Anyone below Bar/Bat 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. [One should not be unduly strict in this regard.]
An individual exempt from fasting should eat in private only, and avoid meat, delicacies or excessive intake. Children old enough to understand the concept of a fast should avoid delicacies and meat.
EATING PRIOR TO THE FAST
One may eat and drink the entire evening until dawn (4:53am), provided that either of these conditions are met (this does not apply to water which can be drunk anytime up to the beginning of the fast):
- 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 recites the morning Brachot before eating.
LAWS OF FASTING
One shouldn’t brush one’s teeth nor 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. [Even one who is strict on other fast days may nevertheless be lenient on Taanit Esther.]
One may not taste food to determine whether it requires salt/spices. However, when preparing food for a Seudat 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 does not taste more than 86 ml in total throughout the day.
CONDUCT ON TAANIT ESTHER
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.
