HaRav Elyakim Levanon Shlita announced that any woman with children whose husband was called up for reserve duty with an emergency “Tzav 8”, should fast until she begins feeling weak and then she is permitted to break the fast. The rav is referring to today, 17 Tammuz.
The rav gives a chizuk to these women, many at homes with the little ones and without summer camp programs. The rav adds that a pregnant or nursing woman is not required to fast at all while other women, those who are healthy, must fast. However, the women who are single handedly taking care of the children without assistance from their husbands, like those called to military service, may break the fast, reminding them their work of raising the children is “avodas kodesh”.
The rav explains that if it becomes difficult for such a woman to continue fasting at some point, even if it is 10:00 or 11:00 AM, she does not need to push herself but she is permitted to drink if that is sufficient. However, if she feels a need to eat as well then she should eat.
Regarding the soldiers, he explains they were called up to “eliminate the enemy” and this takes priority over this fast and therefore, soldiers are to maintain their strength. Rabbi Levanon concludes that if the soldiers are already fighting or just preparing, they must do everything in a regular fashion and if at any time the fast interferes, not only may they break their fast but they are compelled to do so.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
I’m assuming the Rav means to say that between the stress of her husbands life being on the line and the added stress of raising kids (particularly in times like this) warrant breaking one’s fast if she feels overwhelmed.
If so, I’m impressed with his psak. (Not that he needs my haskama)
I understand the soldiers breaking the fast as needed, as it’s liChaOra a matter of pikuach nefesh, but why the mothers at home? What do the husbands’ deployment have anything to do with the woman’s fast?
By his logic, does an almana R”L L”A raising her children also have this heter?
What about those whose husbands are traveling, or even working late that day?
These, too, are without “without assistance from their husbands”.
Finally, since when does “avodas haKodesh” supercede fasting?
Why would Klal Yisrael have ever accepted these fasts given their obvious effects on their respective avodas haKodesh?
What are his halachic sources for this ruling?
I’m with Hakatan…this is a ridiculous Psak!
Hakatan
It is evident that u have never experienced personally or within a family the STRESS, WORRY, AGMAS NEFESH or the combo of a husband, brother, father or child at war while caring for delicate, sensitive, worried children at
Home giving them reassurances & doses of emunah.
The rates of miscarriage, depression, sickness & stress disorder are compounded by where u live & what war circumstances you are engaged in. Is this a comparison to a widow or single mother living in New York?
Hakatan and But…you must be men, men living outside of Israel.
I live in Israel…