Fasting on Tisha B'Av

waltzingmom

I'm fasting today for Tisha B'Av (Jewish commemoration of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem), and not feeling too well. Any good tips for getting through fast days?

kommodevaran

It's supposed to feel bad, because it's for some religious purpose. You can do or not do it, but if you do it, do it sincerely. You'll live. It's one day!

Old_Cat_Lady

You might be making a mistake it might not be fast DAYS, it might be just one day.
I Jerusalem, the fast begins at 7:41 p.m. Monday and ends Tuesday at 8:05 p.mhttp://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/How-to-fast-safely-on-Tisha-Beav-501173

waltzingmom wrote: »

getting through fast days?

And in Jerusalem it's Tusday 6:06pm so you only have two hours to go. To be technically correct, you should do it in that time zone.

jessiferrrb

can you drink water? not too much, but some may help.

also, i've heard that they used to pass spices (cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, etc.) around between services at synagogue because sniffing them may help to alleviate some of the hunger.

if you feel really badly you may want to modify somehow, sip some broth, or have something to drink with electrolytes.

waltzingmom

Thanks, everyone!

estherdragonbat

I'm fasting today. I'm mostly just staying indoors and taking it easy. I had a lot of protein and little salt with supper last night and tried to drink a lot. For me, Tisha b'Av is no food, no water unless there's a medical reason/danger to life. (Some years ago, I was in Israel for the first time over Tisha b'Av. I had a full water canteen next to me because I wasn't sure if I'd gotten accustomed enough to the heat to not need it. It was a Jewish high school trip, so they knew to keep activities light and stay indoors where it was air conditioned as much as possible. I didn't need the canteen. But just knowing that it was there and I could have it if I needed it helped.)

estherdragonbat

TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »

You might be making a mistake it might not be fast DAYS, it might be just one day.
I Jerusalem, the fast begins at 7:41 p.m. Monday and ends Tuesday at 8:05 p.mhttp://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/How-to-fast-safely-on-Tisha-Beav-501173

waltzingmom wrote: »

getting through fast days?

And in Jerusalem it's Tusday 6:06pm so you only have two hours to go. To be technically correct, you should do it in that time zone.

As I understand it, the question is for fast days in general, not just Tisha b'Av specifically. There are seven fasts on the Jewish calendar.

And they're meant to be kept in the time zone where you are at the time of the fast. (I'd need to ask a rabbi if I were going to be traveling over the International Date Line at that time, but let's agree that situations like that one don't arise every day.)

estherdragonbat

jessiferrrb wrote: »

can you drink water? not too much, but some may help.

also, i've heard that they used to pass spices (cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, etc.) around between services at synagogue because sniffing them may help to alleviate some of the hunger.

Interesting. That's not the reason I was taught. (Doesn't mean you're wrong. Many traditions and customs in Judaism have multiple reasons.) As I was taught, there's an idea that you should be making at least 100 blessings each day. Normally, we make blessings upon and after partaking of different types of food and beverage. There's one we say after using the washroom (being thankful that our body is working like it's supposed to). On a fast day, we miss out on the food blessings and generally don't need to use the washroom as much. So getting in the 100 blessings is a little harder.

But smelling flowers, fragrant woods, and spices also require a blessing. So by passing around spices, it gives congregants the opportunity.

kavahni

Fasting makes me feel like crap for three days after. I think that is more than what is being asked. So I tend to eat a tiny bit for breakfast and mid afternoon, and take at least 2 cups of water over the course of the day.

grumpygit1962

I have just past my first day fasting on a 2 day fast. I always feel the hunger pangs on the first day, have some kind of exercise that evening(swimming 1000 mtrs tonight) which is always a feel good great workout. The second day I feel a little grotty on waking up then feel the second day is fantastic, feel great, then break the fast with a gentle meal in the evening, feels great to eat but somtimes feel a little yuk shall we say, nothing to bad, by next day I am walking on a cloud.

jessiferrrb

estherdragonbat wrote: »

jessiferrrb wrote: »

can you drink water? not too much, but some may help.

also, i've heard that they used to pass spices (cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, etc.) around between services at synagogue because sniffing them may help to alleviate some of the hunger.

Interesting. That's not the reason I was taught. (Doesn't mean you're wrong. Many traditions and customs in Judaism have multiple reasons.) As I was taught, there's an idea that you should be making at least 100 blessings each day. Normally, we make blessings upon and after partaking of different types of food and beverage. There's one we say after using the washroom (being thankful that our body is working like it's supposed to). On a fast day, we miss out on the food blessings and generally don't need to use the washroom as much. So getting in the 100 blessings is a little harder.

But smelling flowers, fragrant woods, and spices also require a blessing. So by passing around spices, it gives congregants the opportunity.

super interesting esther, i always count on your knowledge of Judaism when these questions arise, and defer to you as i'm a minimally practicing agnostic cultural jew. maybe the hunger respite is just a happy side effect.

estherdragonbat

Awww... shucks!