The Laws of Fastsהִלְכוֹת תַּעֲנִיּוֹת
This text contains one positive commandment: To cry out to God in the event of great distress that affects the community as a whole.מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה אַחַת, וְהִיא לִזְעֹק לִפְנֵי ה' בְּכָל עֵת צָרָה גְּדוֹלָה שֶׁתָּבוֹא עַל הַצִּבּוּר.
This mitzvah is explained in the following chapters. וּבֵאוּר מִצְוָה זוֹ בִּפְרָקִים אֵלּוּ.
1It is a positive Scriptural commandment1 to cry out2 and to sound3 trumpets4 in the event of any difficulty that arises which affects the community, as Numbers 10:9 states: “When you go out to war... against an enemy who attacks you and you sound the trumpets....”5 This commandment is not restricted to such a limited scope;6 rather the intent is: Whenever you are distressed by difficulties—e.g., famine, plague,7 locusts, or the like8—cry out to God because of them and sound the trumpets.9אמִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה מִן הַתּוֹרָה לִזְעֹק וּלְהָרִיעַ בַּחֲצוֹצְרוֹת עַל כָּל צָרָה שֶׁתָּבוֹא עַל הַצִּבּוּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "עַל הַצַּר הַצֹּרֵר אֶתְכֶם וַהֲרֵעֹתֶם בַּחֲצֹצְרֹת" (במדבר י, ט) - כְּלוֹמַר כָּל דָּבָר שֶׁיֵּצַר לָכֶם כְּגוֹן בַּצֹּרֶת וְדֶבֶר וְאַרְבֶּה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן, זַעֲקוּ עֲלֵיהֶן וְהָרִיעוּ.
2This practice is one of the paths of repentance,10 for when a difficulty arises, and the people cry out to God and sound the trumpets, everyone will realize11 that the difficulty occurred because of their evil conduct, as Jeremiah 5:25 states: “Your sins have turned away the rains and the harvest climate.”12 This realization will cause the removal of this difficulty.13בוְדָבָר זֶה דֶּרֶךְ מִדַּרְכֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה הוּא, שֶׁבִּזְמַן שֶׁתָּבוֹא צָרָה וְיִזְעֲקוּ לָהּ וְיָרִיעוּ, יֵדְעוּ הַכֹּל שֶׁבִּגְלַל מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם הָרָעִים הֵרַע לָהֶן, כַּכָּתוּב "עֲו‍ֹנוֹתֵיכֶם הִטּוּ וְגוֹ'" (ירמיהו ה, כה), וְזֶה הוּא שֶׁיִּגְרֹם לָהֶם לְהָסִיר הַצָּרָה מֵעֲלֵיהֶם.

Mishneh Torah (Moznaim)

Featuring a modern English translation and a commentary that presents a digest of the centuries of Torah scholarship which have been devoted to the study of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides.

3Conversely, should the people fail to cry out to God and sound the trumpets, and instead say, “What has happened to us is merely a natural phenomenon and this difficulty is merely a chance occurrence,”14 this
is a cruel conception of things,15 which causes them to remain attached to their wicked deeds.16 Thus, this time of distress will lead to further distresses.17
גאֲבָל אִם לֹא יִזְעֲקוּ וְלֹא יָרִיעוּ, אֶלָא יֹאמְרוּ 'דָּבָר זֶה מִמִּנְהַג הָעוֹלָם אֵרַע לָנוּ, וְצָרָה זוֹ נִקְרֹא נִקְרֵית' - הֲרֵי זוֹ דֶּרֶךְ אַכְזָרִיּוּת, וְגוֹרֶמֶת לָהֶם לְהִדָּבֵק בְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם הָרָעִים, וְתוֹסִיף הַצָּרָה וְצָרוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת.
This is implied by the Torah’s statement Leviticus 26:27-28: “If you remain indifferent to Me, I will be indifferent to you with a vengeance.”18 The implication of the verse is: When I bring difficulties upon you so that you shall repent and you say it is a chance occurrence, I will add to your punishment an expression of vengeance for that indifference to Divine Providence.הוּא שֶׁכָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָה, "וַהֲלַכְתֶּם עִמִּי בְּקֶרִי וְהָלַכְתִּי עִמָּכֶם בַּחֲמַת קֶרִי" (ויקרא כו, כז-כח) - כְּלוֹמַר כְּשֶׁאָבִיא עֲלֵיכֶם צָרָה, כְּדֵי שֶׁתָּשׁוּבוּ, אִם תֹּאמְרוּ שֶׁהוּא קֶרִי, אוֹסִיף עֲלֵיכֶם חֲמַת אוֹתוֹ קֶרִי.
