By COLlive reporter
“The general instruction to all those who are asking is that they should not fast at all, and eat as usual without being precise with the (halachic) measurements.”
That is the ruling that Rabbi Yosef Feigelstock, Rov of the Chabad community in Argentina and a bold posek, has issued to the public this week.
Dated for Monday, 14 Tammuz 5780, he addresses the question of how the fast days of Shivah Asar b’Tammuz and Tisha B’av should be observed this year.
“The situation in the world according to my understanding is that in every place there are people who are ill,” he writes in reference to the coronavirus pandemic.
“There isn’t a place where everyone is healthy,” he explains. “In every place, there is a danger, some less some more. Even in places where they opened shuls (and lehavdil) the marketplace, there is still danger.”
Rabbi Feigelstock says the opinion of doctors is that “there is no danger of fasting for one who is healthy, but it is clear that whoever fasts, the resistance to diseases is lessened and the danger of getting infected increases.”
He, therefore, instructs that one who fasts well in general and fasting does not weaken him, “is allowed to be stringent and fast – if he feels well, does not leave his home and remains home all day. It is clear that it is better to fast than to daven with a minyan.”
But his general guideline is not to fast and to eat regular meals without following the requirement to eat in increments when one is ill on a regular fast day.
He did allow eating in increments and suggested that each one consults with their rabbi according to the condition of their health.
He mentions that during the outbreak of cholera in 5628 (1866-67), R’ Aharon Twersky of Chernobyl instructed the residents of Kremenchuk to eat meat during the 9 Days and not to fast on Tisha B’av.
CovidFastDays5780
Wry interesting conclusion. Makes sense. But, I’m skeptical on what CH Rabbonim will say.
May I presumingly say. Ch”V if this continues. Do we not fast Tzom Gedalia and or Yom Kipper ?
I mean if it’s true this p’sak. It should maintain its status Then too.
Moshiach now to alleviate these difficult decisions.
Not all fast are Hallachikaly equal. Each one has it’s unique requirements and when we approach a specific fast you have a question on, it is then appropriate to ask a sheileh pertaining to that specific one.
This is not a heter for all forthcoming fast days.
That is true. The details can only be discussed on a site like Yehupetz.com that are designed for such discussion, but tzom Gedalia is not really comparable to Yom Kippur. There is also a difference depending on the state of health, for which one must consult a medical authority in addition to a halachic one.
He is one of the leading chabad halachic authorities in the world
No, he is in Argentina and surrounding countries. I highly doubt any Rav in Crown Heights or Eretz Yisroel would agree to this on any level.
This must be a misunderstanding.
he is a grandchild of the Chasam Sofer!
This is the reality of the times. The Rebbe spoke many sichot about transforming the fast days to days of joy and Simcha as brought in the Rambam. The health situation is just the driving force to enable Klal Yisrael and the world to enter the time of Geulah(Redemption), Moshiach, Bais Hamikdash hashlishi(the third temple), and ultimately techiyas ha mesim(resurrection of the not living). We must rely on all that we have learned in nigleh and nistar, kabbalah and Chassidus, and as the Rebbe said so many times, OPEN your eyes and recognize the good that we have been blessed… Read more »
Rabbi Feigelstock’s PSAK is clear, concise, has halachik precedence , And is really a call to other Poskim to join. Instead of finding problems with the PSAK, and causing SAFEK, honorable Rabbanim who are also poskim Should use their power, and knowledge of Halacha, to issue a similar PSAK. If Rabbi Feigelstock can do it and find basis in Halacha to do so, for sure the other Rabbanim can do as well. LETS NOT BE MACHMIR with fasting when dealing with Jewish life. Rabbi Feigelstock is really being a Nachshon in Halacha. If Honored poskim did not find The courage… Read more »
Absolutely correct Rabbi Razla. May Hashem continue to bless you in your Avodas HaKodesh. The Rabbanim worldwide must finally wake up and see the world through the eyes of the Rebbe. Time and time again they refused to follow the call of the Rebbe and the results have been in EVERY case disasterous, loss of life, and pikuach nefesh. We study Pirke Avos all summer and as it says there, ‘IF NOT NOW, WHEN.’
