Fasting on Friday?
An interesting calendarical anomaly is set to happen this week. The appearance of which is quite sporadic and actually quite unique on the Jewish Calendar. I am referring to the upcoming Fast of Asarah B’Teves, which this year falls out on a Friday. Unique to this fast is that it is the only one that we do actually observe as a fast on a Friday[1]. Even Tisha B’Av, which commemorates the actual destructions of our Batei HaMikdash, gets pushed off. Yet, this Friday, for a fast best known for being the year’s shortest (for everyone in the Northern Hemisphere), all of Klal Yisrael will fast.
Why This Fast?
The reason given for fasting on Asarah B’Teves is that it is the day that the wicked Babylonian king, Nevuchadnetzar, commenced his siege of Yerushalayim[2], foreshadowing the beginning of the end of the first Beis Hamikdash, which culminated with its destruction on Tisha B’Av several years later. Therefore, Chazal declared it a public fast, one of four public fast days that memorialize different aspects of the catastrophes and national tragedies associated with the destruction of both Batei HaMikdash[3].
What makes Asarah B’Teves’s Friday observance even more interesting is that there is a whole debate in the Gemara about how to conduct fasts on a Friday, when we also must take kavod Shabbos into account[4], implying that it is a common occurrence. However, according to our calendar, a Friday Fast is only applicable with Asarah B’Teves, and it happens quite infrequently. The last few times Asarah B’Teves fell out on a Friday were in 1996, 2001, and 2010. The next expected occurrence is in 2020.
Yet, obviously, to maintain this distinction of being the only Fast Day that we actually do observe on a Friday, there must be much more to the Fast of Asarah B’Teves than meets the eye. In turns out that Asarah B’Teves has several exceptional characteristics that are not found in any other fast day.
A Shabbos Fast?!
Possibly, the most important attribute of Asarah B’Teves is that, according to the AbuDraham, if Asarah B’Teves would potentially fall out on Shabbos, we would all actually be required to fast on Shabbos![5] (Notwithstanding that with our calendar this is an impossibility[6].) He cites proof to this from the words of Yechezkel referring to Asarah B’Teves (Ch. 24, verse 2) that the siege transpired “B’etzem HaYom HaZeh”, implying that the fast must always be observed on that exact day, no matter the conflicting occurrence. This would also explain why it observed on Friday, as opposed to any other fast.
Yet, the AbuDraham’s statement is astounding, as the only fast that halachically takes precedence over Shabbos is Yom Kippur, the only Biblically mandated fast. How can one of the Rabbinic minor fasts push off the Biblical Shabbos? Additionally, Asarah B’Teves commemorates merely the start of the siege on the Beis HaMikdash, and not any actual destruction. How can it be considered a more important fast than Tisha B’Av, which commemorates the destruction and loss of both of our Batei HaMikdash? In fact, the Beis Yosef questions this declaration of the AbuDraham, stating that he “does not know how the AbuDraham could know” such a ruling. As an aside, this does not seem to be the actual halacha, as other Rishonim, including Rashi and the Rambam both explicitly state that if Asarah B’Teves falls out on Shabbos, then it gets pushed off.
Commencement Is Catastrophic
Several authorities, including Rav Yonason Eibeschutz and the Bnei Yissaschar[7], understand the AbuDraham’s enigmatic statement as similar to the famous Gemara in Taanis (29a) regarding Tisha B’Av. It seems that historically the Beis HaMikdash only started to burn toward the end of the 9th of Av (Tisha B’Av) and actually burned down on the 10th. Yet, Chazal established the fast on the 9th, since Aschalta D’Paranusah Adifa, meaning that the beginning of a tragedy is considered the worst part. Likewise, they maintain that, since the siege on Asarah B’Teves was the commencement of the long chain of tragedies that ended with the Beis HaMikdash in ruins and the Jewish people in exile, its true status belies the common perception of it as a minor fast, and potentially has the ability to push off Shabbos.
The famed Chasam Sofer[8] takes this a step further. He wrote that the reason Chazal established a fast for the siege on Asarah B’Teves, as opposed to every other time Yerushalayim was under siege over the millennia, is that on that day in the Heavenly courtroom it was decided that the Beis HaMikdash was to be destroyed a few years hence. There is a well-known Talmudic dictum that any generation in which the Beis HaMikdash has not been rebuilt is as if it has been destroyed again[9]. Therefore, he explains, every Asarah B’Teves the Heavenly court convenes and decrees a new Churban. That is why the fast of Asarah B’Teves, even though it is considered a minor fast, nonetheless has the potential to possibly override Shabbos. These explanations would also certainly explain why we would fast on a Friday for Asarah B’Teves.
