Halachah 1 — Minimum Amounts for Liability
A person is liable for eating on Yom Kippur only if he consumes a minimum measure:
🍽️ Food:
- Size of a large date (less than an egg)
🥤 Drink:
- A cheekful (depends on the person)
Key rules:
- All foods combine to reach the measure
- All liquids combine
- Food and drink do NOT combine
Halachah 2 — Even Forbidden Foods Count
If a person eats any food that is fit for human consumption:
→ He is liable for karet, even if the food itself is forbidden
Examples:
- Non-kosher meat
- Blood
- Forbidden sacrificial foods
Halachah 3 — Eating Less Than the Minimum
If one eats less than the required amount:
- No karet
- Still forbidden by Torah
Result:
- Receives rabbinic lashes
Halachah 4 — Combining Small Amounts Over Time
Small amounts combine only if eaten within a certain timeframe.
For food:
- Within the time it takes to eat 3 eggs’ worth
For drink:
- Within the time it takes to drink a revi’it
If too much time passes: → They do NOT combine
Halachah 5 — Inedible Substances
If a person eats or drinks something not fit for consumption:
→ No karet, even if in large amounts
Examples:
- Bitter herbs
- Strong vinegar
- Brine
Still:
- Receives rabbinic lashes
Halachah 6 — Borderline Foods
- Diluted vinegar → liable
- Fresh ginger → liable
- Dry spices → not liable
Also:
- Edible plant growth → liable
- Woody or inedible growth → not liable
Halachah 7 — Mixed Foods
When food contains added elements:
- Salt on meat → counts as food
- Brine on vegetables → counts
Important case:
If a person overeats to the point of disgust:
→ Additional eating does NOT count
(because it is no longer considered normal eating)
Halachah 8 — Feeding the Sick
If someone is dangerously ill:
→ We feed him immediately
Rules:
- Even if doctors say no → listen to patient
- If patient says no but doctor says yes → follow doctor
- If there’s disagreement → be lenient and feed
Halachah 9 — Urgent Hunger or Pregnancy
Pregnant woman:
- First: remind her it is Yom Kippur
- If still distressed → she may eat
Severe hunger:
- Feed immediately
- Even non-kosher food if necessary
No delays when danger is possible.
Halachah 10 — Training Children
Children are trained gradually:
Ages 9–10:
- Delay eating by a few hours
Age 11:
- Full fast (rabbinic obligation)
Halachah 11 — Full Obligation Age
- Girls: 12 + signs of maturity
- Boys: 13 + signs
→ Full Torah obligation
If no physical maturity:
- Still rabbinically obligated
Younger than 9: → should NOT fast (danger)