Fast of Esther
Encyclopedia
The Fast of Esther 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 first mention of this fast is a Minhag
that is referenced in 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, 2011, 2013 and 2014.
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.)
mentioned in chapter 4 of Book of Esther
occurred on the 14th, 15th, and 16th days of
Nisan, these being the eve and first two days of Passover. They fasted on Passover because Esther
reasoned it would be better to fast on one Pesach lest they all be destroyed and thus never be able
to observe the holiday in the future. The 13th of Adar was a fast day for the warriors while going
out to battle, as it is believed to have been customary to fast during the battle in order to gain
divine favor. Because fasting during Passover would be inappropriate in almost all circumstances,
the "Fast of Esther" became attached to the eve of Purim, the 13th of Adar.
date for the Fast of Esther in 2011 is from Thursday sunrise until Thursday nightfall (at least three medium-sized stars are easily seen) on March 17th. The eve of Purim falls out on the Sabbath, and therefore it is moved to Thursday.
Fasting
Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. An absolute fast is normally defined as abstinence from all food and liquid for a defined period, usually a single day , or several days. Other fasts may be only partially restrictive,...
from dawn
Dawn
Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of the twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the presence of weak sunlight, while the sun itself is still below the horizon...
until dusk
Dusk
Dusk is the beginning of darkness in the evening, and occurs after twilight, when the sky generally remains bright and blue. Civil dusk is when the earth has rotated enough that the center of the sun is at 6° below the local horizon...
on Purim
Purim
Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from destruction in the wake of a plot by Haman, a story recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther .Purim is celebrated annually according to the Hebrew calendar on the 14th...
eve, commemorating the three-day fast observed by the Jewish people in the story of Purim
Purim
Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from destruction in the wake of a plot by Haman, a story recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther .Purim is celebrated annually according to the Hebrew calendar on the 14th...
. 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
Book of Esther
The Book of Esther is a book in the Ketuvim , the third section of the Jewish Tanakh and is part of the Christian Old Testament. The Book of Esther or the Megillah is the basis for the Jewish celebration of Purim...
: 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 first mention of this fast is a Minhag
Minhag
Minhag is an accepted tradition or group of traditions in Judaism. A related concept, Nusach , refers to the traditional order and form of the prayers...
that is referenced in the Gaonic period.
The Fast is observed on the 13th day of the Hebrew month
Hebrew calendar
The Hebrew calendar , or Jewish calendar, is a lunisolar calendar used today predominantly for Jewish religious observances. It determines the dates for Jewish holidays and the appropriate public reading of Torah portions, yahrzeits , and daily Psalm reading, among many ceremonial uses...
of Adar
Adar
Adar is the sixth month of the civil year and the twelfth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a winter month of 29 days...
. If the date of the Fast of Esther falls on Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
(Saturday), the fast is instead observed on the preceding Thursday, as is the case in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014.
Since the Fast of Esther is not one of the four public fasts ordained by the Prophets
Nevi'im
Nevi'im is the second of the three major sections in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh. It falls between the Torah and Ketuvim .Nevi'im is traditionally divided into two parts:...
, 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.)
Misconceptions
It is generally accepted in the rabbinic tradition that the original three-day "Fast of Esther"mentioned in chapter 4 of Book of Esther
Megillah
Megillah may refer to:Bible:*The Scroll of Esther , read on the Jewish holiday of Purim.*Megillat AntiochusRabbinic literature:*Tractate Megillah in the Talmud....
occurred on the 14th, 15th, and 16th days of
Nisan, these being the eve and first two days of Passover. They fasted on Passover because Esther
reasoned it would be better to fast on one Pesach lest they all be destroyed and thus never be able
to observe the holiday in the future. The 13th of Adar was a fast day for the warriors while going
out to battle, as it is believed to have been customary to fast during the battle in order to gain
divine favor. Because fasting during Passover would be inappropriate in almost all circumstances,
the "Fast of Esther" became attached to the eve of Purim, the 13th of Adar.
Dates observed
The GregorianGregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
date for the Fast of Esther in 2011 is from Thursday sunrise until Thursday nightfall (at least three medium-sized stars are easily seen) on March 17th. The eve of Purim falls out on the Sabbath, and therefore it is moved to Thursday.
See also
- PurimPurimPurim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from destruction in the wake of a plot by Haman, a story recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther .Purim is celebrated annually according to the Hebrew calendar on the 14th...
- EstherEstherEsther , born Hadassah, is the eponymous heroine of the Biblical Book of Esther.According to the Bible, she was a Jewish queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus...
- Fasting in Judaism
- AneinuAneinuAneinu, also transliterated as Aneynu or Anainu is a Jewish prayer of atonement, asking God to forgive and protect his followers...
- SelichotSelichotSelichot or slichot are Jewish penitential poems and prayers, especially those said in the period leading up to the High Holidays, and on Fast Days...
- HamanHamanHaman can be a surname which is a corruption of the German Hamann. It is also a biblical surname as described below. It also refers to:*Haman , appears in the Book of Esther and is the main antagonist in the Jewish holiday of Purim....
- AmalekAmalekThe Amalekites are a people mentioned a number of times in the Hebrew Bible. They are considered to be descended from an ancestor Amalek....