pg 7 and Bal HaMoar (Megilah end of first perek) write that it’s forbidden to fast on the 13th of Adar because it’s the day before a holiday. However based on many Rishonim, S”A rules 686:1 that one can fast the day before and after purim and so Tanit Ester should be observed as is Minhag Yisrael. </ref> in commemoration of the fast of the Jews in the time of Ester and Mordechai and it’s called Tanit Ester. <Ref> Shiltot (Vayihakel 67) writes that the reason for Tanit Ester is to remember that the Jews fasted on the 13th of Adar (see Tanchuma Beresheet 3) in order to pray for mercy before the war they had with their enemies. Ravyah 550, Or Zaruha 2:437 pg 77d, Rosh (Megilah 1), Mordechai, Ran, and Tur 686 also quote this reason. However, Machsor Vitri 245 says that the fast is a minhag for the remembrance of the fast the Jews made in Nisan (mentioned in the Megilah) in days of Haman. This reason is also found in the Siddur Rashi 345, Shilbolei Leket 194 and Sefer Pardes 252. Sefer Manhig (Megilah 21) argues on this because we don’t fast 3 days or in Nisan. Actually, the Masechet Soferim (17:4, 21:1,12) says that since we are remembering the fast of Ester some have the Minhag to fast 3 fasts in Adar. This minhag is quoted in Or Zaruha, Rosh, Tur 686, and S”A 686:3. Sefer Eshkol (2:3 pg 7) and Magid Mesharim (Vayihakel) writes that the reason for the fast is so people listen in Megilah and not get caught up in eating. Ravad (quoted by Ran (Tanit 2nd perek)) and Sh”t Tashbetz 2:271 explain that the fast is based on the pasuk in the megilah “Kiymu Al Nafsham Divrei Tzomot”. Bach 686 says that the Ravad hold it’s a tanit that was established by the rabbis (in time of Ester) which is stronger than a Minhag. However Rambam (Tanit 5:5) writes that nowadays it’s only a Minhag (This is only true according to our (and the Bet Yosef’s) version of the Rambam but the Magid Mishna’s reading of Rambam leads one to say that perhaps the fast is an rabbinical establishment. Rama 686:3 concludes that the Tanit is only a Minhag and so one can be lenient for pregnant women. </ref>

# Normally, one may not make a wedding on the night before a fast day, but one may make a wedding the night before Taanit Ester. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo (Moadim vol 2, 18:5), Rabbi Soloveitchik (cited by Rabbi Herschel Schachter in Nefesh Harav page 196) </ref>

# Although some are strict to observe all of the stringencies of Tishba BeAv on the other fast days, these stringencies don’t apply to Tanit Ester. <Ref>The Mishna Brurah 550:6 quotes the Eliyah Rabba as saying that a righteous person (Baal Nefesh) should be strict to observe all of the 5 prohibited pleasures of Tisha BeAv on Shiva Asar BeTamuz, Asara BeTevet, and Tzom Gedalya. The Beiur Halacha 551 s.v. MeRosh Chodesh also quotes this. Rav Soloveitchik (cited in Nefesh Harav page 196) explained that this stringency doesn’t apply to Tanit Ester, which is a fast of happiness and not mourning (see above). Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichot Shlomo 18:6) agrees. </ref>

# Tachanun and Avinu Malkanu are not recited at Mincha on Taanit Esther when it is the day before Purim. <ref> Levush 686:2. </ref>