Jewish Fast Days
The most well-known and well-observed fast is the fast of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This is the only fast day mentioned in the Torah (Leviticus 23:26-32).
Yom Kippur is a full fast, from sunset to darkness the following night. The other full fast is the Ninth of Av, Tisha B'Av. These fast days carry four additional restrictions - one may not wash his body, wear leather shoes, use colognes, oils or perfumes, or have sex. Yom Kippur also has all the restrictions of Shabbat and Tisha B'Av has restrictions somewhat similar to a mourner sitting shiva.
All other fasts are minor fasts, observed from dawn to nightfall, without additional restrictions.
The fast of the Ninth of Av is one of four fasts that exist, in all or in part, in commemoration of events having to do with the destruction of the Temple. The other three are:
- Fast of Gedalia (Tzom Gedalia)
- Tenth of Tevet (Asara B'Tevet)
- Seventeenth of Tammuz (Tzom Tammuz)
The fourth minor fast, observed on the day preceding Purim, is the Fast of Esther, Ta'anit Esther, in commemoration of Esther and the Jewish community of Shushan having fasted before she approached the king unbidden.
Additionally, Jewish custom requires firstborn males to observe the day preceding Passover as the Fast of the Firstborn, Ta'anit Bechorot. In modern times, however, this fast is rarely observed, as most firstborns opt to attend a siyum (festive meal celebrating the completion of a Tractate of the Talmud) instead. This is considered a legitimate form of "breaking" the fast, and therefore the firstborn may eat during the rest of the day.
Other customary Jewish fasts include:
Yom Kippur Kattan (literally, the little Yom Kippur) - which is held on the 29th of Heshvan, Tevet, Shevat, Adar, (Adar Sheni in a leap year), Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz and Av. Special selichot are recited during the mincha service on those days. If the 29th of those months falls on a Friday or a Sabbath, it is observed on the Thursday prior.
BaHaB (a Hebrew acronym for Monday, Thursday, Monday) - which is held on the Monday and Thursday after the first Sabbath of Heshvan and Iyar and the Monday after the second Sabbath of Heshvan and Iyar. Just like 10th Tevet, the Fast of Ether and 17th Tammuz, selichot are recited after the shacharit amidah.
Fast of the Khmelnytsky Massacres - which is held on 13th Sivan. As the name suggests, this fast commemorates the Khelmelnytsky Massacres.
Twentieth of Sivan which commermorates the massacres of the Jewish years Tach and Tat and the Khmelnytsky Massacres. Selichot are recited after the shacharit amidah.
Taanit Tzadikim (literally, fast of the righteous ones) - these are fasts held on the Hebrew death anniversaries of great people. They are usually only observed by the Chevra Kadisha but others may fast on them too. The main ones are:
Fast of Pilegesh Bagiva - on 23rd Shevat
Fast of Moses - on 7th Adar
Fast of Nadab and Abihu - on 1st Nisan
Fast of Miriam - on 10th Nisan
Fast of Joshua - on 26th Nisan
Fast of Samuel - on 28th Iyar
Fast of Aaron - on 1st Av
Traditionally, special prayers called selichot are added in the morning prayer services on many of these days.
Read more about this topic: Ta'anit
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