4In addition,19 it is a Rabbinic ordinance to fast20 whenever there is a difficulty that affects the community21 until there is a manifestation of Divine mercy.22 On these fast days, we cry out in prayer, offer supplications, and sound the trumpets23 only.24דוּמִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים, לְהִתְעַנּוֹת עַל כָּל צָרָה שֶׁתָּבוֹא עַל הַצִּבּוּר, עַד שֶׁיְּרֻחֲמוּ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם; וּבִימֵי הַתַּעֲנִיּוֹת הָאֵלּוּ, זוֹעֲקִין בִּתְפִלּוֹת וּמִתְחַנְּנִים וּמְרִיעִין בַּחֲצוֹצְרוֹת בִּלְבָד.
In the Temple, we sound both the trumpets and the shofar.25 The shofar blasts should be shortened and the trumpet blasts extended,26 for the mitzvah of the day is with the trumpets.27וְאִם הָיוּ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, מְרִיעִין בַּחֲצוֹצְרוֹת וּבְשׁוֹפָר; הַשּׁוֹפָר מְקַצֵּר, וְהַחֲצוֹצְרוֹת מַאֲרִיכוֹת - שֶׁמִּצְוַת הַיּוֹם בַּחֲצוֹצְרוֹת.
The trumpets are sounded together with the shofar only in the Temple, as can be inferred from Psalms 98:6: “Sound trumpets and shofar blasts before God, the King.”28וְאֵין תּוֹקְעִין בַּחֲצוֹצְרוֹת וְשׁוֹפָר כְּאֶחָד אֶלָא בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "בַּחֲצֹצְרוֹת וְקוֹל שׁוֹפָר הָרִיעוּ לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ ה'" (תהילים צח, ו).
5These fasts ordained for the community because of difficulties should not be consecutive,29 for30 the community would not be able to observe such a practice.31התַּעֲנִיּוֹת אֵלּוּ, שֶׁגּוֹזְרִין עַל הַצִּבּוּר מִפְּנֵי הַצָּרוֹת, אֵינָן יוֹם אַחַר יוֹם, שֶׁאֵין רֹב הַצִּבּוּר יְכוֹלִים לַעֲמֹד בְּדָבָר זֶה.
A communal fast should be ordained only on a Monday,32 on the subsequent Thursday, and on the subsequent Monday.33 This pattern—Monday, Thursday, Monday—should be followed until God manifests His mercies.34וְאֵין גּוֹזְרִין בַּתְּחִלָּה תַּעֲנִית, אֶלָא בְּשֵׁנִי בַּשַּׁבָּת וּבַחֲמִישִׁי שֶׁלְּאַחֲרָיו וּבַשֵּׁנִי שֶׁלְּאַחֲרָיו. וְכֵן עַל סֵדֶר זֶה, שֵׁנִי וַחֲמִישִׁי וְשֵׁנִי, עַד שֶׁיְּרֻחֲמוּ.
6A communal fast should not be decreed on a Sabbath, nor on a festival.35 On these days, neither a shofar nor a trumpet should be sounded, nor do we cry out to God or offer supplications in prayer.36 The only exceptions are37 a city surrounded by gentiles or a flooding river and a ship that is sinking at sea.38ואֵין גּוֹזְרִין תַּעֲנִית עַל הַצִּבּוּר, לֹא בְּשַׁבָּתוֹת וְלֹא בְּיָמִים טוֹבִים. וְכֵן אֵין תּוֹקְעִין בָּהֶן, לֹא בְּשׁוֹפָר וְלֹא בַּחֲצוֹצְרוֹת, וְלֹא זוֹעֲקִים וּמִתְחַנְּנִים בָּהֶם בַּתְּפִלָּה, אֶלָא אִם כֵּן הָיְתָה עִיר שֶׁהִקִּיפוּהָ גּוֹיִים, אוֹ נָהָר, אוֹ סְפִינָה הַמִּטָּרֶפֶת בַּיָּם.
