Tzom Gedalia Nidcheh – When Tzom Gedalia falls on Shabbos and is differed to Sunday

Taanis Nidcheh – Tzom Gedalia falls on Shabbos:

A. When is the fast to take place:[1]

Whenever one of the four fasts fall on Shabbos, the fast takes place after Shabbos. [Thus, if Tzom Gedalia falls on Shabbos, the fast takes place on Sunday, the 4th of Tishreiy. It is permitted to have marital relations on this Shabbos of the 3rd of Tishreiy according to all opinions.[2]]

B. How sick must a person be to be exempt from the fast?[12]

One who is sick is exempt from fasting, [and is even prohibited to be stringent upon himself to fast[13]].[14] This applies even if there is no danger involved in his illness.[15] He is not required to make up the fast on a later date when he feels healthy.[16] Normally, one must be sick enough that he feels weak in his entire body due to the illness, or is bedridden.[17] However, if the fast fell on Shabbos and was hence differed to Sunday, one may be lenient even if it is a slightly sick, and is not bedridden.[18]

C. Exemptions for fasting on Taanis Nidche:[19]

Sick: If the fast fell on Shabbos and was hence differed to Sunday, one may be lenient not to fast even if he or she is a slightly sick, and is not bedridden.

Pregnant and nursing: A pregnant [or nursing[20]] woman may break her fast if she feels even slightly sick [or weak].[21] [This applies even according to the custom for pregnant and nursing woman to fast. Practically, as stated above, pregnant and nursing woman are accustomed not to fast even by a regular fast day, as they are all considered weak.]

Yoledes-After birth:[22] Certainly a Yoledes within 30 days is not to fast on a Nidche fast.

Fasting until Mincha:[23] In all the above cases of exemption, there is no need for the person to fast until Mincha time and he may eat right away in the morning [or even at night].

D. Making a Bris Milah on Tzom Gedalia:[24]

The Baal Bris [father of the child, Mohel and Sandak[25]] are all required to fast the entire day even though the Bris is taking place that day. Thus, the Seudas Mitzvah is to take place only after the fast.

Taanis Nidche-If the fast was pushed off to Sunday:[26] In the event that the fast fell on Shabbos and was hence pushed off to Sunday, then one who has a Bris taking place on Sunday is not required to fast until night. Rather [after midday[27]] he is to Daven Mincha early. After he Davens Mincha he may then eat. The same applies for all the Baalei Bris [however not for anyone else invited to the Bris, including the Kvatrin, which must fast until night[28]]. [Nevertheless, they are not to make a large meal during the day as is normally done on the day of a Bris, and thus the main meal is to take place at night.[29] Nevertheless, despite the above ruling, some Poskim[30] rule that even on a Taanis Nidche the Baal Bris is to fast the entire day as usual, and so is the custom of certain communities.[31] However most communities are lenient in this matter as is the plain ruling in Shulchan Aruch.[32]]

E. Pidyon Haben:[36]

If a Pidyon Haben is set to take place on a fast day the father and Kohen must nevertheless fast until night as usual, and the meal is to take place at night, after the fast.

Taanis Nidche: In the event that the fast fell on Shabbos and was hence pushed off to Sunday, then if a Pidyon Haben is taking place on Sunday, the father and Kohen is not required to fast until night. Rather after midday he is to Daven Mincha early and he may then eat.[37] Nevertheless the meal is to take place only after the fast.[38]

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[1] Michaber 550:3; Rambam Taanis 5; Mishneh Megillah 5 as explained in Rashi

[2] Ashel Avraham Butchach 550; Piskeiy Teshuvos 550:9

[3] See Piskeiy Teshuvos 550:4

[4] Avnei Nezer 426; Kinyan Torah 3:71; 460

[5] The reason: As the fast is merely a Tashlumin for Shabbos, and on Shabbos they were still children and not yet obligated. [Poskim ibid]

[6] Maharsham 3:363; Divrei Malkiel 5:130; Tzafnas Paneiach 44; Shevet Halevi 4:72; 6:70-71; Lehoros Nasan 5:36; Beir Moshe 8:20-21; Even Yisrael 7:26;

[7] The reason: As the fast is not Tashlumin [See Rashba 1:520] and even if it is Tashlumin, the child was only exempt due to weakness, and was not truly exempt on Shabbos. [Maharsham ibid]

[8] Shearim Hametzuyanim Behalacha 124:7; Tzitz Eliezer 9:27; Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid

[9] Ritva Taanis; Peri Hadamah 4:41; M”A 550:5; Kesones Yosef 5; Beis Yehuda 31; Birkeiy Yosef 549:2; Kaf Hachaim 549:9

The reason: As the mourning of the public differs the Holiday of an individual. [Ritva ibid]

Other Poskim: Some Poskim are lenient in this matter and rule a Chasan is not required to fast, as his Yom Tov is greater than the Yom Tov of Mila and hence pushes off Aveilus. [Beis David 476 brought in Kaf Hachaim ibid]

[10] M”A 559:11 in name of Kneses Hagedola; brought in Shaareiy Tziyon 559:34

[11] Shaareiy Tziyon 559:34 in name of Beis Yehuda brought in Pischeiy Teshuvah

^[12] Michaber 554:6 regarding Tishe Be’av; Rama 686:2 [regarding Taanis Esther]; Chayeh Adam 133:6; M”B 550:4; Kaf Hachaim 550:7

[13] M”B ibid; Kaf Hachaim ibid

[14] The reason: As the Sages did not institute the fast for those who are sick [Michaber ibid]