Wake up Rabbanim and YIDDEN!!
כל אחד צריך לשאול הרב שלו במקום שלו
Honestly, what has this world come to? We are taking psak dinim from people across the world who don’t know the specific situation, every situation is different!!!! The only thing we have left is our Yiddishkeit. Don’t put it aside for fear a a virus that probably won’t kill you, if you read the science.
Don’t put aside your Yiddishkeit in exchange for “science” that tells you to disregard what Rav Feigelstock says! There are other halachic opinions, but his is still important. And the virus may be unlikely to kill, but it strongly impacts quality of life. Someone who has it is exempt from certain mitzvot, but we are obligated to do our best to avoid it so that we can be in the right state of mind and body to serve Hashem.
Can the link to the full psak be posted?
It’s posted in Hebrew inside a box. Just scroll up a little.
Behatslachah
I recall when in Zal in Argentina that Rabbi Feigelshtok was known as a great machmir with only giving hashgacha to a select few establishments.
עשה לך רב.it is good to be aware and ask one’s own Rav and doctor. Doubt he mean this as a statement for everyone.
At times reffering to a rov for halacha and at times to A mashpia figure. Seemingly if you are a halacha observant jew you need a rov who is proficient in halacha. If you are trying to live as a chossid you should make for yourself a mashpia and the Rebbe laid out guidelines for what qualities to seek.
i think he is speaking about his place not for everyone
Rabbi Feigelstock is the posek hador, nobody in Lubavitch come close!!
i think he is speaking about his place.
not for everyone.
For sure he is speaking Only about his place
But others rabbis in America will follow this line of thought because There is way more virus and more lethal in America than in Argentina
If you’re willing to go out not wearing a mask (ahem, ALL of crown heights…or I’ll be generous and say MOST of crown heights), then I would imagine relying on this psak would not apply to those individuals. Any individual who doesn’t wear a mask (and they can say it’s political, government is lying to us, the virus is over, you can’t get sick again and other nonsense or theories that have yet to be proven) and takes their health and others in such an arrogant light, they can and should fast.
I can’t breathe wearing a mask, certainly for one in my condition, this heter would apply eventhough I don’t wear a mask.
This is a sign of serious medical condition, and you should consult your doctor immediately. And DONT fast, with such breathing problems and higher chance of catching the coronaviris, you are definitely very high risk, please do not exacerbate this by fasting
Same happens to me. I were those those plastic tranparent full face covering masks whenever the regular one gets unbearable for me.
If you can’t wear a mask, stay home.
That’s all.
I take it you’re planning to eat then
Can we also go swimming and do laundry??
why would you even ask something like that? it is not a joke
Nowadays, intermittent fasting is encouraged to promote better health. 2 days fasts (except for water) is common in Europe and 5 day fasting (300 calories per day and water allowed) has been demonstrated to be very healthy. Are you sure that a 24 hour fast can cause all that damage?
Doctors said that fasting can reduce one’s health. This is what R.Y.F. is talking about in his hetter.
what on earth. intermittent fasting for 5 days can kill you like that. theres a reason why fasting is reserved for mourning. not as an every day diet. fasting is not healthy for you!
It’s 5 days of 300 calories, not full fasting. Whether it’s healthy or not depends on your individual body chemistry.
As far as I read intermittent fasting as a way to promote health talks about ~12 hrs, (and problably encourages drinking water). For the northen hemisphere יז תומוז fast lasts longer
Is fasting for a shorter period of time, often 16 hours,from supper through the night, you break your fast on a late breakfast or lunch. Eg, one would eat finish dinner by 6pm and eat breakfast the following day at 10am
I heard that it’s really bad over there.
I live in Buenos Aires is not bad at all. The us, Eurpe, Brazil, Chile are much worse.
Yes it is bad. Just because people go out doesn’t mean the virus is not as deadly as before.
covid 19 is not the real issue its a cover up for the government.
They take advantage pf covid
The articles says everywhere there are people who are sick…
Some of us get weak and suffer from lightheadedness and headaches when fasting. fasting. I wish the Rabbonim would substitute or give the option of giving Tzedaka instead of fasting except of course on Yom Kippur
And תשעה באב
Moshiach!
