Taanis Esther – The Fast of Esther – Laws and Customs

The fast begins at 5:56am and ends at 7:28pm (NYC Times)

Haman’s “Final Solution” was scheduled for the 13th of Adar. Instead, Haman was hanged, and by royal decree the Jews mobilized in self-defense and successfully defended themselves against all attacks. On the next day, the 14th of Adar, the Jews rested, savored their miraculous salvation, and established the holiday of Purim.

Whenever in peril, we are commanded to institute a fast day to repent, pray, and ask for Divine mercy. Thus the 13th of Adar, the day of battle, was a day of fasting.

Earlier in the Purim narrative, Esther risked her life by appearing before the king without permission. But first she asked the Jews to fast with her for three days.

We commemorate these fasts every year by fasting on the day before Purim, a fast which is called Ta’anit Esther (the Fast of Esther). If Purim falls on a Sunday, the fast is observed on the Thursday beforehand.1

Fasting is simple. If you are healthy and over the age of bar or bat mitzvah, don’t eat or drink from dawn (Click here to find out when that is in your location) until after the Megillah reading on Purim night.2

Click here for basic fast day information.

Machatzit Hashekel

In commemoration of the half shekel contributed by each Jew to the Holy Temple – and which the Talmud credits as having counteracted the 10,000 silver coins Haman gave to King Ahasuerus to obtain the royal decree calling for the extermination of the Jewish people – it is customary to give three coins in “half denomination” (e.g., the half-dollar coins) to charity on the afternoon of the Fast of Esther, before minchah (the afternoon prayer services).

In many synagogues, plates are set out with silver half-dollars, so that all could purchase them to use in observance of this custom.

It is customary to give three half-dollars for every member of the family. This commemorates the three contributions the Jews gave for the building of the Tabernacle and its sacrifices.

If you didn’t manage to give machatzit hashekel before mincha, you can do so afterwards, or before the Megillah reading on Purim night or morning.

For more on Purim visit Chabad.org

Some Halochos and Minhagim:

We add Selichos and kriyas hatora.

We add Ane’nu only in mincha, we say it in the beracha of shma kolenu.

If one forgets to say Ane’nu after he already concluded the bracha he sould say it after the first Elokai Nitzor, if you forget there the is no makeup.

We give Machatzis Hashekel this Monday before mincha.

It should be three half dollar coins.

Our custom is to give on behalf of ones whole family.

Read the Megilla Monday night.

During the bracha sehechyanu have in mind the other mitzvos of purim.

One must hear every word of the Megilla.

It is appropriate to wear shabbos clothes on Purim.

If one forgets Al Hanisim after he finished the beracha there is no make up.

For Shalach Monos there should be two different types of brachos foods ,they should be ready to eat.

Matanos Laevyonim to at least two poor people.

It is preferable to give more to Matanos laevyonim then for Shalach Monos.

One must start the purim seuda while it is still day.

Even if one bentches after the day is over you still say Al Hanisim. (if you started while it was still day)

No work on Purim.

On Shushan Purim one should add in joy and feasting.