Question:
While fasting on a public fast day, I absentmindedly picked up a drink and recited a blessing. Before taking a sip, I suddenly remembered that I was fasting. What should I do now? Must I drink in order to avoid making a bracha levatalah, or should I refrain from eating or drinking despite having already recited the blessing?
Short Answer:
There is a dispute amongst the Poskim regarding the proper course of action.
Some Poskim rule that one should taste and swallow a small amount of the food or drink in order to avoid the blessing being in vain. Other Poskim rule that one should not eat or drink at all, and should instead recite “Baruch Sheim Kevod Malchuso Leolam Vaed” after the mistaken blessing. Practically, the latter opinion is the preferred approach, and one should refrain from eating or drinking and instead recite Baruch Sheim Kevod Malchuso Leolam Vaed.
Explanation:
One of the challenges that occasionally arises on a fast day is that a person acts out of habit. Throughout the year we are accustomed to drinking, snacking, and reciting blessings before eating. Sometimes, especially during the morning hours, a person may automatically take a drink, recite a bracha, and only then realize that he is observing a fast.
At first glance, it would seem obvious that he should take a sip. After all, Chazal teach that one should not recite a blessing in vain, and generally speaking, if a person recites a blessing over food he is expected to eat it. Accordingly, a number of Poskim rule that after reciting the blessing he should taste a small amount and swallow it, thereby preventing the blessing from becoming a bracha levatalah.
However, other Poskim disagree. They argue that once the person remembers that it is a fast day, he may not intentionally break his fast merely in order to validate the blessing. Rather, he should immediately refrain from eating or drinking and recite “Baruch Sheim Kevod Malchuso Leolam Vaed”, which is customarily said after an unnecessary blessing.
The debate revolves around which concern takes precedence. On the one hand is the prohibition of a blessing recited in vain. On the other hand is the obligation to continue fasting and not intentionally consume food or drink once one remembers that he is in the midst of a taanis.
Practically, many later authorities lean towards the second approach. Since he has already remembered that he is fasting, he should not now intentionally eat or drink. Instead, he should recite Baruch Sheim Kevod Malchuso Leolam Vaed and continue his fast.
It should be noted that this discussion applies when he remembered before consuming anything. If he already swallowed food or drink before realizing that it was a fast day, the situation is obviously different, as the fast has already been broken.
Summary Table
| Situation | Ruling |
| Recited a bracha and then remembered it is a fast day | Subject to dispute among Poskim |
| Opinion #1 | Taste and swallow a small amount |
| Opinion #2 | Do not eat or drink; recite Baruch Sheim Kevod Malchuso Leolam Vaed |
| Practical ruling | Follow Opinion #2 and continue fasting |
Sources:
- Opinion that one should eat a small amount: Birkei Yosef 568:1 in the name of Nechpa BakesefC. 6, brought in Shaarei Teshuvah 568:1 regarding a Taanis Yachid; Halachos Ketanos 252; Yabia Omer Y.D. 2:5 that the same applies regarding a public fast.
- Opinion that one should not eat and should recite Baruch Sheim: Birkei Yosef 568:1 in the name of Admas Kodesh 1:13; Erech Hashulchan 568:2; Shaarei Teshuvah 568:1 regarding a public fast; Likkutei Mateh Yehuda; Zechor LeAvraham Taf; Kaf HaChaim 568:16; Daas Torah 568; Shevet Hasofer
- Discussion of the issue and practical ruling: Sdei Chemed, Mareches Basar Bechalav 12; Michtav LeChizkiyahu 5; Piskei Teshuvos 568:2.