In these instances, and indeed, even when a single individual is being pursued by gentiles, by thieves, or by an evil spirit39 (we may fast because of them on the Sabbath),40 cry out to God, and offer supplications on their behalf in prayer.41אֲפִלּוּ יָחִיד הַנִּרְדָּף מִפְּנֵי גּוֹיִים, וּמִפְּנֵי לִיסְטִים, וּמִפְּנֵי רוּחַ רָעָה - מִתְעַנִּין עֲלֵיהֶם בַּשַּׁבָּת, וְזוֹעֲקִין וּמִתְחַנְּנִים בִּתְפִלּוֹת.
The trumpets should not be sounded42 for them,43 however, unless they are being sounded to gather together the people to help them and try to save them.44אֲבָל אֵין תּוֹקְעִין, אֶלָא אִם כֵּן תָּקְעוּ לְקַבֵּץ אֶת הָעָם לֵילֵךְ וְלַעְזֹר אוֹתָם וּלְהַצִּילָן.
7Similarly, at the outset, a fast should not be ordained on Rosh Chodesh,45 Chanukah, Purim,46 or Chol HaMo’ed.47זוְכֵן אֵין גּוֹזְרִין תַּעֲנִית בַּתְּחִלָּה בְּרָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים, אוֹ בַּחֲנֻכָּה וּפוּרִים, אוֹ בְּחֻלּוֹ שֶׁל מּוֹעֵד.
If, however, the community has begun to fast because of a distressing situation for even a single day, and the schedule of fasts requires that a fast be held on one of the days mentioned above, we should fast, and indeed, fast for the entire day.48וְאִם הִתְחִילוּ לְהִתְעַנּוֹת עַל הַצָּרָה אֲפִלּוּ יוֹם אֶחָד, וּפָגַע בָּהֶן יוֹם מֵאֵלּוּ - מִתְעַנִּין, וּמַשְׁלִימִין הַיּוֹם בַּתַּעֲנִית.
8Pregnant women, nursing women,49 and children50 need not fast51 on communal fasts that are instituted because of difficulties of this nature.52חתַּעֲנִיּוֹת אֵלּוּ שֶׁמִּתְעַנִּין עַל הַצָּרוֹת, אֵין מִתְעַנִּין בָּהֶן לֹא עֻבְרוֹת, וְלֹא מְנִיקוֹת, וְלֹא קְטַנִּים.
With regard to these fasts, even though we are required to fast during the day, we are allowed to eat on the preceding night, with the exception of the fasts instituted for a lack of rain, as will be explained.53וּמֻתָּרִין לֶאֱכֹל בַּלַּיְלָה, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמִּתְעַנִּין לְמָחָר - חוּץ מִתַּעֲנִית הַמָּטָר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר.
Whenever we are allowed to eat on the night of a fast, whether a communal fast or an individual fast, a person is allowed to eat until dawn, provided he does not sleep. If he goes to sleep,54 he may not eat after arising.55וְכָל תַּעֲנִית שֶׁאוֹכְלִין בָּהּ בַּלַּיְלָה, בֵּין צִבּוּר בֵּין יָחִיד - הֲרֵי זֶה אוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹתֶה, עַד שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר. וְהוּא שֶׁלֹּא יָשַׁן; אֲבָל אִם יָשַׁן, אֵינוֹ חוֹזֵר וְאוֹכֵל.
9Just as the community should fast because of distress, so too, each individual should fast when confronted by distress.56טכְּשֵׁם שֶׁצִּבּוּר מִתְעַנִּים עַל צָרָתָן, כָּךְ הַיָּחִיד מִתְעַנֶּה עַל צָרָתוֹ.
What is implied? When an individual to whom a person feels close is sick,57 lost in the desert, or imprisoned, one should fast for his sake,58 ask for mercy for him in prayer, and say the passage Anenu59 in60 all the Shemoneh Esreh prayers recited that day.כֵּיצַד? הֲרֵי שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ חוֹלֶה, אוֹ תּוֹעֶה בַּמִּדְבָּר, אוֹ אָסוּר בְּבֵית הָאֲסוּרִין - יֵשּׁ לוֹ לְהִתְעַנּוֹת עָלָיו, וּלְבַקֵּשׁ רַחֲמִים בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ. וְאוֹמֵר 'עֲנֵנוּ' בְּכָל תְּפִלָּה שֶׁמִּתְפַּלֵּל.
One should not fast on the Sabbath, on festivals, on Rosh Chodesh, on Chanukah, or on Purim.61וְלֹא יִתְעַנֶּה בְּשַׁבָּתוֹת, וְלֹא בְּמוֹעֲדוֹת, וְלֹא בְּרָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים, וְלֹא בַּחֲנֻכָּה וּפוּרִים.
