Fast Days

It is a mitzvah, ordained by the prophets, to fast on those days on which tragic events occurred to our forefathers.

In analyzing Maimonides' description of the future transformation of the current fast days into days of celebration in the Messianic era, this class sheds new light on the nature of things to come. (Likutei Sichos volume 15, p. 412)

There is an ancient custom that on a public fast day, the rabbi delivers a special sermon known as "divrei kivushin" (lit. "words that conquer the heart.")

Barring any specific medical conditions, some good planning and some practical coping techniques will allow most women in a low-risk pregnancy to manage a twenty-five hour fast without any complications to the pregnancy or risk to their babies...

The Jewish calendar contains several fast days, most of them commemorating various landmark events that revolve around the destruction of the Holy Temples. Learn how these days are observed.

Although the Jewish year is filled with wonderful holidays in abundance several times a year—six, to be precise—we fast. Some people find fasting quite arduous, so there are some pointers that can help ease the fast-related hunger pangs.

The Torah reading for a Taanis Tzibur, a public fast day, when the portion of Vayichal is read.

Observed (the day) before Purim, it commemorates the fasting of our ancestors in the Purim story.

In the future, when Moshiach comes the fast days will be transformed from days of mourning to days of rejoicing.