WHO MUST FAST?
All must fast, including a Chosson and Kallah during the week of Sheva Brochos. If one inadvertently ate during the fast, one must immediately resume fasting. Mothers who are either pregnant or nursing, or have difficulty fasting while tending to their young children, should consult with a Rov. [One shouldn’t be unduly strict in this regard, so as not to harm the wellbeing of mother and baby.] The ill/elderly should also consult with a Rav.
Anyone below Bar/Bas Mitzvah need not fast. From the age of nine upwards, the custom is to train children to fast for several hours, as per the child’s abilities. An individual exempt from fasting should eat in private only, and avoid delicacies or excessive intake. Similarly, children old enough to understand the concept of a fast should avoid delicacies.
EATING PRIOR TO THE FAST
One may eat and drink the entire evening until dawn (5:12am), provided that either of these conditions are met:
- One didn’t go to sleep for the night. [Dozing off is not regarded as such.]
- One stipulated (preferably verbally) before going to sleep that he would eat upon waking. In this case, one washes Neggel Vasser and recites the morning Brochos before eating.
LAWS OF FASTING
One shouldn’t brush one’s teeth or rinse one’s mouth. [If this will cause great aggravation, there is room to be lenient, provided that one leans forward to prevent any liquid from flowing down one’s throat; that one uses substances unfit for consumption (e.g. Listerine); and that one rinses with less than 86 ml.]
One may take non-chewable pills for medical purposes, without water. A Rav should be consulted regarding other medicines. One may shower, bathe and apply ointments and creams.
When a Bris occurs on a fast, the Seudah takes place at night, after the fast.
One may not taste food to determine whether it requires salt/spices. However, when preparing food for a Seudas Mitzvah scheduled for the night following the fast, one may taste the food, provided that all these conditions are met:
- One expels it without swallowing.
- One tastes only an absolute minimum.
- One tastes less than 86 ml in total throughout the day.
CONDUCT ON A FAST DAY
One should learn Torah connected to the topic of the fast. One should give increased Tzedakah, especially before davening. It is proper to give the value of the forgone meals – especially if one is exempt from fasting.
The purpose of fasting is to arouse one to do Teshuvah. Idling away one’s time, or partaking in joyous or entertaining activities, is not in the spirit of the fast. One should be especially careful not to become angered.
CHAZZAN’S RECITATION OF ANEINU
During Shacharis, only the Chazzan recites Aneinu. Therefore, one who won’t be fasting shouldn’t serve as Chazzan. [In the unlikely event that the Chazzan is not fasting, or less than three congregants are fasting: Instead of reciting Aneinu between Goel Yisroel and R’faeinu, the Chazzan includes Aneinu in the Brocho of Sh’ma Koleinu, and concludes the Brocho regularly; i.e. Shomea Tefillah.]
A Chazzan who forgot to recite Aneinu:
- if he remembered before reciting Hashem’s name at the conclusion of the Brocho of R’foeinu, he recites Aneinu immediately, and then repeats the Brocho of R’foeinu;
- if he already concluded the Brocho of R’foeinu, he recites Aneinu in the Brocho of Sh’ma Koleinu, and concludes the Brocho with a double conclusion; i.e. Ha’one B’eis Tzara V’shomea Tefillah;
- if he already concluded the Brocho of Sh’ma Koleinu, he recites Aneinu as a separate Brocho immediately after the Brocho of Sim Shalom.
SELICHOS & AVINU MALKEINU
One who is not fasting must still recite Selichos and Avinu Malkeinu. Selichos is not recited before davening, but during davening, before Shomer Yisroel at the end of the long Thursday Tachnun. Certain selections are omitted, as those are said only when Selichos is recited prior to davening. [The newer edition of Tehilas Hashem printed by Kehos in Israel contains the Selichos for Tzom Gedalya exactly as it is to be recited during davening.]
One who davens without a Minyan omits the Yud-Gimel Midos-Harachamim. If Tachnun is not recited (e.g. when a Chosson is present), Selichos is still recited, whereas Avinu Malkeinu is not recited. During Avinu Malkeinu, we recite the selections for Aseres Y’mei Teshuvah, and not the selections recited on a fast day.
TORAH READING
The passage of Vayechal is read, provided that at least three congregants are fasting. A non-fasting individual must still hear Krias Hatorah of Vayechal, but should not be called up for an Aliya. [If he is the only Kohen or Levi, he should absent himself.] If he is called up, and refusing the Aliya will pain him or minimize the honour of the Torah, he may accept the Aliya.
A non-fasting individual shouldn’t serve as the Ba’al Koreh, unless there is no one else to serve as the Ba’al Koreh. When the congregation recites the verses aloud, the Ba’al Koreh waits for silence before resuming. The one receiving the Aliya begins these verses with the congregation, but ends with the Ba’al Koreh.
MINCHA
Mincha is longer than usual (due to Krias Hatorah and Haftorah); care should be taken to conclude before sunset (6:16pm). Ideally, Krias Hatorah shouldn’t start prior to Mincha Gedolah (12:47pm). Shmoneh Esrei may certainly not begin before then.
After Haftorah, the Chazzan slowly recites Kaddish while the Torah is returned to the Aron Kodesh, similar to Mincha on Shabbos.
If an individual forgot to recite Aneinu in the Brocho of Sh’ma Koleinu, he may recite it in the passage Elokai N’tzor, before the second Yih’yu L’ratzon. If one didn’t remember until he concluded Shmoneh Esrei, he does not repeat it. [A non-fasting individual does not recite Aneinu.]
The Chazzan recites Aneinu between Goel Yisroel and R’faeinu, and also recites Birchas Kohanim toward the end of Shmoneh Esreh.
The Rebbe reintroduced the custom of addressing the congregation after Mincha to arouse them with feelings of Teshuvah.
The fast concludes at 6:32pm.
