{"id":5830,"date":"2010-02-07T01:00:27","date_gmt":"2010-02-06T23:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/?p=5830"},"modified":"2010-02-07T01:00:27","modified_gmt":"2010-02-06T23:00:27","slug":"05-07-01","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/05-07-01\/","title":{"rendered":"1 \u2013 The Current Status of the Minor Fasts"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the prophets instituted the four fasts after the destruction of the FirstTemple, they modeled them after the fast of Yom Kippur, which is how the Rabbis usually enact decrees, modeling them after the Torah\u2019s commandments. \u00a0Since Yom Kippur lasts an entire day, [the prophets] instituted the four fasts [as full-day fasts], and since there are five prohibitions on Yom Kippur \u2013 eating and drinking, bathing, anointing, wearing [leather] shoes, and marital relations \u2013 they prohibited the same things on the fasts commemorating the churban<\/i>. \u00a0This is how [the Jews] observed these fasts throughout the seventy-year Babylonian exile.<\/p>\n

When the exiles returned from Babylonia to build the Second Temple, these fasts were canceled and transformed into joyous days, as it says, Thus says the Lord of Hosts, \u201cThe fast of the fourth [month] <\/i>(Tammuz), the fast of the fifth <\/i>(the ninth of Av), the fast of the seventh <\/i>(the third of Tishrei), and the fast of the tenth <\/i>(the tenth of Tevet) will be to the House of Judah for joy and for gladness, and for festive days; love truth and peace\u201d<\/i> (Zecharyah<\/i> 8:19).<\/p>\n

And when the SecondTemple was destroyed, the Jews went back to observing the very same fasts, keeping them throughout the difficult years following the second churban<\/i>, during which Bar Kochva\u2019s rebellion and the destruction of Beitar and Judea took place.\u00a0 Thus, the status of these fasts depends on our national situation: at a time of evil decrees and persecution, we are obligated to fast, but when the Temple is standing these fasts become days of joy and gladness.<\/p>\n

In the intermediate situation \u2013 when the Temple is destroyed, but we are not plagued with harsh decrees, as was the case during R. Yehudah HaNasi\u2019s lifetime \u2013 the status of these fasts depends on the will of the Jewish people: \u201cIf they want to fast, they do so; if they do not want [to fast], they do not fast.\u201d\u00a0 This is the law regarding the tenth of Tevet, the seventeenth of Tammuz, and Tzom Gedalyah<\/i>.\u00a0 Regarding Tish\u2019a B\u2019Av<\/i>, however, the matter does not depend on the nation\u2019s will, and everyone is obligated to fast, even in the intermediate situation, because both Temples were destroyed on that day (Rosh HaShanah<\/i> 18b).<\/p>\n

In practice, the Jewish people are accustomed to observing all the fasts, even in the intermediate situation.\u00a0 Therefore all Jews are obligated to fast on these days. \u00a0This is the halachah<\/i> until the Beit HaMikdash<\/i> is rebuilt, speedily in our days, when the fast days will become joyous festivals.[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n[1]<\/a>. The following is the wording of the Gemara<\/i>, Rosh HaShanah<\/i> 18b:<\/p>\n

Rav Pappa said, \u201cThis is what [the verse] is saying: When there is peace, [these days] will be for joy and for gladness; when the kingdom [issues evil] decrees [against the Jews], [they are] fast days; when there are no governmental decrees, but [also] no peace \u2013 if [the Jews] want to fast, they do so, [and] if they do not want [to fast], they do not fast.\u201d\u00a0 If so, Tish\u2019a B\u2019Av<\/i> should be [treated] the same!\u00a0 Says Rav Pappa, \u201cTish\u2019a B\u2019Av<\/i> is different, because troubles abounded on that day, as the master said, \u2018On Tish\u2019a B\u2019Av<\/i>, both Temples were destroyed, Beitar was captured, and the city [of Jerusalem] was ploughed over.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n

According to Rashi, the definition of \u201ca time of peace\u201d \u2013 when the fasts are canceled \u2013 is when the nations of the world have no dominion over the Jews.\u00a0 If so, it is possible that [Jews living] in the State of Israel are exempt from fasting.\u00a0 However, most Rishonim \u2013 the Ramban, the Tur, and others \u2013 hold that \u201ca time of peace\u201d means when the Beit HaMikdash<\/i> is built.\u00a0 Therefore, even after the establishment of the State of Israel, our status is that of the intermediate situation, and we are obligated to fast, based on Jewish custom.\u00a0 The Rishonim also disagree on when exactly one is obligated to fast according to the law.\u00a0 The Ramban holds that it is when [the Gentiles enact] harsh decrees against the Jews; while Rashi, the Tur, and the Tashbetz claim that it is [specifically] when there is religious persecution (gezeirot shmad<\/i>), meaning decrees that prevent us from fulfilling the Torah.\u00a0 Their dispute stems from variant readings of the Gemara<\/i> in Rosh HaShanah<\/i> 18b.\u00a0 (I wrote [above] simply that the fasts returned to their obligatory status after the second destruction.\u00a0 However, the Chatam Sofer, OC 157, writes that [the Jews] began fasting already before the churban<\/i>, once the Sanhedrin went into exile, as is clear from Josephus.\u00a0 This shows that despite the existence of the HolyTemple, the status of the decrees is what determines the obligation to fast.\u00a0 Perhaps this supports Rashi\u2019s opinion.)\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When the prophets instituted the four fasts after the destruction of the FirstTemple, they modeled them after the fast of Yom Kippur, which is how the Rabbis usually enact decrees, modeling them after the Torah\u2019s commandments. \u00a0Since Yom Kippur lasts an entire day, [the prophets] instituted the four fasts [as full-day fasts], and since there […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-05-07"],"yoast_head":"\n1 \u2013 The Current Status of the Minor Fasts - Peninei Halakha<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/05-07-01\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"1 \u2013 The Current Status of the Minor Fasts - 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