Question:
I wasn’t feeling well on Shivah Asar B’Tammuz and my Rav told me not to fast. When I came to shul, they needed a Chazan and asked me to lead. I felt uncomfortable—am I allowed to be the Chazan if I’m not fasting, or should I decline?
Answer:
One who is not fasting should not serve as the Chazan. However, if there is no one else available who is fasting, he may lead the tefillah. In such a case, he should say Aneinu in Shomeia Tefila, and recite “Aneinu Beyom Tzom Hataanis Hazeh.
Explanation:
On public fast days such as Shivah Asar B’Tammuz, the Chazan ideally represents the congregation in prayer and is expected to share in the communal fast. For this reason, the halachic preference is that the Chazan be someone who is actually fasting. If he is not fasting, how could he say the prayer of Anrinu and say in it “the day of our fast?” Therefore, if a person is not fasting—even for a valid reason, such as illness—he should not initially serve as the Chazan. This applies even if he is otherwise fully qualified and capable.
However, this restriction is not absolute. If no one else suitable is available who is fasting, the non-fasting individual may step in and serve as Chazan. In such a case, the need for the congregation to have a proper tefillah takes precedence. However, in such a case, while he should say Aneinu in Shomeia Tefila, he should recite “Aneinu Beyom Tzom Hataanis Hazeh” instead of “Yom Taaniseinu”.
Practically, in your situation, since you were not fasting due to valid halachic reasons, you should have declined if another appropriate person who was fasting was available. But if you were genuinely the only viable option, it would have been permitted for you to lead.
Source:
- The requirement that a Chazan on a fast day should be fasting: Michaber 566:5; Tur 566 in name of Rebbe Nasan; Beis Yosef 566 in name of Abudarham in name of Rav Amram; Kol Bo in name of Rav Yehudaiy; See Kaf Hachaim 566:41; Nitei Gavriel Bein Hametzarim 9:10; 12:1-2
- The permission for a non-fasting individual to serve as Chazan if no one else is available: M”A 566:7; Tur 566
- That in such a case, he should say Aneinu in Shomeia Tefila, and recite “Aneinu Beyom Tzom Hataanis Hazeh: M”A ibid; Elya Raba 566:8; Yad Aaron on Tur; Chayeh Adam 132:33; Shalmei Tzibur p. 79; Siddur Beis Oveid; M”B 566:18; Kaf Hachaim 566:41