Three Day Fast?
According to the special Selichos prayers said on the fast[10], an additional unique aspect of Asarah B’Teves is that we are actually fasting for two other days of tragedy as well; the 8th and 9th of Teves. In fact, both the Tur and Shulchan Aruch assert that if possible one should try to fast on all three days[11]. Nevertheless, of the three, only Asarah B’Teves was actually mandated as a public fast day[12].
The 8th of Teves
On the 8th of Teves, King Ptolemy II (285 - 246 B.C.E.) demanded and forced 72 sages separately to translate the Torah into Greek (the Septuagint). Although miracles guided their work and all of the sages made the same slight, but necessary amendments, nevertheless this work is described as “darkness descending on the world for three days”, as it was now possible for the uneducated to possess a superficial, and frequently flawed, understanding of the Torah, as well as providing the masses with a mistaken interpretation of true morality[13].
The 9th of Teves
Although several decisors write that the reason for fasting on the 9th of Teves is unknown[14], nonetheless many sources, including the Kol Bo and the Selichos recited on Asarah B’Teves, as well as many later authorities, explain that this is the day that Ezra HaSofer (as well as possibly his partner Nechemiah) died. Ezra, the Gadol HaDor at the beginning of the time of the Second Beis HaMikdash, had a tremendous impact upon the nascent returning Jewish community of Eretz Yisrael. He drastically improved the spiritual state of the Jewish people and established many halachic takanos, many of which still apply today[15]. With his passing, the community started sliding from the great spiritual heights Ezra had led them. Additionally, since Ezra was the last of the prophets, his passing signified the end of prophecy.
Other sources attribute fasting on this day due to the passing of other specific Tzaddikim or the birth of a certain Rasha (see extensive footnote 14). The Sefer HaToda’ah[16] posits that it’s possible that “darkness descended on the world for three days” alludes to the triple woes of these three days: the 8th, 9th, and 10th of Teves.
Halachos of a Friday Fast
The halachos of a Friday fast generally parallel those of a regular fast day. In fact, even though there is some debate in the Rishonim as to the Gemara’s intent that ‘Halacha - Mesaneh U’Mashlim - a Friday fast should be completed’ whether one may be mekabel Shabbos early and thereby end the fast before nightfall[17], nonetheless, the halacha follows the Shulchan Aruch and Rema that since Asarah B’Teves is a public fast (taanis tzibbur) and not a taanis yachid, one must fast the whole day and complete it at nightfall (Tzeis HaKochavim) before making Kiddush[18].
There are those who maintain it is preferable to daven Maariv earlier than usual this Friday Night to enable us to make Kiddush, and break our fasts, exactly at Tzeis HaKochavim[19].
The Rambam famously exhorts us to remember the real meaning underlying a fast day. It’s not just a day when we miss our morning coffee! The purpose of fasting is to focus on the spiritual side of the day and use it as catalyst for inspiration towards Teshuva[20]. In this merit may the words of the Navi Zechariah, that the “Fast of the Fourth (month, 17th of Tamuz), the Fast of the Fifth (month, Tisha B’Av), the Fast of the Seventh (month, Tzom Gedalyah), and the Fast of the Tenth (month, Asarah B’Teves), shall be (changed over) for celebration and joy for the household of Yehuda”[21], be fulfilled speedily and in our days.
[1]See AbuDraham (Hilchos Taanis), Magen Avraham (550, 4), Aruch Hashulchan (ad loc. end 2), and Mishna Berura (ad loc. 10).
[2]Melachim II (Ch.25, 1), Yirmiyahu (Ch.52, 4), Yechezkel (Ch.24, 1 & 2).
[3]See Zecharia (Ch.8, 19), Gemara Rosh Hashana (18b), Rambam (Hilchos Taanis Ch.5, 1- 5) and Tur & Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 549 & 550).
[4]Gemara Eiruvin 41a.
[5]AbuDraham (Hilchos Taanis), cited with some skeptism by the Beis Yosef (O.C. end 550). Rashi (Megillah 5a s.v aval) and Rambam (Hilchos Taanis Ch. 5, 5).
[6]According to our calendar Asarah B’Teves cannot fall out on Shabbos. The AbuDraham (Hilchos Taanis) himself mentions this, as does the Magen Avraham (O.C. 550, 4 & 5). Everyone can easily make this calculation themselves. See Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 128, 2) regarding which days various Roshei Chodosh can fall out on. For the month of Teves, Rosh Chodesh cannot fall out on a Thursday. That means Asarah B’Teves, ten days later, cannot fall out on Shabbos!
