1We should adhere to the following procedure when no rain at all has descended from the beginning of the rainy season onward:1 If the seventeenth of Marcheshvan arrives and no rains have descended,2 the Torah scholars should begin to fast,3 starting on a Monday4 and continuing on the following Thursday, and the following Monday.5 All students of the Torah are fit to accept these fasts upon themselves.6אהֲרֵי שֶׁלֹּא יָרְדוּ לָהֶם גְּשָׁמִים כָּל עִיקָר מִתְחִלַּת יְמוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים: אִם הִגִּיעַ שִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר בְּמַר חֶשְׁוָן וְלֹא יָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים, מַתְחִילִין תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים בִּלְבָד לְהִתְעַנּוֹת, שֵׁנִי וַחֲמִישִׁי וְשֵׁנִי; וְכָל הַתַּלְמִידִים רְאוּיִין לְכָּךְ.
2If Rosh Chodesh Kislev arrives without the rains having descended,7 the court should decree three communal fasts, starting on a Monday,8 and continuing on the following Thursday, and the following Monday.9 It is permitted to eat and drink at night.10 The men serving in the weekly priestly watch11 should not fast with them because they are involved in the Temple service.12 On these days, the entire people should enter the synagogue, pray, cry out to God,13 and make supplications as is customary on all fasts.14בהִגִּיעַ רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ כִּסְלֵו וְלֹא יָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים - בֵּית דִּין גּוֹזְרִין שָׁלוֹשׁ תַּעֲנִיּוֹת עַל הַצִּבּוּר, שֵׁנִי וַחֲמִישִׁי וְשֵׁנִי; וּמֻתָּרִין בָּהֶן לֶאֱכֹל וְלִשְׁתּוֹת בַּלַּיְלָה. וְאַנְשֵׁי מִשְׁמָר אֵין מִתְעַנִּין עִמָּהֵן, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן עוֹסְקִין בָּעֲבוֹדָה. וְכָל הָעָם נִכְנָסִים לְבָתֵּי כְּנָסִיּוֹת, וּמִתְפַּלְּלִין וְזוֹעֲקִין וּמִתְחַנְּנִין, כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁעוֹשִׂין בְּכָל הַתַּעֲנִיּוֹת.
3If these fasts pass without their prayers being answered,15 the court should decree an additional three communal fasts.16 On these fasts, we eat and drink while it is still day on the day before the fast, as on the fast of Yom Kippur.17 The men serving in the weekly priestly watch should fast for part of the day,18 but should not complete the fast.19 The men of the beit av—those individuals who are involved in the Temple service that day—should not fast at all.20געָבְרוּ אֵלּוּ וְלֹא נֶעְנוּ - בֵּית דִּין גּוֹזְרִין שָׁלוֹשׁ תַּעֲנִיּוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת עַל הַצִּבּוּר, חֲמִישִׁי וְשֵׁנִי וַחֲמִישִׁי. וּבְשָׁלוֹשׁ אֵלּוּ אוֹכְלִין וְשׁוֹתִין מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁעוֹשִׂין בְּצוֹם כִּפּוּר. וְאַנְשֵׁי מִשְׁמָר מִתְעַנִּין מִקְצַת הַיּוֹם, וְלֹא מַשְׁלִימִין. וְאַנְשֵׁי בֵּית אָב, וְהֵם הָעוֹסְקִין בָּעֲבוֹדָה בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, לֹא יִהְיוּ מִתְעַנִּים כָּל עִיקָר.
On a fast for which we are required to cease eating while it is still day, once a person has ceased eating21 and decided not to eat any more,22 he may not change his mind and eat, even though there is still time during the day.23וְכָל תַּעֲנִית שֶׁאוֹכְלִין בָּהּ מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם - אִם אָכַל וּפָסַק וְגָמַר שֶׁלֹּא לֶאֱכֹל, אֵינוֹ חוֹזֵר וְאוֹכֵל, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁהוּת בַּיּוֹם.
