The famous question. What about fasting?
By the time Yom Kippur rolls around, God Willing, I will be
10 weeks pregnant. I know about breaking the fast if it concerns
endangering health of mother or unborn...however, As I have
never been pregnant, have fasted all of my life for both major
and most minor fasts, I would appreciate a little guidance.
If I was in the States, I would know who
to contact. I would feel very fortunate with have access to
a supportive Jewish community in California or New York. The
reality is I am in Berlin Germany, I am 43 and I just would
feel better getting some info in English. I am not really
connected to the Jewish Community in Berlin mostly because
the spirituality around here is hard to find.
Oy, I have tried, but it is really strange
place. And there are not any spiritual leaders with whom I
feel comfortable. Maybe with all the changes, they will come
someday. In the meantime... Actually, I would also appreciate
any other connections to support links to help me feel less
isolated. Thanks!
From Rabbi David Sperling
A. Fasting for a pregnant woman on Yom Kippur (the other fasts have different laws, and
are generally more lenient).
1.In
a case of, G-d forbid, danger to the life of the mother, or
the fetus, or even a possible danger, we break the fast (on
how to eat see below).
2. Jewish law records the
case of a women who, upon smelling some food for example,
lusts to eat it. This is considered life threatening, and
if after being reminded that it is Yom Kippur she still wants
to eat, we give her a few drops to eat. We up the amount of
food slowly until she no longer needs to eat. I have not heard
of this happening in our day and age.
3. More common is a woman
who feels nauseous, dizzy or faint. There is an argument amongst
modern Rabbis how sick she must feel in order to eat. Rav
Nebenzal (of the Old City of Jerusalem) is very lenient and
rules that in any cases of dizziness (even mildly) or nausea,
she should eat in "measures" (see below) and if that does
not suffice, she should eat normally. She can even start eating
before the nausea begins, if she is sure that the fast will
cause the nausea to come.
There is an even more lenient
opinion (or Rav Fischer of the Bedatz of the Adah Haradit)
who tells all women from the seventh month on (until the ninth)
that they must drink in "measures" as a preventive health
measure. This opinion is not generally followed.
Rav Mordichay Eliyahu (previous
Serphadi Chief Rabbi) rules that one must be much stricter
and cannot break the fast for dizziness or nausea.
I would suggest that if the
mother feels well she should begin the fast, and if she then
feels herself to be sick (especially vomiting or other signs
of dehydration) she should break the fast by eating in measures.
However mild dizziness and nausea that can be coped with by
lying down should be endured. But this depends very much on
the general health of the mother and fetus.
4. There is an opinion that
obligates women in the ninth month to at least drink in "measures"
so as not arrive at labour without enough liquids. This is
not generally followed, but someone who has fears about birth
and wants to follow such an opinion has on whom to rely.
5. It should be stressed that
the obligation to fast is much greater than the obligation
to go to synagogue. A woman who knows that going to the synagogue
will cause (or add to) the possibility of having to break
the fast, should not go. It is better to spend the day in
bed lying down if needs be, than to go out and have to eat.
A husband should also be reminded
that he has an obligation to stay home and take care of his
wife or children rather than go to pray with a minyan, in
order that his wife be able to fast.
6. Medically needed tablets
(for low iron etc) can be taken, when needed, on the fast,
without water.
7. All the above is written
for normal healthy pregnancies. If there are any complications,
or a medical history of problem, one should consult a Rabbi
with the details. And in general it is better to talk to a
rabbi who knows you personally and not rely on what I have
written.
8. Eating in "measures": one
eats less than 30 cubic cm of food, no more than every nine
minutes, and drinks less than a cheek-full of liquid (about
40 ml) every nine minutes. The food and drink do not join
together and one can eat the amount above, as well as drink
the amount above in the same nine minutes. But one must be
careful that the food of one 9 mins does not overlap with
the food of the next 9 mins. (That is not to eat the food
at the end of one 9 min. period and the next lot at the start
of the next 9 mins. But rather there should be 9 mins between
each lot of food.).
Before the fast one can prepare
a small measuring cup and determine the size of the food (it
is about what fits into an average Israeli match-box), or
drink.
May you be healthy in body
and soul, and inscribed for a good year.
Please Note: This site is designed for
educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information
as a substitute for personal medical advice.
