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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1998 16:23:18 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Hunger Strikes, Fasting, Health and Halacha

In fact, it is a positive rabbinic commandment for an individual to
undertake a religious fast when tragedies befall him (Rambam, FASTS,
1:9-- The rambam relates this to the rabbinic commandment for a
community to fast on communal tragedies (FASTS, 1:4)--these rabbinic
commandments are attached to the Biblical commandments of communal
prayers for communal traumas (FASTS 1:1).

As to health concerns, the laws are explicit that
          * we do not enact fasts on CONSECUTIVE days (FASTS 1:5)
          * Pregnant, nursing women and minors don't fast (FASTS 1:7)
          * One can eat at night (only fast by day) (FASTS 3:11)

 From the point of view of health, abstention from food is probably
healthier to eating under conditions of aggravation since the
aggravation causes stress hormones to be secreted which intefer with
normal digestion--on the other hand the act of fasting triggers off
certain neurotransmitters which have a calming effect on the troubled
person.

All in all, fasting for personal tragedies is a constructive act of prayer
unless taken to extremes

Russell Jay Hendel; PHd ASA RHEndel @ mcs drexel edu