Aguante Rab Feigelshtok, el mejor Rov del mundo.
the psak is only for Argentina.the government is using the pandemic to control the population and some dont have what to eat
The Psak is only for Argentina and the problem isn’t the COVID 19 but the government using the pandemia to coverup the disastrous condition of the country economy
In many places in the world life is going about as normal – with restrictions. Shopping, beach going, weddings, lchaims, Camp etc. if one can do the above, one can stay home for the day and fast. These are serious fasts!! Tisha b’Av – eat as usual? It weakens me to think how low we have fallen – due to the fear monger if of govt and doctors. In Israel 320 people died rl. That is NOT a pandemic. COL posts pics of Friday’s in CH – life as usual. I hope he is actually thinking there’s no need to… Read more »
we are in a pandemic…you are not in touch with reality
Firstly, Crown Height not following all of these rules doesn’t mean that the pandemic isn’t going on anymore. There are still thousands of people fighting for their lives already for MONTHS now, because of this virus. There are people who are still getting it and YES, the fear is real and shouldn’t be underestimated, just because news reporters and social media is overestimating it. And how DARE you write that it weakens you to think how low we’ve fallen with not fasting? A Rav says that under certain circumstances one may not fast and you call that falling? Is a… Read more »
IT SEEMS WHOLLY IMPROPER TO POST A PSAK FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY AS IF IT AUTOMATICALLY APPLIES EVERYWHERE. WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW IS THAT UBER CHOCHOMIM WILL QUOTE IT CHAPTER AND VERSE ON FACE VALUE, OR OUT OF CONTEXT, AND RELY ON IT WITHOUT CONSULTING THEIR LOCAL ROV IN THEIR COUNTRY AND IN THEIR CITY. IT IS VERY SUPRISING THAT SUCH A KOL KOREH DID NOT COME WITH THE ABOVE PROVISO THAT EVERYONE MUST CONSULT THEIR ROV IN THEIR OWN CITY PERTAINING TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL HEALTH SITUATION, UNLESS THAT CITIES ROV GIVES A BLANKET PSAK FOR THE WHOLE INHABITANTS OF THAT… Read more »
if you want to be machmir good for you, we are trying to saves lifes here!
Why are you screaming ????!!
(Capital letters = raising your voice)
…
it clearly states that this is only aplying for those who are in the condition where the virus has affected them/ they are autoimmune and therefore the risk of getting sick is higher. The Rav was not making a blanket statement as you accused
Good, I hate fasting!
All those with antibodies ( which means that they ALREADY had the virus) MUST FAST Everyone should get tested before they decide to eat Also everyone under 50 who are not in danger must fast
I feel like it is very irresponsible to publish this and possibly take it out of context. While there are many places experiencing a second wave this does not mean every place is dangerous. Especially since one can fast and stay at home.
Although I don’t think it was wrong for the Rav to make this Psak, I do agree that it was wrong for that psak to be posted on a mainstream and frequently checked website for people to take this psak in the way that they want.
Relax,Nobody ever died from eating!
how about making a psak about caring to eat healthy food, and stop with all junk foods full of poison…and build up immune system
I wish people would Read the full psak that was sent by Rabbi Feigelstock then most of the comments wouldn’t be brought up and would give more clarity to the poblic
I Read it and it is very clear to me that he is right.
He gives you the option of fasting but doing that safely
To all of you please read the full tshuvo with the marehe mekomos it will increase your knowledge in the matter.
For next time I think “col” should actually poblish the full psak’s of rabonim on paper
Yes everyone should ask the rov or beis din if their community. Nonetheless worth noting that when the rabbonim in EY declared a fast day around March time many of our Rabbonim said it was dangerous t1 fast for the reasons given here. You may not realise you have covid-19 and if you become symptomatic and same time weak from fasting very dangerous. Secondly I recall seeing a psalk re taanis bechorim along similar lines that even if someone didn’t hear a siyum they c still shouldn’t fast. I appreciate these are less stringent fast days but just pointing out… Read more »
The comparison he makes from the cholera outbreak is not correct – from the research I gathered, the cholera caused terrible diherea which caused dehydration – hence the pesak of not fasting – I don’t know of any health official that has said the same regarding covid -19