By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Yosef Braun, member of the Crown Heights Beis Din, has instructed members of the community not to participate in the fast day that was called for by Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau.
Rabbi Lau calls for Jews to fast on Wednesday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Nisan, as a spiritual remedy for the coronavirus outbreak that has killed and infected many around the world.
“According to Rabbi Yehoshua, in Nisan, the world was created, so that it is the eve of the new year, a day of prayer and supplication,” he wrote.
“I ask that anyone who is able to, take it upon themselves to fast, even for half a day, And whoever has difficulty fasting or a health issue should take upon themselves to refrain from speaking (called a ‘fast of silence’, ed.),” he said.
But in a conference call on Tuesday, Rabbi Braun asked that residents of Crown Heights not join the fast.
“I’m asking people not to fast in this community. We need to have healthy people. [Don’t fast] even if you feel healthy,” he said.
Crown Heights is one of the frum communities that has been hit particularly hard by COVID-19, with some prominent figures in critical condition. One of them is Rabbi Braun’s colleague Rabbi Yaacov Schwei.
“Drink as much as possible,” Rabbi Braun suggested. “Instead, give tzedaka (as a pidyon taanis – cost of the day’s meals), and add in Torah and Tefillah, and decrease in devorim b’tailim (idle talk).”
The Crown Heights Badatz called for Wednesday to be set aside as a day of Torah, Tefillah and Tzedaka for the recovery of Rabbi Schwei, as well as all the others in need of a refuah.
They said Crown Heights residents should increase in learning Torah, specifically the teachings of the Rebbe, Tefillah – recite extra Tehillim, and Tzedakah – equivalent to the cost of three meals.
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He said to join- just by giving tzedakah instead of with a fast
buddy
The definition of fast is not to eat. Even if you accomplish the same thing by giving tzedaka you still aren’t fasting because you are eating. Thus, the title is actually quite accurate
Thank you for not just following and thinking about CH specific needs. Those that are sick should have a complete Refuah Shlaima
At this point, ALL rabonei Anash have called for a Yom Tefilah and NO FAST.
He is right. It is dangerous to fast at a time like this.
Thank you Rabbi Braun for your leadership of our community in these trying times, for your daily insights and chizuk.
Thank you for this psak to our community, you are saving lives.
This is the Rebbes opinion, look at Igros letters. The Rebbe was against extra fasting.
This is the opinion of all Chabad Rabbonim.
Any example? Thanks
The rebbe wrote to someone that He is dipleased to hear that he was fasting, that he must take Great care of his body, and he should instead refrain from devarim beteilim and eating for pleasure, instead to eat only for his health
Unnecessary fasting, especially for vulnerable people is dangerous and could mean that they faint and need to go to the ER. Coronavirus is causing the hospitals to quickly reach capacity. If we end up in the hospital when it could have been very easily prevented it takes up another bed in an already overcrowded system. In a crisis like this, decisions you make about yourself affect everybody. I truly hope no one will try to outsmart the rabbonim when it comes to this.
The Rebbe makes the point that we are not to add fasts as was done in earlier generations. And on the sicha of erev Yom Kippur Tav Shin Nun Beis the Rebbe also says that we should not need such “heterim” not to fast, but should be in good health. Indeed, if we were all in good health we would not even consider such fasting now.
May everyone be in good health and may we see the situation change to “toiv hanireh vehanigla”