10Whenever an individual did not accept a fast on the previous day before sunset, it is not considered to be a fast.62יכָּל תַּעֲנִית שֶׁלֹּא קִבְּלָהּ עָלָיו הַיָּחִיד מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם, אֵינָהּ תַּעֲנִית.
How does one accept a fast? After reciting the afternoon prayers,63 one states: “Tomorrow I will fast,” and resolves to do so.64 Although one eats at night, this does not detract from one’s commitment to fast.65כֵּיצַד מְקַבְּלָהּ? כְּשֶׁיִּתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלַּת מִנְחָה, אוֹמֵר אַחַר הַתְּפִלָּה 'מָחָר אֶהֵא בְּתַּעֲנִית', וְגוֹמֵר בְּלִבּוֹ לְהִתְעַנּוֹת לְמָחָר. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא אוֹכֵל בַּלַּיְלָה, לֹא הִפְסִיד כְּלוּם.
Similarly, if one resolved to fast for three or four days consecutively and accepts such a fast upon oneself, the fact that one eats each night does not detract from his fast.66 It is unnecessary for him to state his intent on the afternoon before each succeeding day.67 וְכֵן אִם גָּמַר, וְקִבֵּל עָלָיו לְהִתְעַנּוֹת שְׁלוֹשָׁה אוֹ אַרְבָּעָה יָמִים זֶה אַחַר זֶה - אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא אוֹכֵל בְּכָל לַיְלָה וְלַיְלָה, לֹא הִפְסִיד תַּעֲנִיתוֹ, וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ כַּוָּנָה לְכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם מִבְּעוֹדוֹ.
11When a person accepted a resolution to fast on the following day, and indeed, did fast, and on the night following his fast, changed his mind and decided to continue his fast on the following day, it is not considered a fast,68 because he did not accept this commitment while it was still day.69יאקִבֵּל עָלָיו מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם לְהִתְעַנּוֹת לְמָחָר בִּלְבָד, וְהִתְעַנָּה, וּלְלַיְלָה נִמְלַךְ לְהִתְעַנּוֹת בְּיוֹם שֵׁנִי, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלָּן בְּתַעֲנִיתוֹ - אֵינָהּ תַּעֲנִית, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא קִבְּלָהּ עָלָיו מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם.
This applies even if he continued his fast overnight. Needless to say, if he ate and drank at night and woke up in the morning and desired to fast, it is not considered a fast at all.וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר, שֶׁהָיָה אוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹתֶה בַּלַּיְלָה, וְהִשְׁכִּים בַּבֹּקֶר וְנִמְלַךְ לְהִתְעַנּוֹת - שֶׁאֵין זוֹ תַּעֲנִית כְּלָל.
12A person who has a disturbing dream must fast70 on the following day, so that he will be motivated to improve his conduct, inspect his deeds, and turn to God in repentance.71 He should undertake such a fast even on the Sabbath,72 reciting the passage Anenu in each of the prayer services.73 This applies even though he did not resolve on the previous day to fast.74יבהָרוֹאֶה חֲלוֹם רָע - צָרִיךְ לְהִתְעַנּוֹת לְמָחָר, כְּדֵי שֶׁיָּשׁוּב וְיֵעוֹר לְמַעֲשָׂיו וִיחַפֵּשׂ בָּהֶן וְיַחְזֹר בִּתְשׁוּבָה. וּמִתְעַנֶּה וַאֲפִלּוּ בַּשַּׁבָּת. וּמִתְפַּלֵּל 'עֲנֵנוּ' בְּכָל תְּפִלָּה, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא קִבְּלָהּ עָלָיו מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם.
When a person fasts on the Sabbath, he must fast on another day as well, to atone for nullifying the mitzvah of indulging in pleasurable activities on the Sabbath.75וְהַמִּתְעַנֶּה בַּשַּׁבָּת - מִתְעַנֶּה יוֹם אַחֵר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁבִּטֵּל עֹנֶג שַׁבָּת.
