Question:
Dear Rabbi,
I hope you can help. I did not know that one should fast erev Rosh Hashanah and am beating myself up for not fasting even until chatzos. Since then, I have been scared of my computer, phone, clothes that I touched or wore, etc. as well as the types of food (from different packages) I had that day. I also fear the food that
was in the drawer with the food I ate.
Is it a common fast for anyone? Women?
And, on the same note, do you recommend women fast on Yom Kippur Katan?
Thank you,
Answer:
Hello,
What you are describing appears to be troublesome. Fasting on Erev Rosh Hashana, is a good thing, however many men, and definitely women, do not fast half a day on Erev Rosh Hashana. Beating yourself up over it, sounds like a yetzer hora, cloaked with a very frum disguise, and taking the idea way out of proportion. Th yetzer hora is taking a very minor thing, and causing you psychological pain, and damage. Not fasting on Erev Rosh Hashana does not make a person tameh, and the computer, food clothing that the person touched does not become defiled or anything else as a result. The same applies to the food that was in the drawer with the food that you ate then. If such feeling persist, you might consider talking to someone about it.
As far as it’s being common, for some reason many women and men don’t even know that this idea exists.
It is not the custom for women to fast Yom Kippur katan.
Best wishes
