Question: Who is obligated to fast on the 10th of Tevet?
The meaning of the fast is that repentance and self-reflection alone are not sufficient; the body must also feel the matter in a physical sense. Therefore, every healthy man and woman above the age of bar and bat mitzvah are obligated to fast on this day from dawn until nightfall.
Children below the age of bar and bat mitzvah are completely exempt, and they should not be trained to fast even for a few hours (though it is advisable to avoid giving them sweets or similar things). A sick person, even if there is no danger to their health, is exempt from the fast. Likewise, an elderly person who is weak and suffers greatly during the fast is exempt. A woman who has given birth (or had a miscarriage) is exempt for thirty days after delivery. A pregnant woman (after three months of pregnancy, or earlier if she experiences weakness, vomiting, or discomfort), and a nursing mother (up to twenty-four months after birth, and many are lenient even if she has stopped nursing) are also exempt from fasting.
All of these individuals may eat whenever they wish and do not need to wait until they feel the discomfort of the fast or eat only a little at a time. They should eat modestly according to their needs but should not indulge in delicacies.
Adapted and translated from Sichat HaShavuah