13A person may fast for several hours76—i.e., that he not eat anything for the remainder of a day.77 What is implied? A person was involved with his affairs and tended to his concerns without eating until noon or until three in the afternoon.78 Should he make a decision to fast for the remaining hours of the day, he should fast for that time79 and recite the passage Anenu,80 because he accepted the fast before the hours of the fast.81יגמִתְעַנֶּה אָדָם שָׁעוֹת, וְהוּא שֶׁלֹּא יֹאכַל כְּלוּם שְׁאָר הַיּוֹם. כֵּיצַד? הֲרֵי שֶׁהָיָה טָרוּד בַּחֲפָצָיו וּמִתְעַסֵּק בִּצְרָכָיו וְלֹא אָכַל עַד חֲצוֹת אוֹ עַד תֵּשַׁע שָׁעוֹת, וְנִמְלַךְ לְהִתְעַנּוֹת בַּשָּׁעוֹת שֶׁנִּשְׁאֲרוּ מִן הַיּוֹם - הֲרֵי זֶה מִתְעַנֶּה אוֹתָן שָׁעוֹת, וּמִתְפַּלֵּל בָּהֶן 'עֲנֵנוּ', שֶׁהֲרֵי קִבֵּל עָלָיו הַתַּעֲנִית, קֹדֶם שָׁעוֹת הַתַּעֲנִית.
Similarly, if a person ate or drank and then began to fast for the entire day, it is considered to be a fast for several hours.82וְכֵן אִם אָכַל וְשָׁתָה, וְאַחַר כָּךְ הִתְחִיל לְהִתְעַנּוֹת שְׁאָר הַיּוֹם - הֲרֵי זוֹ תַּעֲנִית שָׁעוֹת.
14Whenever a person is fasting, whether he is fasting because of an individual distress, a disturbing dream, or distress of a communal nature, he should not indulge in pleasures, act frivolously, or be happy and of good spirits. Instead, his conduct should be characterized by serious concern, as if he were in mourning, as implied by Eichah 3:39: “Over what should a living man be concerned? Each man over his sins.”83 ידכָּל הַשָּׁרוּי בְּתַעֲנִית - בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה מִתְעַנֶּה עַל צָרָתוֹ אוֹ עַל חֲלוֹמוֹ, בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה מִתְעַנֶּה עִם הַצִּבּוּר עַל צָרָתָם - הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא יִנְהֹג עִדּוּנִין בְּעַצְמוֹ, וְלֹא יָקֵל רֹאשׁוֹ, וְלֹא יִהְיֶה שָׂמֵחַ וְטוֹב לֵב, אֶלָא דּוֹאֵג וְאוֹנֵן, כְּעִנְיַן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "מַה יִּתְאוֹנֵן אָדָם חָי גֶּבֶר עַל חֲטָאָו" (איכה ג, לט).
It is permitted for a person who is fasting to taste even a revi’it84 of food, provided he spits it out without swallowing it.85וּמֻתָּר לוֹ לִטְעֹם אֶת הַתַּבְשִׁיל, וַאֲפִלּוּ בִּכְדֵי רְבִיעִית - וְהוּא שֶׁלֹּא יִבְלַע, אֶלָא טוֹעֵם וּפוֹלֵט.
If a person who is fasting forgets and eats,86 he should complete his fast.87שָׁכַח וְאָכַל, מַשְׁלִים תַּעֲנִיתוֹ.
15When an individual was fasting for a sick person, and the latter recovered, or because of a distressing situation, and the difficulty passed—he should complete his fast.88טויָחִיד שֶׁהָיָה מִתְעַנֶּה עַל הַחוֹלֶה, וְנִתְרַפָּא, עַל צָרָה, וְעָבְרָה - הֲרֵי זֶה מַשְׁלִים תַּעֲנִיתוֹ.
A person who travels from a place where the community is fasting to a place where the community is not fasting should complete his fast.89 One who travels from a place where the community is not fasting to a place where the community is fasting should fast together with them.90 If he forgets and eats and drinks, he should not let himself be seen, nor should he indulge in pleasures.91הַהוֹלֵךְ מִמָקוֹם שֶׁמִּתְעַנִּין לְמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין מִתְעַנִּין, הֲרֵי זֶה מִתְעַנֶּה וּמַשְׁלִים. הָלַךְ מִמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין מִתְעַנִּין לְמָקוֹם שֶׁמִּתְעַנִּין, הֲרֵי זֶה מִתְעַנֶּה עִמָּהֵן. שָׁכַח וְאָכַל וְשָׁתָה, אַל יִתְרָאֶה בִּפְנֵיהֶם וְאַל יִנְהֹג עִדּוּנִין בְּעַצְמוֹ.