[7]Ya’aros Dvash (Vol. 1, Drush 2 for 9 Teves, 32 - 33; see also vol. 2, 191 - 193 s.v. v’hinei yadua), Bnei Yisaschar (Maamrei Chodesh Kislev/ Teves 14, 1), and Shu”t Shoel U’meishiv (vol. 3, 179). The Chasam Sofer (Toras Moshe, Parshas Vayigash pg. 40b s.v. vad”z) also cites this reason and explains that it is only at the end of a tragedy when salvation has a chance to sprout. We see this from the famous Gemara at the end of Makkos (24a - b) with Rabbi Akiva, who laughed when he saw foxes wandering through the ruins of the Beis HaMikdash. Only when a tragedy is complete can there be a glimmer of hope for the future redemption. See also sefer Siach Yitzchak (pg. 293) and R’ Moshe Chaim Leitner’s sefer Tzom Ha’Asiri at length.
[8]Toras Moshe (vol. 2, Parshas Vayikra, Drush for 7 Adar, pg. 9b - 10a, s.v. kasuv).
[9]Yerushalmi Yoma (Ch.1, 1, 6a).
[10]See the Selicha for Asarah B’Teves that starts with the word Ezkerah.
[11]Tur and Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 580).
[12]Tur and Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 549 & 550).
[13]As told at length in Gemara Megillah 9a. For a slightly different version see Maseches Sofrim (Ch. 1, 7 - 8). This quote is found in Megillas Taanis (Ch.13); and cited by the Tur and Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 580). See Sefer HaToda’ah (vol. 1, Ch.8, Chodesh Teves, par. Yom Kasheh) at length.
[14]See Tur & Shulchan Aruch O.C. 580. However, many poskim, including the Ba’er HaGolah (ad loc. 4), Magen Avraham (ad loc. 6), Taz (ad loc. 1; who concludes ‘tzarich iyun rav’ on the Tur and Shulchan Aruch for not knowing that Ezra HaSofer died on that day), Elyah Rabba (ad loc. 5), Pri Megadim (ad loc. M.Z. 1), Ba’er Heitiv (ad loc. 6), Mishna Berurah (ad loc. 13), and Kaf Hachaim (ad loc. 20), all cite the Kol Bo (63), BeHa”G (Hilchos Tisha B’Av V’Taanis), or the Selichos of Asarah B’Teves (ibid.) that the tzara on that day is that Ezra HaSofer died. The Aruch Hashulchan (ad loc. 3) diplomatically states that originally they did not know which tragedy occurred on that day to mandate fasting, and afterwards it was revealed that it was due to Ezra HaSofer’s passing on that day. Rav Yonason Eibeschutz (Ya’aros Dvash vol. 2, 192 - 193) gives an interesting variation on this theme. He maintains that since Ezra’s role in Klal Yisrael in his time was akin to Moshe Rabbeinu’s, Chazal wanted to withhold publication of the day of his passing, similar to the Torah stating that “no one knows of Moshe’s burial place” (Devarim, V’Zos HaBracha Ch. 34, 6). However, the Chida (Birkei Yosef O.C. 580) points out that the statement in Megillas Taanis (and later cited by the BeHa”G) that ‘lo kasvu Rabboseinu al mah hu’ seems to be referring to a separate occurrence than its next listing, that Ezra HaSofer died on that day, and that they are not one and the same. Rav Baruch Teumim - Frankel (author of the Imrei Baruch, in his glosses to Shulchan Aruch O.C. 580) cites several other sources opining different tzaddikim’s passing on the 9th of Teves as reason for fasting, including Shimon HaKalphus, ‘who saved Klal Yisrael during the days of the Pritzim’, and whom ‘Nishmas’ is attributed to (it has been surmised that he was a Jewish pope, placed by Chazal to infiltrate the early Christians, to ensure that Christianity became a separate religion), and Rav Yosef HaLevi, son of Rav Shmuel HaNaggid, who was assassinated on the 9th of Teves in 1066, thus ending a Golden Age for Jewry in Spain. He quotes the Raavad’s Sefer HaKabbalah that ‘when Rabboseinu HaKadmonim wrote Megillas Taanis and established a fast on the 9th of Teves, they themselves didn’t know the reason. Later on, after Rav Yosef HaNaggid was assassinated we knew that they foresaw this tragedy with Ruach HaKodesh’. An additional reason for fasting on this day is cited by the Rema in his commentary to Megillas Esther (Mechir Yayin, Ch.2, 16) that this was the day that Esther was forcibly taken to Achashveirosh’s palace. Interestingly, some posit (as heard in the name of Rav Moshe Shapiro shlit”a; also found in the Davar B’Ito calendar, 9 Teves; the origin of this seems to be the 12th century Sefer HaAvor, by R’ Avraham bar Chiya) that the real reason for fasting is that the 9th of Teves is the true birthday of ‘Oso HaIsh’, founder of Christianity, in whose name myriads of Jews over the millennia were r”l murdered.
