Page 249 - Tzurba M'Rabanan Volume1

םירופ תוכלה · 247
ןנברמ אברוצ Tzurba M’Rabanan
247 · Hilchot Purim

Ta’anit Esther

The 13 of Adar is known as Ta’anit Esther (the fast of Esther) and is considered a fast day on the Jewish
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calendar. Interestingly, the Gemara does not explicitly discuss fasting on the 13 of Adar. However, the
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Gemara in Masechet Megilla (2a) does describe the 13 day of Adar as “the time of gathering for everyone,”
which appears to refer to gathering together for the purpose of prayer to Hashem. The Rosh, citing Rabbeinu
Tam, points to this passage as a source for designating this day as one of fasting and prayer.
r Rosh, Masechet Megilla 1:1 א:א הליגמ תכסמ | ש"אר 1 .

Rabbeinu Tam explained that “the time of gathering for – ”איה לכל הליהק ןמז“ :םת וניבר שריפ
everyone” means that everyone gathers for the fast of Esther, ינב םיאבו ,רתסא תינעתל ןיפסאתמ לכהש
and the townspeople come to the cities to recite selichot and ,םינונחתו תוחילס רמול תורייעל םירפכה
supplications; for on this [day] they [the Jews at the time of םיכירצ ויהו םשפנ לע דומעל ולהקנ ובש יפל
Purim] gathered [to pray] for their lives and needed mercy… תינעתל דעס םת וניברל הארנ ןאכמ …םימחר
from here Rabbeinu Tam derives support for the fast of Esther יכדרמ ימיב ושעש ומכ ,ןישוע ונאש רתסא
that we observe, as they did in the times of Mordechai and
Esther, when the Jews gathered to defend their lives. And we do ,םשפנ לע דומעל םידוהיה ולהקנשכ רתסאו
not find any other [source to] support it [the custom of fasting .ןאכב אלא םוקמ םושב ךמס ול וניצמ אלו
on the 13th] other than here.

The Shulchan Aruch and Rema cite the custom of fasting on Ta’anit Esther as normative halacha, but add a
leniency regarding pregnant and nursing women as well as those who are even slightly ill.

a Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 686:2 ב:ופרת ח״וא | ע"וש 2 .

We fast on the 13 of Adar, and if Purim falls out on Sunday, we דחאב םירופ לח םאו ;רדאב ג"יב םינעתמ
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advance the fast to Thursday. .ישימח םויב תונעתהל ןימידקמ ,תבשב
Rema: This fast is not an obligation; therefore, one may be וב לקהל שי ןכל ,הבוח וניא הז תינעתו :הגה
lenient when there is a need, such as for pregnant or nursing וא תוקינמ וא תורבועמ :ןוגכ ,ךרוצה תעל
women or a sick person who is not in life threatening danger. ,םיניע יבאוכ קר 'יפאו ,הנכס וב ןיאש הלוחל
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Even if one’s eyes hurt, if a person is suffering considerably they
should not fast and make it up later instead, but other healthy וערפיו ונעתי אל הברה םירעטצמ םאש
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individuals should not separate themselves from the community. .רובצה ןמ ושרפי אל םיאירב ראש לבא ,כ"חא

1. The Gemara is using this expression to explain the basis for the permission given in the Mishna there to read the Megilla in small towns on the 13 of Adar.
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2. The halacha here is slightly more lenient than with regard to on the other minor fasts (e.g., Asara B’Tevet, Shiva Asar B’Tamuz), where this point
is subject to some dispute. Nevertheless, with regard to practical halacha, many poskim permit pregnant and nursing women to eat on those days
as well. See Shulchan Aruch and Rema, Siman 550, and Piskei Teshuvot there. In addition, it should be noted that most poskim define those who
are ill as individuals whose condition is not linked to the fast, but find it difficult to fast as a result. But one who does not feel well only as a result of
the fast and will feel better immediately upon eating may not be lenient as easily as the sources here indicate. For more on this subject, see Peninei
Halacha, Zemanim p. 131. [Addition of the editors of the English edition]
3. The common custom today is not to require individuals who did not fast on Ta’anit Esther to fast a different day instead (Mikraei Kodesh, 3:
footnote #25). [Addition of the editors of the English edition]

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