[15] Chayeh Adam 133:6; M”B 550:4; See Q&A for definition of sick

[16] See Rama 686:2; M”B 686:5; Shaareiy Tziyon 586:11; Kaf Hachaim 686:22

[17] As this is considered a Choleh Sheiyn Bo Sakana, mentioned in M”B 550:4; and so is implied also from Aruch Hashulchan 550:7; and Hagahos Rav Akiva Eiger 559:9; See however Aruch Hashulchan 554:7 that this applies even if he is not bedridden; See Nitei Gavriel 5:4 in name of Maharam Bent 550 that even if he is slightly ill one may be lenient

[18] So rules regarding even Tisha B’av Nidche: Shvus Yaakov 3:37; Hagahos Rav Akiva Eiger 559:9; Nitei Gavriel 5:9

[19] Shvus Yaakov 3:37 “And so I am accustomed to rule regarding a slightly ill person, or a Yoledes within 30 days, or a pregnant woman and slightly ill”; Hagahos Rav Akiva Eiger 559:9 “One who is slightly sick, and a pregnant women who feels slightly ill, may eat”; Biur Halacha 559 “Eino”; Gevuros Ari Taanis 30b’ Toras Chaim Sofer 554:4; 559:14; Shevet Halevi 6:70; Nitei Gavriel 65:3; Piskeiy Teshuvos 554:5; See Yechaveh Daas 3

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule there is no  additional leniency on Nidche. [See M”A 559:11 in the name of Kneses Hagedola; Yaavetz; See Zecher David 54]

[20] Divrei Malkiel ibid

[21] The reason: As we rule that on Tishe Beav Nidche a Baal Bris does not need to fast [Michaber 559:9], hence proving that Nidche has a more lenient status, and certainly we can be lenient in a case of illness. [Shvus Yaakov ibid]

[22] M”A 554:9; Shvus Yaakov ibid; P”M 554 A.A. 9; Shevet Halevi ibid

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule a Yoledes is obligated to fast once she is after seven days from birth even on Tisha Beav Nidche. [M”A 554:9 in name of Rashal in Teshuvah]

[23] Setimas Haposkim who record Shvus Yaakov ibid; Nitei Gavriel ibid footnote 4, see there in length, unlike the possible understanding from Shvus Yaakov ibid

[24] Taz 549:1; M”A 559:11 regarding Tishe Beav and all the other 4 Taaneisim and so rules: Radbaz 2:35; M”B 559:35; Beis David 347; Erech Hashulchan 550:1; Poskim brought in Kaf Hachaim 549:5 and 10; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 559:9

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that since Tzom Gedlia is in truth Nidche, as he passed away on Rosh hashana, therefore a Baal Bris is not required to fast just like on any other Taanis Nidche. [Elya Raba 549 in name of Rosh Yosef, brought in P”M 549 M”Z 1; Shaareiy Teshuvah 549:1Chochmas Shlomo 549; See Taz ibid]

[25] Rama 559:8

[26] Taz ibid; Michaber 559:9 regarding Tishe Beav Nidche and certainly the same applies for the other four fast days that are Nidche and so rule: Elya Raba; Chayeh Adam; M”B 559:37; Shaar Hatziyon 559:39; Degul Merivava; Heishiv Moshe 36; Yeshuos Yaakov 559:5; Kitzur SHU”A 125:8; Ben Ish Chaiy Shoftim 17; Igros Moshe 4:69-4; Yabia Omer 1:34; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 559:9 footnote 74

Other opinions: The M”A 559:11 brings in the name of the Kneses Hagedola that the custom is to be stringent regarding all fasts, even Nidche, and to fast until night as usual.

[27] First opinion in M”A 559:13; M”B 559:37

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule one must delay Mincha and eating until Mincha Ketana. [2^nd opinion in M”A ibid and so concludes the M”A]

[28] M”B 559:36; P”M 559 A”A 12; This is opposed to the ruling by Taanis Esther that was Nidche to Thursday. See M”B 686:6; Kaf Hachaim 686:27

[29] M”B 559:36 based on M”A 559:11 “Today the custom is that majority of the meals take place at night”; See the following Poskim regarding Taanis Esther Nidche that the meal is to take place after the fast: Taz 686:2; Elya Raba 686:6 brought in Kaf Hachaim 686:27; M”B 686:7; Chayeh Adam 155:3 based on that the custom is like the Taz as we have never seen a meal done during the day of the fast. So rules also Kitzur SHU”A 141:3; Kaf Hachaim 686:27

[30] Kneses Hagedola brought in M”A 559:11; Zechor Leavraham “Taf” brought in Kaf Hachaim 549:10; Divrei Yisrael 150; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 559:9; Regarding Taanis Esther so rules: Zera Emes 3:77; Poskim brought in Kaf Hachaim 686:28; 549:9, brought also in Piskeiy Teshuvos 686:4

[31] See Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid

[32] Poskim mentioned in first footnote on this Halacha; Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid

[33] Rama 559:8; P”M 559 A”A 12

[34] Shaareiy Teshuvah 551:15; 559:7 in name of Peri Haaretz 2:8; Birkeiy Yosef 559:6; Kaf Hachaim 559:9

[35] SSH”K 62 footnote 116; Piskeiy Teshuvos 559:9

[36] M”B 559:38; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 559:10

[37] As ruled regarding a Bris.

[38] M”B ibid

[39] M”B 559:38