Taanis of Asara B’Teves on Friday

• There are four fasts instituted by Chazal in mourning the loss of the Beis Hamikdash. They are: the Seventeenth of Tammuz, the Ninth of Av, Tzom Gedaliah, and the Tenth of Teves. (Ta’anis Esther was instituted later for a different reason.)
• The purpose of these fasts is to arouse one to teshuvah. Those that waste the day away because they are fasting are defeating the purpose of the fast.
• The following halachos don’t apply to Tisha Bav. Tisha Bav is stricter than the other fasts and those halachos appear on a different pdf.
• The fast begins at dawn (which most poskim say is 72 minutes before sunrise).
• One should be very careful not to get angry on a fast day.
• If one wants to eat before dawn, he should declare that he is not accepting the fast until it begins. However, if one did not make this declaration, he may still drink before dawn, but he may not eat.
• If one wishes to eat an egg-sized amount of bread or cake, he must begin eating at least half an hour before dawn.
• Women may begin eating the above even within half an hour of dawn.
• If one feels uncomfortable from refraining from brushing his teeth or using mouthwash, he may do so, but must be wary not to swallow any of it.
• Listerine strips are allowed to be used if one is very uncomfortable.
• Preferably one should not schedule a dentist visit for a fast day, unless necessary.
• Showering, listening to music, and shaving/taking haircuts are allowed (excluding on 17 Tammuz and Tisha B’Av), but discouraged.
• Scrupulous individuals don’t shower the night before the fast.
• Laundry and tailoring may be done on a fast day.
• Nails may be cut.
• The custom is not to swim on a fast day. On the night before it is allowed.
• Children may swim, however, many have the custom not to allow them to.
• Medicines that don’t taste good may be swallowed.
• If liquids are necessary for the medications, they may be taken with less than an ounce of water.
• If one accidentally ate or drank he must continue to fast.
• If one realizes that it is a fast day after having made a brachah over food, he should eat a minimal amount to avoid a brachah l’vatalah.
• Pregnant and nursing women are not required to fast.
• Some say that any mother within 24 months of childbirth, even if not nursing, need not fast. A shailah should be asked.
• If one feels sick or faint, he must break his fast.
• One who can’t focus properly while at work should ask a shailah about fasting.
• Children under the age of bar/bas mitzvah do not need to fast at all.
• The fast ends at nightfall, which is preferably fifty minutes after sunset, or, if necessary, 42 minutes after sunset.
• Travelers conclude their fast when it ends at their current location.
• Those that are fasting add the tefillah of Aneinu to the brachah of Shema Koleinu in Shemoneh Esrei of Minchah. If it was omitted, one need not repeat Shemoneh Esrei.
• If Aneinu was forgotten in Shema Koleinu, it should be said before the last yihyu l’ratzon at the end of Shemoneh Esrei.
• One who is not fasting should not serve as the chazzan or receive an aliyah to the Torah.
• Avinu Malkeinu is said at both Shacharis and Minchah.
• One davening without a minyan should still say Avinu Malkeinu.
• Ma’ariv should preferably be davened before breaking one’s fast. If one has a set time and place to daven Ma’ariv, he may eat beforehand.

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