Wishing You A Good Fast

Wishing You a Good Fast

The Ten Days from Rosh HaShannah to Yom Kippur are known as the Ten Days of Awe.  They are a time when one is supposed to ask for forgiveness directly from those we have injured.  Our efforts at reconciliation culminate in the observance of Yom Kippur.  On this solemn day of prayer we ask God for forgiveness, for mercy and for compassion, that we might be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good year.

According to the Torah (Leviticus 16:29) we “afflict our soul” on Yom Kippur as a sign of our remorse.   We normally speak of the Yom Kippur fast as a sign that we are afflicting our soul.  The Mishnah, however, includes five ways in which we abstain from our normal routine: MISHNAH YOMA 8:1 – “On Yom Kippur eating, drinking, anointing (washing), putting on leather sandals, and sexual relations are forbidden.”  In the Talmud's terms, for a brief time we elevate ourselves to the status of angels, who have no corporeal needs and whose sole role in the universe is to serve God. (The rabbis also explain that the things we abstain from are all those that make the soul comfortable in the body. By engaging in activities that make it uncomfortable, the soul is more likely to rise up from the body, taking us to a higher spiritual plane.)

An alternate understanding suggests that the fast of Yom Kippur allows us to divorce ourselves completely from ordinary, daily activities so that we can devote our entire effort to the work of asking forgiveness from family, friends and God.

The 24 hour fast of Yom Kippur can be quite taxing for some individuals.  If you are dealing with an illness or if you have a chronic condition such as diabetes, you are not supposed to attempt the fast at all.  Children under the age of 13 are not required to fast, but some like to rise to the challenge.  If so, it is advised that they begin by setting a goal short of the 24 hours for their first try and build up so they are ready to go the distance when they pass age 13.

Here are some suggestions to help with your fast:

1) Make sure you are well hydrated. Begin a day or so before the fast consuming more water than usual.  It may feel like you are going to float away, but by the end of the fast you will appreciate the difference.

2) Caffeine withdrawal can cause a nasty headache.  If you begin to taper off your normal intake of coke, coffee, or tea several days before the fast your body will have the opportunity to adjust without suffering the effects of withdrawal.

3) Carbo-load before the holiday – don’t overeat.  It is a myth that a big meal on the eve of Yom Kippur will carry you through.  All it does is make you feel stuffed in the evening and hungrier as you digest through the next day.  Instead you can begin your preparation a day or two earlier by adding carbohydrates to your diet – grains, pastas, vegetables, and such.  The extra carbs store water, take longer to digest, and will keep you comfortable longer.  

4) On the day before the fast avoid salty foods.

No guarantees, of course, but these few tips should make the fast go a bit easier.  One of the greetings for Yom Kippur is Tzom Kal, an easy fast.  We wish that for all of you.