Are there any kulos for a girl who is 12 years old with respect to fasting on Yom Kippur? If she feels faint, can she drink or eat anything? If so, how much?
Also, if someone must swallow a pill on Yom Kippur, is he allowed to swallow it with water?
Thank you for this wonderful service and Gmar Tov.
Answer:
There are no particular leniencies for girls over the age of bas mitzvah with regard to fasting on Yom Kippur.
If a girl has a generally weak disposition, It is recommended that she shouldn’t exert herself during the day. She doesn’t need to spend much time in shul, and should take it easy, resting as much as possible. It is permitted to smell scents, which can help for feeling faint, but not to eat or drink anything, unless the condition is life threatning.
In addition, there are various products on the market that help a person fast, and these can be investigated and tried.
It is permitted to swallow a pill on Yom Kippur, if a person is ill, but not with water. If the pill cannot be swallowed without water, and it is required for health purposes, a small amount of water should be rendered unfit for consumption (for instance, by adding salt), and this water can be used. This should only be done in case of need.
Best wishes and gemar chasimah tovah.
