Tanit Bechorot: Difference between revisions

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==The reason for the fast==
# In commemoration of the miracle that Hashem saved the firstborn Jews from the plague of the firstborn. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 470:1</ref>
==Which firstborns are obligated to fast?==
==Which firstborns are obligated to fast?==
# A firstborn of one’s mother or the firstborn of one’s father (or both) should fast on Erev Pesach. <Ref>S”A 470:1 </ref>
# A firstborn of one’s mother or the firstborn of one’s father (or both) should fast on Erev Pesach. <Ref>S”A 470:1 </ref> The reason is that Hashem killed both the firstborns of the father and of the mother in Egypt. <ref>Mishna Brurah 470:2</ref>
# The minhag is that women don’t fast. <Ref>Rama 470:1, Mishna Brurah 470:4 </ref> However, Sephardic women who are firstborn should at least join in a Suedat Mitzvah in order to break the fast if possible. <Ref>S”A 470:1, Sh”t Yachava Daat 3:25, Sh”t Yabea Omer 4:42 </ref>
# The minhag is that women don’t fast. <Ref>Rama 470:1, Mishna Brurah 470:4 </ref> However, Sephardic women who are firstborn should at least join in a Suedat Mitzvah in order to break the fast if possible. <Ref>S”A 470:1, Sh”t Yachava Daat 3:25, Sh”t Yabea Omer 4:42 </ref>
# Even a Levi or Cohen should fast. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 470:2 </ref>
# Even a Levi or Cohen should fast. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 470:2 </ref>
# A groom within 7 days of the wedding doesn’t have to fast on Taanit Bechorot. <Ref>Kovetz MeBet Levi (Nissan 5761 pg 86) </ref>
# A groom within 7 days of the wedding doesn’t have to fast on Tanit Bechorot. <Ref>Kovetz MeBet Levi (Nissan 5761 pg 86) </ref>
# A father should fast in place of his son who is a firstborn but is under Bar Mitzvah, according to the minhag to listen to a siyum, the father should go to the siyum in place of his son. <Ref>Rama 470:2, Piskei Teshuvot 470:6, Yosef Daat (Dinei Chinuch 16:3) </ref>
# A father should fast in place of his son who is a firstborn but is under Bar Mitzvah. According to the minhag to listen to a Siyum, the father should go to the Siyum in place of his son. <Ref>Rama 470:2, Piskei Teshuvot 470:6, Yosef Daat (Dinei Chinuch 16:3) </ref>
# The Rama writes that if the father is a firstborn, the mother should fast for her firstborn son who is under Bar Mitzvah. <ref>Rama 470:2</ref> However, the Mishna Brurah quotes some poskim who say that the father's fast counts for the son as well. Therefore, the Mishna Brurah allows a mother to be lenient if she is in pain. <ref>Mishna Brurah 470:9</ref>
==Those who are unable to fast==
==Those who are unable to fast==
# If someone will only be able to eat a very small amount because of the fast and won’t be able to fulfill the מצות of Matzah and 4 cups of wine, one shouldn’t fast but just have snacks (and not a meal). <Ref>Mishna Brurah 470:2 </ref>
# One who has an ache in his eyes or head is not required to fast. <ref>Mishna Brurah 470:2</ref>
==Tanti Bechorim on Friday and Shabbat==
# If someone will only be able to eat a very small amount because of the fast and won’t be able to fulfill the mitzvot of Matzah and 4 cups of wine, one shouldn’t fast. Nevertheless, it is preferable that he just have snacks and not a meal. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 470:2 </ref>
# If Erev Pesach falls out on [[Shabbat]], some say that one is not obligated to fast while others say that one should fast on Thursday and such is the minhag. <Ref>S”A and Rama 470:2 </ref>The minhag is to do a Siyum on Thursday and exempt oneself from the fast<Ref>Sh”t Igrot Moshe 4:69 writes that it’s sufficient to make a Siyum on Thursaday and Piskei Teshuvot 470:4 writes that such is the minhag. Sh"t Yachava Daat 1:91, Chazon Ovadyah Pesach pg 100, and Or Letzion 3:12(2) write that even though the strict law is that the firstborns are exempt it's preferable that they join in a siyum. </ref>, even those who fast Taanit Bechorot regular years. <Ref> Sh”t Elef Lecha Shlomo 1:386,  </ref> Some say it’s preferable to make a siyum on Friday in addition to the one on Thursday. <Ref>Sh”t Teshuvot Vehanhagot 2:111, Sh”t Mishneh Halachot 7:65, Orchot Rabbenu (vol 2 pg 57) </ref>
==Tanit Bechorim on Friday and Shabbat==
