Fast of Esther

The Fast of Esther ( Ta'anit Ester , ) is a Jewish fast from dawn until dusk on Purim eve, commemorating the three-day fast observed by the Jewish people in the story of Purim . It is a common misconception that this fast was accepted by the Jews for all future generations during the time of Esther, as it is stated in the Book of Esther : They had established for themselves and their descendants the matters of the fasts and their cry (Esther 9:31). This verse actually refers to the four fasts which relate to mourning for the Temple. Rather, the source for the fast is a Minhag dating from the Gaonic period. The Fast is observed on the 13th day of the Hebrew month of Adar . If the date of the Fast of Esther falls on Shabbat (Saturday), the fast is instead observed on the preceding Thursday, as is the case in 2010. Since the Fast of Esther is not one of the four public fasts ordained by the Prophets , the laws are more lenient; pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those who are weak are not required to observe it. (Note: in certain situations a weak, sick, or pregnant person is not required or even permitted to observe any Jewish fast day; a rabbi should be consulted to determine the law for one's specific situation.) "The first who mentions it is R.

Fast in Judaism The Fast of Esther ( Ta'anit Ester , ) is a fast from dawn until dusk on Purim eve.

Fast in Judaism The Fast of Esther ( Ta'anith Ester , ) is a fast on Purim eve commemorating two communal fasts undertaken by the Persian Jewish community of Shushan in the Book of Esther , for the purpose of praying for salvation from annihilation by an evil decree, which had been the instigated by the royal vizier, an anti-jewish enemy of the Amalekite nation. This fast, unlike other fasts, is a custom. It is not mentioned in the Talmud , however is mentioned in the Midrash and other later sources from the days of the Gaonim . Therefore it is considered less severe than the other fasts. Esther asked Mordechai to have the Jews fast and pray on her behalf for 3 days and 3 nights, before she approached her husband, king Ahasuerus to beg for the life of her people. Another is presumed to have occurred on the 13th of Adar, the day before the Jews fought a battle to defend against their enemies, who had been given an irrevocable permission to murder Jews for one day a year on the 14th of that month, which is now a Jewish holiday of Purim on account of their victory. Before approaching the king unbidden at risk of her life Esther told Mordechai ( Esther 4:16 ) Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day; I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.

Pre-Purim fast The Fast of Esther ( Hebrew : תַּעֲנִית אֶסְתֵּר , romanized : Ta'anit Ester ) is a fast in Judaism observed on the eve of Purim . The fast commemorates two communal fasts undertaken by the Persian Jewish community of Shushan in the Book of Esther to pray for salvation from annihilation due to an evil decree that had been instigated by Haman , the king's royal vizier, an antisemitic enemy from the Amalekite nation. Unlike other fasts, the Fast of Esther is a Jewish custom. It is not mentioned in the Talmud , but it is mentioned in the Midrash and other later sources from the days of the Geonim . Therefore, it is considered less severe than the other fasts. Esther asked Mordecai to have the Jews fast and pray on her behalf for three days and three nights before she approached her husband, King Ahasuerus , to beg for the life of her people. Another is presumed to have occurred on the 13th of Adar, the day before the Jews fought a battle to defend against their enemies, who had been given irrevocable permission to murder Jews for one day a year on the 14th of that month, which is now a Jewish holiday of Purim on account of their victory. Before approaching the king unbidden at risk of her life, Esther told Mordechai: Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day; I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.