Laws of the Fast of Esther
This year the Fast of Esther is tomorrow, Thursday.
In the time of Mordechai and Esther, the Jews assembled to defend themselves from their enemies on the 13th of Adar. On that day the Jews fasted and prayed to HaShem for deliverance. We, too, fast on this day, which is called Ta'anis Esther.
The laws pertaining to the Fast of Esther are similar to those of the public fast days. These include the prohibition to eat and drink from dawn until night, reciting selichos, reading from the Torah, and adding Aneinu in the shemoneh esray. A fast day helps us realize that when one returns to HaShem wholeheartedly, HaShem takes notice of him, and listens to the prayers he recites amidst his suffering, just as He did in the days of Mordechai and Esther.
( Sefer Shaarei Halachah)
A One Minute a Day Torah Thought !
"Our Rabbis did not say that one is required to get drunk on Purim. They said, one is required 'to be exalted'. A person needs to raise himself up and become exalted through his Torah learning and service of HaShem as is befitting for this Holy day of Purim."
(Bobover Rebbe ZT"L - Sefer Torah Tavlin)
50 Suggestions for Concentrating during Prayer!
(44) The Chofetz Chaim says, before each blessing one has to think about what he wants to request from HaShem, and for what he will praise Him, and then say the bracha.
(Pathway to Prayer, Rabbi Mayer Birnbaum) |