4On these three fasts, all people are forbidden24 to perform work during the day,25 but they are permitted during the previous night.26 It is forbidden for a person to wash his entire body in hot water,27 but one may wash one’s face, hands, and feet.28 For this reason, the bathhouses are closed.29 It is forbidden to anoint oneself.30 One may, however, do so to remove filth.31 Sexual relations are forbidden,32 as is wearing shoes in a city. One may, however, wear shoes on a journey.33 We pray in the synagogues,34 cry out to God, and make supplications as is customary on all fasts.35דבְּשָׁלוֹשׁ תַּעֲנִיּוֹת אֵלּוּ, כָּל הָעָם אֲסוּרִין בַּעֲשִׂיַּת מְלָאכָה בַּיּוֹם, וּמֻתָּרִין בַּלַּיְלָה. וַאֲסוּרִין בִּרְחִיצַת כָּל הַגּוּף בְּחַמִּין, אֲבָל פָּנָיו יָדָיו וְרַגְלָיו מֻתָּר; לְפִיכָךְ נוֹעֲלִין אֶת הַמֶּרְחֲצָאוֹת. וַאֲסוּרִין בְּסִיכָה. וְאִם לְהַעֲבִיר אֶת הַזֻּהְמָה, מֻתָּר. וַאֲסוּרִין בְּתַשְׁמִישׁ הַמִּטָּה. וּבִנְעִילַת הַסַּנְדָּל - בָּעִיר, אֲבָל בַּדֶּרֶךְ, מֻתָּר לִנְעֹל. וּמִתְפַלְּלִין בְּבָתֵּי כְּנָסִיּוֹת, וְזוֹעֲקִין וּמִתְחַנְּנִין כִּשְׁאָר הַתַּעֲנִיּוֹת.

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.

5If these fasts pass without their prayers being answered, the court decrees another seven communal fasts, beginning on the next Monday, and continuing as follows: Thursday, Monday, Thursday, Monday, Thursday, and Monday. It is only on these seven fasts36 that pregnant and nursing women37 are required to fast. On the other fast days, although they are not obligated to fast,38 they should not indulge in delicacies. Instead, they should eat only what is necessary to maintain their babies.העָבְרוּ אֵלּוּ וְלֹא נֶעְנוּ - בֵּית דִּין גּוֹזְרִין שֶׁבַע תַּעֲנִיּוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת עַל הַצִּבּוּר, שֵׁנִי וַחֲמִישִׁי וְשֵׁנִי וַחֲמִישִׁי וְשֵׁנִי וַחֲמִישִׁי וְשֵׁנִי. וּבְאֵלּוּ הַשֶּׁבַע בִּלְבָד, עֻבָּרוֹת וּמְנִיקוֹת מִתְעַנּוֹת, אֲבָל בִּשְׁאָר הַתַּעֲנִיּוֹת אֵין עֻבְרוֹת וּמְנִיקוֹת מִתְעַנּוֹת. וְאַף עַל פִּי שְׁאֵינָן מִתְעַנּוֹת, אֵין מְעַנְּגִין עַצְמָן בְּפִנּוּקִין, אֶלָא אוֹכְלוֹת וְשׁוֹתוֹת כְּדֵי קִיּוּם הַוָּלָד.
6On these seven fasts the men serving in the weekly priestly watch should fast for the entire day. The men of the beit av should fast for a portion of the day, but should not complete their fast.39 All the prohibitions in force during the second set of fasts are also in force during these last seven fasts.40ווּבְשֶׁבַע תַּעֲנִיּוֹת אֵלּוּ, אַנְשֵׁי מִשְׁמָר מִתְעַנִּין וּמַשְׁלִימִין; וְאַנְשֵׁי בֵּית אָב מִתְעַנִּין מִקְצַת הַיּוֹם, וְלֹא מַשְׁלִימִין. וְכָל דָּבָר שֶׁהוּא אָסוּר בְּשָׁלוֹשׁ אֶמְצָעִיּוֹת, אָסוּר בְּאֵלּוּ הַשֶּׁבַע הָאַחֲרוֹנוֹת.
7There are additional dimensions of severity to these fasts:41 it is on these alone that we sound the trumpets,42 pray in the street of the city,43 call on an elder to admonish the people and motivate them to repent from their evil ways,44 add six blessings in the morning45 and afternoon prayers46—thus, we recite twenty-four blessings,47 and close the stores.48זוִיתֵרוֹת אֵלּוּ, שֶׁבָּהֶן בִּלְבָד מַתְרִיעִין וּמִתְפַּלְּלִין בִּרְחוֹב הָעִיר; וּמוֹרִידִין זָקֵן לְהוֹכִיחַ לָעָם, כְּדֵי שֶׁיָּשׁוּבוּ מִדַּרְכָּם. וּמוֹסִיפִין שֵׁשׁ בְּרָכוֹת בִּתְפִלַּת שַׁחְרִית וּבִתְפִלַּת מִנְחָה - וְנִמְצְאוּ מִתְפַּלְּלִין אַרְבַּע וְעֶשְׂרִים בְּרָכוֹת. וְנוֹעֲלִין אֶת הַחֲנִיּוֹת.
