(c) Apr 18 2001 RashiYomi Inc. MY COLLECTED & INDEXED MAIL JEWISH POSTINGS-Ver #1
Individual Postings 1st appeared(& were copied in html form) on the Email List Mail Jewish

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