Minor Fasts
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There are five minor fasts on the Jewish
calendar. With one exception, these fasts were instituted by the Sages
to commemorate some national tragedy. The minor
fasts (that is, all fasts except Yom Kippur
and Tisha b'Av) last from dawn to nightfall,
and one is permitted to eat breakfast if one arises before sunrise for the
purpose of doing so. There is a great deal of leniency in the minor fasts
for people who have medical conditions or other difficulties fasting. The
date of the fast is moved to Sunday if the specified date falls on
Shabbat.
Three of these five fasts commemorate events leading to the downfall of the
first commonwealth and the destruction of the first
Temple, which is commemorated by the major
fast of Tisha B'Av.
Following is a list of minor fasts required by Jewish law, their dates, and
the events they commemorate:
The Fast of Gedaliah, Tishri 3, commemorates
the killing of the Jewish governor of Judah, a critical event in the downfall
of the first commonwealth.
The Fast of Tevet, Tevet 10, is the beginning
of the siege of Jerusalem. It has also been proclaimed a memorial day for
the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust.
The Fast of Esther, Adar 13, commemorates the
three days that Esther fasted before approaching King Ahasuerus on behalf
of the Jewish people. The fast is connected
with Purim. If Adar 13 falls on a Friday or
Saturday, it is moved to the preceding Thursday, because it cannot be moved
forward a day (it would fall on Purim).
The Fast of the Firstborn, Nissan 14, is a
fast observed only by firstborn males, commemorating the fact that they were
saved from the plague of the firstborn in
Egypt. It is observed on the day preceding
Passover.
The Fast of Tammuz, Tammuz 17, is the date
when the walls of Jerusalem were breached, another major event leading up
to the destruction of the First Temple.
© Copyright 5756-5766 (1995-2005), Tracey
R Rich
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