Daily Tanya Monday 11th Tamuz Igeres Hateshuvah Chapter 3 Part 2: Who Should Fast?

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11th Tamuz

1.      Who Should Fast

  • Frequent fasting is appropriate only for those who are healthy and strong, much like in earlier generations.
  • Those whose health may be harmed by numerous fasts should avoid them, even for severe sins.

2.      Limitations on Fasting

  • Even in past generations, only the robust would undertake many fasts; others who could not endure it were discouraged from doing so.
  • Fasting beyond one’s capacity is considered sinful, even if done for repentance.

3.      Special Considerations for Torah Scholars

  • Torah scholars are especially discouraged from excessive fasting, as it may weaken them and diminish their ability to study Torah.

4.      Alternative to Fasting: Charity

  • The main recommendation for those unable to fast is to give charity in place of fasting, as indicated by the verse: “And your sins will be redeemed with charity.”
  • For every day of atonement fasting, one should give the equivalent of 18 Polish coins, or more for the wealthy, according to their means.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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