# If Erev Pesach falls out on Friday the fast should take place on that day. <ref>Mishna Brurah 470:5, Chazon Ovadyah Pesach pg 101 (5763 edition, pg 117) </ref>
# If Erev Pesach falls out on [[Shabbat]], some say that one is not obligated to fast while others say that one should fast on Thursday. The minhag follows the latter opinion. <Ref>S”A and Rama 470:2</ref> The minhag is to do a Siyum on Thursday and exempt oneself from the fast <Ref>Sh”t Igrot Moshe 4:69 writes that it’s sufficient to make a Siyum on Thursday and Piskei Teshuvot 470:4 writes that such is the minhag. Sh"t Yachava Daat 1:91, Chazon Ovadyah Pesach pg 100, and Or Letzion 3:12(2) write that even though the strict law is that the firstborns are exempt it's preferable that they join in a Siyum.</ref>, even those who fast Tanit Bechorot regular years. <Ref> Sh”t Elef Lecha Shlomo 1:386,  </ref> Some say it’s preferable to make a Siyum on Friday in addition to the one on Thursday. <Ref>Sh”t Teshuvot Vehanhagot 2:111, Sh”t Mishneh Halachot 7:65, Orchot Rabbenu (vol 2 pg 57) </ref>
# If Erev Pesach falls out on Friday, the fast should take place on that day. <ref>Mishna Brurah 470:5, Chazon Ovadyah Pesach pg 101 (5763 edition, pg 117) </ref>
==Minhag to join a Siyum==
==Minhag to join a Siyum==
# Many are lenient to join in a siyum and to hear the end of the Maasechet and the siyum and then join for the Seudat Mitzvah and break the fast the rest of the day. <ref>Mishna Brurah 470:10, Piskei Teshuvot 470:6, 8 based on Igrot Moshe 4:49, Maharsham 215, and Aruch HaShulchan 470:5</ref>  
# Many are lenient to join in a Siyum and to hear the end of the Maasechet and the Siyum and then join for the Seudat Mitzvah and break the fast the rest of the day. <ref>Mishna Brurah 470:10, Piskei Teshuvot 470:6, 8 based on Igrot Moshe 4:49, Maharsham 215, and Aruch HaShulchan 470:5</ref>  
# Some say that it’s critical to understand the last piece of Gemara to join for the siyum, however, the minhag is to be lenient in any circumstance. <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 470:10 </ref>
# Some say that it’s critical to understand the last piece of Gemara to join for the Siyum, however, the minhag is to be lenient in any circumstance. <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 470:10 </ref>
# Preferably after hearing the Siyum one should eat a KeBaytzah of Mezonot or bread as a meal for the Siyum, but some are lenient to allow breaking the fast for a siyum without eating there. <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 470:11, Halichot Shlomo 8:1 </ref>
# Preferably, after hearing the Siyum one should eat a KeBaytzah of Mezonot or bread as a meal for the Siyum. Some are lenient and allow one to break the fast after hearing a Siyum without eating there. <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 470:11, Halichot Shlomo 8:1 </ref>
# If one learned an entire maasechet except for one paragraph it’s sufficient for a Siyum. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo 8:2 </ref>
# If one learned an entire Maasechet except for one paragraph, it’s sufficient for a Siyum. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo 8:2 </ref>
==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>

