What the Fast of Esther Is
The Fast of Esther (Ta'anit Esther) is a minor fast day in the Jewish calendar, observed on the day before Purim. It commemorates the fasting and prayer undertaken by the Jewish community in ancient Persia, as described in the Book of Esther, before Queen Esther approached King Ahasuerus to plead for her people's safety. In Israel, where Purim is widely celebrated as a national and cultural holiday, the fast serves as the solemn prelude to the festivities that follow.
Origins and Significance in Israel
The fast is rooted in the Purim narrative, which recounts the deliverance of the Jews of the Persian Empire from a plot to destroy them. Because Purim is observed in Israel with particular prominence—both as a religious holiday and as a widely shared cultural event—the Fast of Esther carries a distinct role there. It marks a day of reflection and self-denial before the joy and celebration of Purim, giving the holiday a rhythm of solemnity followed by festivity.
In Israel, the fast is observed by many religious Jews, while secular Israelis may be less likely to fast but are still aware of the day as part of the Purim season. The day is not a public holiday, and normal work and school schedules generally continue.
Customs and Traditions
- Fasting: Observant Jews abstain from food and drink from dawn until nightfall, in keeping with the rules for minor fast days.
- Synagogue services: Special prayers, including the reading of the Torah portion and the recitation of the Aneinu prayer, are added to the morning and afternoon services.
- Charity: It is customary to give charity on the fast day, often before the afternoon service, as an act of communal responsibility.
- Preparation for Purim: The day is also used to prepare for Purim, including the baking of traditional pastries and the arrangement of gift packages (mishloach manot) for friends and family.
Food and Drink
Because the Fast of Esther is a fast day, no food or drink is consumed by those observing it until the fast ends at nightfall. The meal that breaks the fast is typically dairy or light, and it often serves as an informal transition into the Purim celebrations. In many Israeli homes, the evening after the fast includes the beginning of Purim preparations, such as baking oznei Haman (Hamantaschen) and assembling gift baskets.
Religious and Civic Observances
The fast is primarily a religious observance, marked in synagogues across the country. There is no official state ceremony or national holiday associated with the day. However, because Purim itself is widely marked in Israel—including in schools, workplaces, and public spaces—the Fast of Esther is generally understood as part of the broader Purim period. In some communities, special study sessions or lectures on the Book of Esther are held.
Public Festivities and Regional Variations
Public festivities are not characteristic of the Fast of Esther itself, which is a somber day. The celebratory events—costume parties, parades, and public readings of the Megillah—take place on Purim, beginning that evening and continuing the next day. Regional variations in how the fast is observed are not strongly marked; observance tends to follow the same religious calendar throughout the country. Differences that do exist are largely between religious and secular communities rather than between geographic regions. In cities with large religious populations, such as Jerusalem and Bnei Brak, synagogue attendance and fasting are more widespread, while in more secular areas the day may pass with less public visibility.
Summary
In Israel, the Fast of Esther is a minor fast day that serves as the solemn opening of the Purim season. It is observed mainly through fasting, synagogue prayer, and charity, with no official civic ceremonies or public festivities of its own. Its significance in Israel lies in its role as the quiet counterpoint to the exuberant celebrations that begin immediately afterward.