By COLlive reporter
Members of Beis Din Rabbonei Chabad in Israel issued a letter instructing the public on how to observe the upcoming fast day of Shivah Asar b’Tammuz this Thursday.
While advising each person to consult with their local rabbi, they reiterated the need to adhere to instructions of Israel’s Health Ministry as the country faces a renewed spike in Covid-19 cases.
Signed on the letter are Rabbi Yitzchok Yehuda Yaroslavsky (Kiryat Malachi), Rabbi Avrohom Michoel Halperin (Jerusalem), Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky (Rechovot), Rabbi Yochanan Gurary (Holon), Rabbi Yosef Hecht (Eilat), Rabbi Moshe Havlin (Kiryat Gat) and Rabbi Yisroel Hendel (Migdal Haemek).
They wrote that in consultation with health experts, they ruled that the following cases are exempt from fasting:
Anyone who is sick or is a coronavirus patient, those with chronic diseases, those who are considered at-risk, pregnant and nursing women.
They added that those who are in quarantine but are not sick, as well as those who are fearful for whatever reason, should consult with a doctor who is familiar with their condition.
Their letter follows the ruling by Rabbi Yosef Feigelstock, Rov of the Chabad community in Argentina, who said that the public “should not fast at all, and eat as usual without being precise with the (halachic) measurements.”
Rabbi Feigelstock’s bold psak was addressing both fast days of Shivah Asar b’Tammuz and Tisha B’av. The rabbonim in Israel only referred to Shivah Asar b’Tammuz.
Rabbi Feigelstock explained that the opinion of doctors is that “there is no danger of fasting for one who is healthy, but it is clear that whoever fasts, the resistance to diseases is lessened and the danger of getting infected increases.”
He, therefore, instructs that one who fasts well in general and fasting does not weaken him, “is allowed to be stringent and fast – if he feels well, does not leave his home and remains home all day. It is clear that it is better to fast than to daven with a minyan.”
perhaps it is important for Rabonim to announce about the importance of healthy eating to boost the imunne systems, and against eating food full of poison.
How could one take the Argentinian Rabbi’s psak into extreme proportions and change 17 Tamuz into a day of feasting?
Aren’t we Chabad Chassidim? A Chossid goes above the ltr of the law, and if it’s safe, one should surely fast?!
it says that in the case of pikuach nefesh if you go and ask what to do its as if your killing!
besides if the rov says something, that is the halacha, and what you should do!
also, you cant know if you’re safe, you could feel fine, and really be sick, and the fast could make it way worse.
it’s better not to fast one year and be able to fast the coming years,
then to fast for the last time in your life!
Rabbi feigelstock maybe move to ch. The shchuna is looking for a third rov!
Would love for Rabbi Feigelstock to move to Crown Heights – he sounds like he is for the people.
we want this yr to be mishenidche yidche…no coming years
we believe, pray and do for the gueulah!!