Thursday, March 17, 2011

The Fast of Esther

Hi,

In a year when Purim Day is Sunday, the fast is moved back to the preceding Thursday. We don't move it to Friday, because involvement in the rites of the fast day would distract from preparation for Shabbat.

So this year, the fast is Thursday, March 17.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 686:2, Mishneh Berurah 686:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

2 comments:

  1. I read that this fast was dawn to dusk, meaning it starts in the middle of the night. Is this true of the other fasts? (10 Teves, 17 Tammuz, 3 Tishri)

    Shabbat Shalom.

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  2. Hi Joe,

    "Dawn" is generally taken to mean 72 minutes before sunrise, or thereabouts. This does apply to the Fast of Esther, the 10th of Tevet, the 17th of Tammuz and the 3rd of Tishrei.

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