Taanis B'chorim
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Talmud), he would be permitted to partake of the seu-dah and TAANIS would be exempt from fasting for the duration of the day. It has become common practice for individuals to conduct a B’CHORIM siyum on Erev Passover after morning services in the synagogue so that all attending firstborn males, as well as On Friday, April 19, 2019, Taanis B’chorim, Fast of First Born fathers of firstborn males who are not yet Bar Mitz-vah age, Sons, is held to commemorate their deliverance from death will avoid the need to fast. during the tenth plague in Egypt. All firstborn males, whether In the event that a firstborn is unable to participate in a si- firstborn to their father or their mother, should fast. Even one yum on Erev Passover and he knows that fasting the entire born through Caesarian section should fast, according to day will severely impact his ability to perform the mitzvot of many Poskim, although some rule leniently in this case. If a the Seder night properly, he should not fast. However, the woman’s first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, even if she Mishnah Berurah (670:2) recommends that in such a case was already at an ad-vanced stage in the pregnancy, or one should limit his eating to light foods, avoiding a regular even if she delivered a stillborn child, the first baby who is meal. Other Poskim (Responsa Olas Shmuel, 58, quoted in born to her afterwards, Kaf HaChaim 670:8) suggest that the proper ap-proach would if male, would be considered a firstborn in this regard. If a be to fast only until chatzot hayom (mid-day). Rav Yoseph couple has a firstborn son who is not yet Bar Mitzvah age but Eliyahu Henkin, zt”l (Kisvei HaGaon Rav Y.E. Henkin, vol. 2:31) is at least 30 days old, it is customary for his father to fast on maintains that redeeming the fast with charity (i.e. donating to his behalf. charity an amount that equals what one typically eats during A distinguishing feature of this fast is that although it is re- the course of a day) is actually the most recommended corded in the Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 470:1), it does not have course of action. ▲ a Talmudic source and is classified as a minhag (custom), rather than a law. For this reason, if on Erev Passover a first- born would attend a seudat mitzvah (meal held in honor of the fulfilment of a mitzvah), such as a brit milah (ritual circumcision), pidyon haben (redemption of the firstborn), or siyum mesechet (completion of the study of a tractate in the Note: For specific questions about these laws, please consult your Orthodox Rabbi. www.askcrc.org cRc Pesach Guide 5779 33.