Ta'anit

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For information on the volume of the Talmud by this name, see Ta'anit (Talmud).

A ta'anit or taanis is a fast in the Jewish religion. A Jewish fast may have one or more purposes, including:

A tool for repentance
An expression of mourning

[edit] Jewish Fast Days

Virtually all Jews observe, in some form, the fast day of Yom Kippur. This is the only fast day mentioned in the Torah (Leviticus 23:26-32). Orthodox Jews (and some Conservative Jews) observe four fast days in commemoration of the destruction of the Temple:

Additionally, many Jews observe the day preceding Purim as the Fast of Esther.

Orthodox Jewish custom requires firstborn males to observe the day preceding Passover as the Fast of the Firstborn. In modern times, however, this fast is rarely observed, as most firstborn opt to attend a siyum (festive meal celebrating the completion of a Tractate of the Talmud) instead. This is a legitimate form of "breaking" the fast - and therefore the firstborn may eat during the rest of the day.

One may not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset on these fast days. However, Yom Kippur and Tisha B'av begin from sunset on the previous night. Additionally, these fast days carry four additional restrictions - one may not wash his body; wear leather shoes; use colognes, oils or perfumes; have marital relations. Orthodox Jews add special prayers called selichot in the morning prayer services on many of these days.