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Questions tagged [fast-days]

Days where Jews refrain from eating and drinking.

A ta'anit or taanis (in Ashkenaz pronunciation) or taʿanith in Classical Hebrew is a fast in Judaism in which one abstains from all food and drink, including water. A Jewish fast may have one or more purposes, including:
- A tool for repentance
- An expression of mourning
- Supplication, such as the Fast of Esther or a Ta'anit Halom (fast over a disturbing dream).1

Traditionally observant Jews fast six communal fasts throughout the year. These are:

  • Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement)
  • Tisha B'Av (the 9th day of Av)
  • The Fast of Gedaliah on the day after Rosh Hashana
  • The 10th day of Tevet
  • The 17th of Tammuz
  • The Fast of Esther, which takes place immediately before Purim

1: Copied with permission from Wikipedia

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What constitutes eating on a fast day?

For example, does chewing on a stick or piece of plastic count as eating? grass? What about chewing sugar-free gum with no nutritional value? I imagine it must be "derech achila," but this certainly could be different for different people. (am I…
Jeremy
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Difference between "taanit" and "tzom"?

Is there a difference between taanit and tzom and what is it? At first I thought it was the difference between public and private fasts, but there are public and private taanit so that is not the case.
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Caffeine while fasting

May a person take a caffeine tablet during their fast? The tablet would be placed under the tongue and dissolved without drinking any water so no food or water would be ingested.
Untitled
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Why do we fast when we mourn?

Ive always learned that fasting is the biggest healer of your soul, but what does this have to do with mourning and Tisha b'av.
motti T
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Why are the "five afflictions" applied to Tish'a B'Av?

This answer explains how the 5 forms of affliction are derived. I understand that on Yom Kippur, the Torah specifically says that we should afflict ourselves. WHy are these 5 afflictions applied to Tish'a B'Av? Or, a reverse question, perhaps, why…
DanF
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is it permitted to swallow spit on a fast day?

is it permitted to swallow spit on a fast day or must one spit? this would lead to worse dehydration and if the motivation isn't eating but ridding the saliva in one's mouth without becoming dehydrated is it permissible? I suspect it is in the same…
Dude
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Is eating with a peg allowed on a fast day

A cancer patient who cant use his mouth has his food going straight into the lower stomach using what is called a peg. It is a milk based food which is considered kosher but not for pesach according to the kosher guide. My question is if one can…
patient
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Why isn't Ta'anit Esther on Friday?

When Purim (i.e., the 14th of Adar) occurs on Sunday, the fast of Esther is moved back to Thursday, Adar 11. Why isn't it moved to Friday Adar 12? It's not as if we don't already have fast days that occur on Friday. 10 of Tevet sometimes occurs on…
DanF
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What counts as a private fast?

Before a private fast day, one must stipulate the day before that he will be fasting, traditionally done at the end of the Mincha Shemona Esrei (Artscroll Siddur). What classifies as a private fast? Would a person who wants to fast Bahab, Shovavim,…
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Why are some rabbinic fasts daylight and tisha b'av is full day?

The 4 minor fasts and Tisha B'Av are rabbinic. Why is only one rabbinic fast a full day and the other rabbinic fasts are daylight fasts rather than full day?
Yehuda W
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Throat lozenge on fast day

If someone has a sore throat on a fast day (excluding yom kippur) may he suck on a throat lozenge (Ricola)* or do we consider that breaking the fast? *throat lozenge has flavor and one needs to make a bracha, but it is definitely not a shiur…
sam
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Can you fast for half a day?

Is there any story in the torah or talmud about, half a day fast? Like from morning until dinner?
Aigle
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When you fast,what and how do you pray?

When you fast, how do you pray ? Is there a certain prayer "culture" while fasting. Not talking about Yom Kippur or any public fast. Just fasting in general to ask Hashem for help, healing, work, support, protection, wisdom and so on.
Aigle
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Course of action for accidently breaking a self imposed voluntary fast

If one took upon themselves a voluntary fast but then forgot in the morning and had something to drink would whatvwould they do? Some possibilities that occured to me are... Continue fasting but make up from the morning until one broke their fast…
Dude
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Is a ceremony needed before fasting, like with Shabbat?

Is a ceremony needed before fasting, like with Shabbat? I have never heard of it, but if we do it for Shabbat, both to end and to start, it wouldn't be strange to have some kind of ceremony before fasting. (I'm not referring to Yom Kippur).
Aigle
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