Question:
Is the halacha to fast on erev Rosh Hashana a minhag/ halacha and if so till when?
Answer:
There are many halachos that pertain to the month of Elul and more specifically to Erev rosh hashana and some even to on Rosh Hashana day itself, in which these halachos a big part of them are brought upon by means of minhag and not specific rabbinic decrease. One of these such minhagim is the custome for one to fast on Erev Rosh HaShana. This minhag is not so well known in the general Shomrei mitzvos but rather more observant and machmirim people , eventhough this is a tremendous chumra to try keep and ideal if one can.
Where there is a Brit Milah that day, one may eat. Some are of the opinion that one can exempt himself with a Siyum Masechet or any other Seudat Mitzvah, as well.
It is brought that Some say that this minhag of fasting on erev rosh hashana is that women do not fast on Erev Rosh Hashana.
Accepting the Fast
One doesn’t need to have to accept this fast upon himself during Mincha the day before, See The Mishna Brurah in siman 581:16 for further clarification on his opinion on this. This is also the ruling of many poskim however it is quoted from Rav Elyashiv as saying that if you don’t fast every year, you should accept it during mincha the day before.
When Does the Fast End
Some say one should be sure to complete the fast. Most Ashkenazim poskim say that one should not fast until Tzeit HaKochavim( which is until Yom Tov comes in, and in practice they would only be breaking their fast after the davening when having the seuda), as that would cause him to enter Yom Tov famished. Instead, one should fast until either Mincha Gedolah or Plag HaMincha, daven mincha and eat afterwards. Others suggest that one should only fast until Chatzot, eat and then daven mincha afterwards.
Aneinu and Keriat HaTorah at Mincha
One who is still fasting at mincha, should recite aneinu during mincha, For the chazzan, if he doesn’t plan on finishing the fast, he shouldn’t recite aneinu in the chazarat hashatz at all.
Regardless of how long one plans to fast for, one should not lain the traditional laining for a Ta’anit Tzibur (“Vayechal Moshe”).
With relating to the topic of the manyminhagim taken on during elul and rosh hashana the following is also applicable.
It is brought that Some pious individuals have the minhag of checking their Tefillin and Mezuzot during Elul.
In sefer Mateh Efraim 581:10 writes that as part of being introspective during Elul, some pious individuals check their Tefillin and Mezuzot during Elul. He concludes that it is a good minhag. This is quoted by the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128:3. It is noteworthy that Shuchan Aruch 39:10 rules that Tefillin that were established as being kosher do not have to be checked if they are used frequently. Additionally, the Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh Deah siman 291:1 rules that Mezuzos should be checked twice every seven years.
It is permissible to get married during Elul or during the Aseret Yimei Teshuva. Although Mateh Ephraim 602:5 and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 130:4 write that since they are days of judgment one should avoid getting married then, some argue that the merit of getting married could help gain a favorable judgment. He writes that common practice was to allow weddings during this time, and that he himself got married on the 6th of Tishrei.
The custom is that during Elul, one who writes a letter should write a blessing to the recipient that he should be inscribed in the book of life, such as “lishana tova tichatevu vitichatemu.” The same is true of email’s or the like. |