Spiritual: The Fast Of The Pious.
B"HY
The Fast of the Pious, 14th of Nissan.
It is an ancient and widespread custom for the firstborn to
fast on the day before Passover (which is tomorrow, the
14th of Nissan, from sunup to the Seder). This
commemorates the miracle which spared the firstborn
Jewish sons from the plague which struck down the
firstborn sons of the Egyptians.
By right, this fast should be held on the anniversary of the
day on which the miracle occurred: on the night of the
fifteenth of Nissan. However, since the fifteenth is already
Passover, and we do not fast on Festival days the fast is
pushed back to the fourteenth.
There is an additional reason why we fast specifically on the
fourteenth. The firstborn of the Jews were saved in Egypt
because they humbled themselves before YHWH , admitting
and declaring that all greatness, power, and sovereignty are
His alone.
This stood in contradistinction to the Egyptians who, filled
with foolish pride and egotism, declared: "I am, and besides
me there is none other."
Thus, the fast on the fourteenth of Nissan commemorates
the fact that the firstborn of Israel humbled themselves on
that day and accepted the yoke of Elohim's sovereignty.
Abstention from food and drink is a sign of a heart subdued
before Elohim .
There are different customs that are associated with this
fast. Some maintain that every firstborn, male and female,
whether the firstborn is that of the mother or of the father,
must fast.
If there are no children, then the oldest member of the
household must fast. They base this on the fact that there
was no Egyptian household that was spared from the
plague, every household in Egypt was struck whether there
was a firstborn son or not. We commemorate, therefore,
that all of the Jewish households were miraculously spared.
Others maintain that the obligation to fast applies only to
firstborn males.
If the fourteenth of Nissan falls on a Shabbat, the fast is
observed on the previous Thursday [the twelfth of Nissan],
for if a fast is suspended because of Shabbat, it is not held
on a Friday. However if the fourteenth of Nissan falls on a
Friday, the fast is held on that day. There are some who are
lenient, however, and maintain that in this case one does
not fast.
There are those who hold that the firstborn sons who are
fasting should not fast for the entire day, in order not to
enter the Festival suffering, and thus should eat a small
amount before the Festival begins.
This fast is treated leniently. Thus, if there is a festive meal
held that is connected with a mitzvah, for example, the
celebration of a circumcision or of a siyum (the completion
of a tractate of the Talmud) the firstborn son participates in
the meal rather than fasting.
It is therefore customary to arrange for a siyum to take
place in the synagogue after morning prayers on the
fourteenth of Nissan. The firstborn sons who are present
participate in this festive meal and, having broken their fast,
may continue to eat for the rest of the day.
The Fast of the Pious, 14th of Nissan.
It is an ancient and widespread custom for the firstborn to
fast on the day before Passover (which is tomorrow, the
14th of Nissan, from sunup to the Seder). This
commemorates the miracle which spared the firstborn
Jewish sons from the plague which struck down the
firstborn sons of the Egyptians.
By right, this fast should be held on the anniversary of the
day on which the miracle occurred: on the night of the
fifteenth of Nissan. However, since the fifteenth is already
Passover, and we do not fast on Festival days the fast is
pushed back to the fourteenth.
There is an additional reason why we fast specifically on the
fourteenth. The firstborn of the Jews were saved in Egypt
because they humbled themselves before YHWH , admitting
and declaring that all greatness, power, and sovereignty are
His alone.
This stood in contradistinction to the Egyptians who, filled
with foolish pride and egotism, declared: "I am, and besides
me there is none other."
Thus, the fast on the fourteenth of Nissan commemorates
the fact that the firstborn of Israel humbled themselves on
that day and accepted the yoke of Elohim's sovereignty.
Abstention from food and drink is a sign of a heart subdued
before Elohim .
There are different customs that are associated with this
fast. Some maintain that every firstborn, male and female,
whether the firstborn is that of the mother or of the father,
must fast.
If there are no children, then the oldest member of the
household must fast. They base this on the fact that there
was no Egyptian household that was spared from the
plague, every household in Egypt was struck whether there
was a firstborn son or not. We commemorate, therefore,
that all of the Jewish households were miraculously spared.
Others maintain that the obligation to fast applies only to
firstborn males.
If the fourteenth of Nissan falls on a Shabbat, the fast is
observed on the previous Thursday [the twelfth of Nissan],
for if a fast is suspended because of Shabbat, it is not held
on a Friday. However if the fourteenth of Nissan falls on a
Friday, the fast is held on that day. There are some who are
lenient, however, and maintain that in this case one does
not fast.
There are those who hold that the firstborn sons who are
fasting should not fast for the entire day, in order not to
enter the Festival suffering, and thus should eat a small
amount before the Festival begins.
This fast is treated leniently. Thus, if there is a festive meal
held that is connected with a mitzvah, for example, the
celebration of a circumcision or of a siyum (the completion
of a tractate of the Talmud) the firstborn son participates in
the meal rather than fasting.
It is therefore customary to arrange for a siyum to take
place in the synagogue after morning prayers on the
fourteenth of Nissan. The firstborn sons who are present
participate in this festive meal and, having broken their fast,
may continue to eat for the rest of the day.
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