Thinking Again About Fasting

Last summer while at Lishma, we happened upon the minor fast that occurs again tomorrow, and in preparation studied the short tshuvah from CJLS which suggests that fasting for a partial day would be appropriate for the ambivalent status of Jewry in the world today. This is based on the sources which describe the reasons for fasting as a lack of Jewish freedom, and a disagreement over whether that meant the existance of a sovereign Jewish nation or a standing Temple in Jerusalem. I believe there was also an opinion based on whether or not Jews in the are were being oppressed.

By 2 of those three standards, we ought to be feasting rather than fasting tomorrow, in one case at least in this area. I've encountered very the Jewish situation in the US of A is remarkably good. And an unquestionably Jewish state exists.

But the existance of a standing Temple is the strongest opinion in historical development.

On the other hand, while I believe it is important to remember Temple-based Judaism, and to link ourselves to it, and to even hope for a future Temple (although I'm more than ambivalent about the reinstitution of sacrifices: they were historically important for Jews and Judaism, but I can't see them being reinstated as anything beyond a symbol), I don't think that the Temple is the only or even the strongest indication of Jewish peace or freedom.

And I feel ambivalent about the need for so many Temple-related fast days when Tisha B'Av is supposed to be representative of all Temple-related Jewish suffering (and possibly also of all Jewish suffering, or all Jewish suffering pre-Holocaust), and I take that holiday seriously- I've already put in my form asking for that day off from work, since it would be impossible to fulfill the requirements of the day and work in telephone research. I understand the need for such fast days as a way of focusing grief after the destruction so that people would not unnecessarily afflict themselves year-round (as was the explanation I received for the existance of these other 2 fast days)- but why they are still necessary, I don't know.

And so I still don't know what I plan to do tomorrow: I will fast at least a partial day, because the world is not perfect, and because I want to give that piece of respect to a long tradition. But the afternoon starts only a little after my frequent lunchtime- I could eat a small late lunch and still have given a nod to the holiday. Or I could see how long I make it without being really uncomfortable, and to aim to daven mincha at a later time and eat after that, and have made a more significant sacrifice, but still not be proclaiming that the Temple is the only way for Judaism to be perceived as whole and healthy. Or I could fast the whole day, and throw in my lot with the majority of halakhically-serious Jews (without health conditions). I could also fast and see how things go, and base my actions more on how I deal with a summer fast and how well I can function at work- I seem to get lightheaded very easily during summer fasts, even though I fast pretty well during other times. And I will not drive home while fasting if I'm going to be lightheaded when I move my head quickly- that isn't safe. But I'll be in an air conditioned building for much of the day, which may reduce that issue. We'll see how things go I guess, and how I balance my theological approach and my physical needs and that embarassing urge to be frummer-than-thou at least internally. But I expect it to be a theologically uncomfortable day as well as a physically uncomfortable one.

Thinking Again About Fasting

Last summer while at Lishma, we happened upon the minor fast that occurs again tomorrow, and in preparation studied the short tshuvah from CJLS which suggests that fasting for a partial day would be appropriate for the ambivalent status of Jewry in the world today. This is based on the sources which describe the reasons for fasting as a lack of Jewish freedom, and a disagreement over whether that meant the existance of a sovereign Jewish nation or a standing Temple in Jerusalem. I believe there was also an opinion based on whether or not Jews in the are were being oppressed.

By 2 of those three standards, we ought to be feasting rather than fasting tomorrow, in one case at least in this area. I've encountered very the Jewish situation in the US of A is remarkably good. And an unquestionably Jewish state exists.

But the existance of a standing Temple is the strongest opinion in historical development.

On the other hand, while I believe it is important to remember Temple-based Judaism, and to link ourselves to it, and to even hope for a future Temple (although I'm more than ambivalent about the reinstitution of sacrifices: they were historically important for Jews and Judaism, but I can't see them being reinstated as anything beyond a symbol), I don't think that the Temple is the only or even the strongest indication of Jewish peace or freedom.

And I feel ambivalent about the need for so many Temple-related fast days when Tisha B'Av is supposed to be representative of all Temple-related Jewish suffering (and possibly also of all Jewish suffering, or all Jewish suffering pre-Holocaust), and I take that holiday seriously- I've already put in my form asking for that day off from work, since it would be impossible to fulfill the requirements of the day and work in telephone research. I understand the need for such fast days as a way of focusing grief after the destruction so that people would not unnecessarily afflict themselves year-round (as was the explanation I received for the existance of these other 2 fast days)- but why they are still necessary, I don't know.

And so I still don't know what I plan to do tomorrow: I will fast at least a partial day, because the world is not perfect, and because I want to give that piece of respect to a long tradition. But the afternoon starts only a little after my frequent lunchtime- I could eat a small late lunch and still have given a nod to the holiday. Or I could see how long I make it without being really uncomfortable, and to aim to daven mincha at a later time and eat after that, and have made a more significant sacrifice, but still not be proclaiming that the Temple is the only way for Judaism to be perceived as whole and healthy. Or I could fast the whole day, and throw in my lot with the majority of halakhically-serious Jews (without health conditions). I could also fast and see how things go, and base my actions more on how I deal with a summer fast and how well I can function at work- I seem to get lightheaded very easily during summer fasts, even though I fast pretty well during other times. And I will not drive home while fasting if I'm going to be lightheaded when I move my head quickly- that isn't safe. But I'll be in an air conditioned building for much of the day, which may reduce that issue. We'll see how things go I guess, and how I balance my theological approach and my physical needs and that embarassing urge to be frummer-than-thou at least internally. But I expect it to be a theologically uncomfortable day as well as a physically uncomfortable one.