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September 2014                          Fasting                                      Elul, 5775
topIn This Issue





Dates of Major and Minor Fasts 2014-15

Fast of Gedaliah 
Sept. 28, 2014

Yom Kippur
October 3/4, 2014

Tenth of Tevet
Jan 1, 2015

Fast of Esther
Mar 4, 2015

Fast of the Firstborn
Apr 3, 2015

17 of Tammuz
Jul 5, 2015

Tisha B'Av
July 25/26 2015
Editors' Note:
On behalf of the Lifelong Learning Committee, the Editors would like to thank Rabbi Ilana Garber for suggesting this topic and for writing the introductory essay.
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Lifelong Learning Committee:

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Amy Goldman

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Freund  [top]

On Fasting

 

By Rabbi Ilana Garber

 

Do you know how some books just grab you and stay with you forever? That's how it was for me with a book I read for one of my religion classes at Barnard College. "Holy Feast and Holy Fast" by Caroline Walker Bynum captivated me with the stories of religious women in Western Europe between 1200 and 1500 whose lives revolved around eating and refraining from food, all for a higher purpose. It occurred to me then that most of what we do in Judaism when we celebrate holidays was similarly structured around feasting (as in, "they wanted to kill us, with God's help we persevered, let's eat!"); and fasting (think, Yom Kippur).

[click to continue] 

General
General Description of Fast Days
  [top]

Major & Minor Jewish Fast Days

What are some of the differences between the major and minor fast days? Learn about this and the origins of the various fasts in this quick read.
whyWhy We Fast/Tips For Fasting/
What Kids Can Do [top]
Many believe that the discipline of fasting can foster ethical behavior in one's life. Read more in this article from "Gates of the Season: A Guide to the Jewish Year." by the Central Conference of American Rabbis. 
Although fasting is never easy, Richard Israel, of the Jewish Outreach institute relates his top three tips for making it through the fast. 
Even if your children are too young to fast, writer Sarah Chandler has tips for making the Yom Kippur fast day a meaningful time for them.
moreMore than Just Yom Kippur; Two Fasts This Month!  
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Tzom Gedaliah is a lesser-known fast observed on the third of Tishrei (the day after Rosh Hashanah). Learn the history of this solemn day in this interesting article.

(from jewishvirtuallibrary.org)

deepeningDeepening Your Practice with Other Fasts  [top]
A brief description of all of the minor fasts on the Jewish calendar. A very handy reference!
Asara B'Tevet Fast Day
The tenth of Tevet is marks the destruction of the first temple. Learn more in this informative article.

 This minor fast day takes place prior to Purim every year. This piece explains more about the history and origins of this fast.

This pre-Passover fast applies only to a select few...you'll find the details in this selection.

 (from myjewishlearning.com) 

Many calamities befell our people on this specific date on the Hebrew calendar. You'll find out what events this fast commemorates in this informative summary.
The fast of Tisha B'Av marks the destruction of the holy temple. This article shares some thoughts on how this can be meaningful to use today.