Revision as of 16:54, 11 March 2012

The reason for the fast

  1. In commemoration of the miracle that Hashem saved the firstborn Jews from the plague of the firstborn. [1]

Which firstborns are obligated to fast?

  1. A firstborn of one’s mother or the firstborn of one’s father (or both) should fast on Erev Pesach. [2] The reason is that Hashem killed both the firstborns of the father and of the mother in Egypt. [3]
  2. The minhag is that women don’t fast. [4] However, Sephardic women who are firstborn should at least join in a Suedat Mitzvah in order to break the fast if possible. [5]
  3. Even a Levi or Cohen should fast. [6]
  4. A groom within 7 days of the wedding doesn’t have to fast on Tanit Bechorot. [7]
  5. A father should fast in place of his son who is a firstborn but is under Bar Mitzvah. According to the minhag to listen to a Siyum, the father should go to the Siyum in place of his son. [8]
  6. The Rama writes that if the father is a firstborn, the mother should fast for her firstborn son who is under Bar Mitzvah. [9] However, the Mishna Brurah quotes some poskim who say that the father's fast counts for the son as well. Therefore, the Mishna Brurah allows a mother to be lenient if she is in pain. [10]

Those who are unable to fast

  1. One who has an ache in his eyes or head is not required to fast. [11]
  2. If someone will only be able to eat a very small amount because of the fast and won’t be able to fulfill the mitzvot of Matzah and 4 cups of wine, one shouldn’t fast. Nevertheless, it is preferable that he just have snacks and not a meal. [12]

Tanit Bechorim on Friday and Shabbat

  1. If Erev Pesach falls out on Shabbat, some say that one is not obligated to fast while others say that one should fast on Thursday. The minhag follows the latter opinion. [13] The minhag is to do a Siyum on Thursday and exempt oneself from the fast [14], even those who fast Tanit Bechorot regular years. [15] Some say it’s preferable to make a Siyum on Friday in addition to the one on Thursday. [16]
  2. If Erev Pesach falls out on Friday, the fast should take place on that day. [17]

Minhag to join a Siyum

  1. Many are lenient to join in a Siyum and to hear the end of the Maasechet and the Siyum and then join for the Seudat Mitzvah and break the fast the rest of the day. [18]
  2. Some say that it’s critical to understand the last piece of Gemara to join for the Siyum, however, the minhag is to be lenient in any circumstance. [19]
  3. Preferably, after hearing the Siyum one should eat a KeBaytzah of Mezonot or bread as a meal for the Siyum. Some are lenient and allow one to break the fast after hearing a Siyum without eating there. [20]
  4. If one learned an entire Maasechet except for one paragraph, it’s sufficient for a Siyum. [21]

References

  1. Mishna Brurah 470:1
  2. S”A 470:1
  3. Mishna Brurah 470:2
  4. Rama 470:1, Mishna Brurah 470:4
  5. S”A 470:1, Sh”t Yachava Daat 3:25, Sh”t Yabea Omer 4:42
  6. Mishna Brurah 470:2
  7. Kovetz MeBet Levi (Nissan 5761 pg 86)
  8. Rama 470:2, Piskei Teshuvot 470:6, Yosef Daat (Dinei Chinuch 16:3)
  9. Rama 470:2
  10. Mishna Brurah 470:9
  11. Mishna Brurah 470:2
  12. Mishna Brurah 470:2
  13. S”A and Rama 470:2
  14. Sh”t Igrot Moshe 4:69 writes that it’s sufficient to make a Siyum on Thursday and Piskei Teshuvot 470:4 writes that such is the minhag. Sh"t Yachava Daat 1:91, Chazon Ovadyah Pesach pg 100, and Or Letzion 3:12(2) write that even though the strict law is that the firstborns are exempt it's preferable that they join in a Siyum.
  15. Sh”t Elef Lecha Shlomo 1:386,
  16. Sh”t Teshuvot Vehanhagot 2:111, Sh”t Mishneh Halachot 7:65, Orchot Rabbenu (vol 2 pg 57)
  17. Mishna Brurah 470:5, Chazon Ovadyah Pesach pg 101 (5763 edition, pg 117)
  18. Mishna Brurah 470:10, Piskei Teshuvot 470:6, 8 based on Igrot Moshe 4:49, Maharsham 215, and Aruch HaShulchan 470:5
  19. Piskei Teshuvot 470:10
  20. Piskei Teshuvot 470:11, Halichot Shlomo 8:1
  21. Halichot Shlomo 8:2