[15]As found throughout Shas - see for example Bava Kama (82a) and Kesuvos (3a).
[16]Sefer HaToda’ah (vol. 1, Ch. 8, Chodesh Teves, end par. Yom Kasheh).
[17]Although the Gemara (Eruvin 41a concludes ‘Halacha - Mesaneh U’Mashlim’, even so there are many Rishonim (most notably Tosafos ad loc. 41b s.v. v’hilchasa) who understand that to mean that one may conclude his Erev Shabbos fast at Tzeis HaKochavim, even though it means he will enter Shabbos famished (a situation that is normally disfavored), and not that one must conclude his fast on Friday night at Tzeis HaKochavim. A further complication is that this also may depend on whether one is fasting for personal reasons (Taanis Yachid) or an obligatory public fast (Taanis Tzibbur). The Rema (O.C. 249, 4) concludes that for a Taanis Yachid one may rely upon the lenient opinions and end his fast after he accepted Shabbos, prior to Tzeis HaKochavim (especially if he made such a stipulation before commencing his fast), yet for a Taanis Tzibbur he rules that we follow the Rishonim who mandate strict interpretation of the Gemara, and we must fast until actual nightfall on Friday night. It is debatable whether the Shulchan Aruch is actually fully agreeing with this approach or not exactly. See explanation of the Mishna Berura (ad loc. 21 and Biur Halacha s.v. v’im) at length. This has since become normative halacha. See next footnote.
[18]See Shulchan Aruch and Rema (O.C. 249, 4), based on the Rosh (Taanis Ch. 2, 4) and Maharil (Shu”t 33); Magen Avraham (ad loc. 8), Bach (ad loc. end 6), Ba’er Heitiv (ad loc. 7), Elya Rabba (ad loc. 10), Korban Nesanel (Taanis, end Ch. 2, 60), Shulchan Aruch HaRav (ad loc. 12), Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (121, 6), Ben Ish Chai (Year 2, Parshas Lech Lecha 23), Aruch Hashulchan (ad loc. 10), Mishna Berura (ad loc. 21 and Biur Halacha s.v. v’im), Kaf Hachaim (ad loc. 29 & 31), Shu”t Yabea Omer (vol. 6, O.C. 31), Shu”t Yechaveh Daas (vol. 1, 80), Netei Gavriel (Hilchos Chanuka, Shu”t 14), Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 249, 7), and Rav Mordechai Eliyahu’s Darchei Halacha glosses to the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (121, 5). The Netei Gavriel adds that B’shaas Hadchak and l’tzorech gadol one may be mekabel Shabbos early and rely on the lenient opinions, as long it is after nightfall according to several opinions (meaning, a much earlier zman of Tzeis HaKochavim than the faster would usually observe).
[19] See Shulchan HaTahor (249, 13) who writes that usually it is assur to complete a Friday fast until Tzeis HaKochavim, , even an obligatory fast, as it is an affront to Kedushas Shabbos; rather he maintains that one should be mekabel Shabbos early and have his seudah before nightfall. Yet, in his explanations (Zer Zahav ad loc. 4) he maintains that regarding Asarah B’Teves on Friday, since we are beholden to follow the ruling of the Rema, he maintains that one should still be mekabel Shabbos early, and daven earlier than usual, to enable us to end the fast with making Kiddush at the exact zman of Tzeis HaKochavim.
[20]Rambam (Hilchos Ta’anis Ch.5, 1); see also Mishna Berura (549, 1).
[21]Zecharia (Ch.8, 19).
Disclaimer: This is not a comprehensive guide, rather a brief summary to raise awareness of the issues. In any real case one should ask a competent Halachic authority.
L'iluy Nishmas the Rosh HaYeshiva - Rav Chonoh Menachem Mendel ben R' Yechezkel Shraga, Rav Yaakov Yeshaya ben R' Boruch Yehuda.