On Mondays, the doors of the stores49 are left slightly ajar towards evening50 and they may be opened for business.51 On Thursdays, the stores may be opened the entire day to allow people to purchase food in honor of the Sabbath.52וּבְשֵׁנִי מַטִּין לְעֵת עֶרֶב וּפוֹתְחִין אֶת הַחֲנִיּוֹת. אֲבָל בַּחֲמִישִׁי, פּוֹתְחִין כָּל הַיּוֹם, מִפְּנֵי כְּבוֹד הַשַּׁבָּת.
If a store has two entrances, one entrance should be opened and the other closed.53וְאִם יֵשׁ לֶחָנוּת שְׁנֵי פְּתָחִים, פּוֹתֵחַ אַחַת וְנוֹעֵל אַחַת.
If the store has a display area54 in front of it, it may be opened in the normal manner on a Thursday without concern for the above restriction.55וְאִם יֵשׁ לֶחָנוּת אִצְטַבָּה לְפָנֶיהָ - פּוֹתֵחַ כְּדַרְכּוֹ בַּחֲמִישִׁי, וְאֵינוֹ חוֹשֵׁשׁ.
8If these fasts pass without their prayers being answered,56 we should minimize our commercial activity,57 construction projects associated with joy—e.g., those involving decorative patterns on the ceilings and walls,58 plantings59 associated with joy—e.g., that of myrtle trees,60 and the erection of tents.61חעָבְרוּ אֵלּוּ וְלֹא נֶעְנוּ - מְמַעֲטִין בְּמַשָּׂא וּמַתָּן, וּבְבִנְיָן שֶׁל שִׂמְחָה כְּגוֹן צִיּוּר וְכִיּוּר, וּבִנְטִיעָה שֶׁל שִׂמְחָה כְּגוֹן מִינֵי הֲדָס וַאֲהָלִים.
We also minimize betrothals and marriages,62 unless one has not fulfilled the mitzvah of being fruitful and multiplying.63 Whoever has fulfilled this mitzvah is forbidden to engage in sexual relations in a year of famine.64וּמְמַעֲטִין בְּאֵרוּסִין וְנִשּׂוּאִין, אֶלָא אִם כֵּן לֹא קִיֵּם מִצְוַת פִּרְיָה וְרִבְיָה; וְכָל מִי שֶׁקִיֵּם מִצְוַת פִּרְיָה וְרִבְיָה, אָסוּר לוֹ לְשַׁמֵּשׁ מִטָּתוֹ בִּשְׁנֵי רֵעָבוֹן.
We also reduce the exchange of greetings, and the Torah sages should not exchange greetings at all.65 Rather, they should conduct themselves as people who have been rebuffed and ostracized by God.66 When a common person greets them, they may return the greeting67 in a weak and concerned tone.68וּמְמַעֲטִין בִּשְׁאֵלַת שָׁלוֹם בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ. וְתַלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים לֹא יִשְׁאֲלוּ שָׁלוֹם, כִּנְזוּפִין וְכִמְנֻדִּין לַמָּקוֹם, וְעַם הָאָרֶץ שֶׁנָּתַן לָהֶם שָׁלוֹם, מַחְזִירִין לוֹ בְּשָׂפָה רָפָה וְכֹבֶד רֹאשׁ.