16When a community is fasting for the sake of rain, and it begins to rain before noon, the people should not complete their fast.92 Instead, they should eat, drink, and gather together to read the Great Hallel,93 for the Great Hallel is recited only when one’s spirit is satisfied and one’s belly is full.94טזצִבּוּר שֶׁהָיוּ מִתְעַנִּין עַל הַגְּשָׁמִים, וְיָרְדוּ לָהֶן גְּשָׁמִים: אִם קֹדֶם חֲצוֹת - לֹא יַשְׁלִימוּ, אֶלָא אוֹכְלִין וְשׁוֹתִין, וּמִתְכַּנְּסִין וְקוֹרְאִין הַלֵּל הַגָּדוֹל; שֶׁאֵין אוֹמְרִין הַלֵּל הַגָּדוֹל אֶלָא בְּנֶפֶשׁ שְׂבֵעָה וְכָרֵס מְלֵאָה.
If the rains descended after noon, since the majority of the day had passed in holiness,95 they should complete their fast.96וְאִם אַחַר חֲצוֹת, הוֹאִיל וְעָבַר רֹב הַיּוֹם בִּקְדֻשָּׁה - יַשְׁלִימוּ תַּעֲנִיתָן.
Similar rules apply if a community97 was fasting because of a distressing situation and the distress passed, or because of a harsh decree and the decree was nullified:98 If this occurred before noon, they need not complete their fast;99 after noon, they should complete their fast.100וְכֵן אִם הָיוּ מִתְעַנִּין עַל צָרָה וְעָבְרָה, אוֹ עַל גְּזֵרָה וּבָטְלָה: אִם קֹדֶם חֲצוֹת, לֹא יַשְׁלִימוּ; וְאִם אַחַר חֲצוֹת, יַשְׁלִימוּ.
17Whenever there is a communal fast that was instituted for a distressing circumstance, the community’s court and its elders sit in the synagogue and review the conduct of the city’s inhabitants from the time the morning prayers were concluded until noon. They remove the stumbling blocks that lead to sin. They give warnings, enquire, and investigate all those who pursue violence and sin, and encourage them to depart from these ways. Similarly, they investigate people who coerce others and humble them. They also occupy themselves with other similar matters.101יזבְּכָל יוֹם תַּעֲנִית שֶׁגּוֹזְרִין עַל הַצִּבּוּר מִפְּנֵי הַצָּרוֹת, בֵּית דִּין וְהַזְּקֵנִים יוֹשְׁבִין בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת וּבוֹדְקִים עַל מַעֲשֵׂה אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר, מֵאַחַר תְּפִלַּת שַׁחְרִית עַד חֲצִי הַיּוֹם; וּמְסִירִין הַמִּכְשׁוֹלוֹת שֶׁל עֲבֵרוֹת, וּמַזְהִירִין וְדוֹרְשִׁין וְחוֹקְרִין עַל בַּעֲלֵי חָמָס וַעֲבֵרוֹת וּמַפְרִישִׁין אוֹתָן, וְעַל בַּעֲלֵי זְרוֹעַ וּמַשְׁפִּילִין אוֹתָן, וְכַיּוֹצֵא בִּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ.
This is what would happen from noon until the evening: During the third quarter of the day, they would read the blessings and the curses in the Torah102 as implied by Proverbs 3:11: “My son, do not despise the instruction of the Lord, and do not reject His rebuke.”103 As the haftarah,104 they would read a portion from the prophets appropriate to the distress for which they are fasting.וּמֵחֲצִי הַיּוֹם וְלָעֶרֶב, רְבִיעַ הַיּוֹם קוֹרְאִין בִּבְרָכוֹת וּקְלָלוֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "מוּסַר ה' בְּנִי אַל תִּמְאָס וְאַל תָּקֹץ בְּתוֹכַחְתּוֹ" (משלי ג, יא); וּמַפְטִירִין בַּנָּבִיא בְּתוֹכֵחוֹת מֵעִנְיַן הַצָּרָה.
During the fourth quarter of the day, the Afternoon Service is recited, supplications are made, the people cry out to God and confess according to their capability.וּרְבִיעַ הַיּוֹם הָאַחֲרוֹן, מִתְפַּלְּלִים מִנְחָה וּמִתְחַנְּנִים וְזוֹעֲקִים וּמִתְוַדִּים כְּפִי כּוֹחָם.