9The Torah scholars alone continue to fast,69 beginning on the next Monday, and continuing on the following Thursday and Monday70 in this manner until the month of Nisan71—as determined in relation to the spring season72—passes. This is not, however, required of the community. No more than these thirteen communal fasts are decreed because of a lack of rainfall.73 When these individuals fast until Nisan passes, they are allowed to eat at night74 and are allowed to perform work, to wash, to anoint themselves, to engage in sexual relations, and to wear shoes as on other fast days.75 They do not fast on Rashei Chodashim, nor on Purim.76טתַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים חוֹזְרִין לְבַדָּם, וּמִתְעַנִּים חֲמִישִׁי וְשֵׁנִי וַחֲמִישִׁי וְשֵׁנִי, עַד שֶׁיֵּצֵא נִיסָן שֶׁל תְקוּפָה; אֲבָל לֹא הַצִּבּוּר, שֶׁאֵין גּוֹזְרִין עַל הַצִּבּוּר בִּשְׁבִיל גְּשָׁמִים שֶׁלֹּא יָרְדוּ יָתֵר מִשְּׁלוֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה תַּעֲנִיּוֹת אֵלּוּ. וּכְשֶׁמִּתְעַנִּין הַיְּחִידִים עַד שֶׁיֵּצֵא נִיסָן, מֻתָּרִין לֶאֱכֹל בַּלַּיְלָה, וּמֻתָּרִין בַּעֲשִׂיַּת מְלָאכָה, וּבִרְחִיצָה, וְסִיכָה, וְתַשְׁמִישׁ, וּנְעִילַת הַסַּנְדָּל, כִּשְׁאָר כָּל הַתַּעֲנִיּוֹת. וּמַפְסִיקִין לְרָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים וּלַפּוּרִים.
After the month of Nisan, as determined in relation to the spring season, passes —i.e.,77 when the sun enters the sign78 of the bull79—they should cease fasting. Since no rain has descended from the beginning of the year, rain in this season would be a sign of a curse.80יָצָא נִיסָן שֶׁל תְקוּפָה, וְהוּא כְּשֶׁתַּגִּיעַ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ לִתְחִלַּת מַזַּל שׁוֹר - אֵין מִתְעַנִּים; שֶׁאֵין הַגְּשָׁמִים בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה אֶלָא סִימָן קְלָלָה, הוֹאִיל וְלֹא יָרְדוּ כָּל עִיקָר מִתְּחִלַּת הַשָּׁנָה.
10Where does the above apply? In Eretz Yisrael and in similar lands.81 In contrast, in places where the rainy season begins before or after the seventeenth of Marcheshvan,82 when the time for the rains arrives and no rain descends, individuals should begin a series of three fasts, starting on Monday and continuing on the following Thursday and Monday. They should not fast on Rashei Chodashim, Chanukah, or Purim.83 Afterwards, they should wait approximately seven days.84 If rain does not descend, the court should decree thirteen communal fasts, according to the order described above.85 יבַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְכָל הַדּוֹמֶה לָהּ. אֲבָל מְקוֹמוֹת שֶׁעוֹנַת הַגְּשָׁמִים שֶׁלָהֶן קֹדֶם שִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר בְּמַר חֶשְׁוָן, אוֹ לְאַחַר זְמָן זֶה - כְּשֶׁיַּגִּיעַ זְמַנָּם וְלֹא יָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים, יְחִידִים מִתְעַנִּים שֵׁנִי וַחֲמִישִׁי וְשֵׁנִי. וּמַפְסִיקִין בְּרָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים וַחֲנֻכָּה וּפוּרִים. וְשׁוֹהִין אַחֲרֵי כֵן כְּמוֹ שִׁבְעָה יָמִים; אִם לֹא יָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים - בֵּית דִּין גּוֹזְרִין עַל הַצִּבּוּר שְׁלוֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה תַּעֲנִיּוֹת עַל הַסֵּדֶר שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ.
11The following laws apply to all the communal fasts decreed in the Diaspora: It is permitted to eat during the night,86 and they are governed by the same laws as other fasts.87 A communal fast resembling Yom Kippur is decreed only in Eretz Yisrael,88 and only because of a lack of rain.89 This refers to the latter ten fasts—i.e., the middle series of three fasts and the final series of seven fasts.יאכָּל תַּעֲנִית שֶׁגּוֹזְרִין הַצִּבּוּר בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ - אוֹכְלִים בָּהּ בַּלַּיְלָה, וְדִינָהּ כְּדִין שְׁאָר הַתַּעֲנִיּוֹת; שֶׁאֵין גּוֹזְרִין עַל הַצִּבּוּר תַּעֲנִית כְּגוֹן צוֹם כִּפּוּר אֶלָא בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּלְבָד, וּבִגְלַל הַמָּטָר, וּבְאוֹתָן עֶשֶׂר תַּעֲנִיּוֹת, שֶׁהֵן שָׁלוֹשׁ אֶמְצָעִיּוֹת וְשֶׁבַע אַחֲרוֹנוֹת.