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Taanit

Taanit is a Hebrew term meaning "fasting" and is used to refer both to the practice of fasting in Jewish law and to a rabbinic text. The word derives from the root meaning to afflict or humble oneself, reflecting fasting as a form of self-denial and penance.

In rabbinic literature, ta’anit designates days of fasting—either public fasts declared by religious or civil authorities

Observance typically involves refraining from eating and drinking from before dawn until nightfall, with additional restrictions

In literature, Ta’anit refers to the tractate Ta’anit in the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmud, which collects

In modern Jewish calendars, ta’anit is used for several named fast days, including Ta’anit Esther on the

in
times
of
drought,
danger,
or
calamity,
or
personal
fasts
undertaken
for
prayer
and
repentance.
Public
ta’anot
are
proclaimed
by
a
court
or
community
leadership
and
observed
by
the
assembled
community,
with
the
intention
of
arousing
communal
prayer
and
humility
before
God.
varying
by
tradition.
Historical
practice
has
included
restrictions
such
as
bathing,
anointing,
or
wearing
leather
shoes;
exemptions
are
made
for
health
reasons,
pregnancy
or
nursing,
and
the
very
young.
After
the
fast,
it
is
common
to
observe
a
meal
of
consolation.
The
liturgy
on
fast
days
generally
includes
penitential
prayers
and
supplications,
and
may
feature
special
poems
and
supplications
for
rain
or
relief
from
distress.
laws
and
narratives
about
public
fasts,
the
timing
and
declaration
of
fast
days,
and
related
prayers.
It
is
part
of
Seder
Moed,
the
order
dealing
with
festival-era
observances,
and
it
discusses
issues
such
as
rain
prayers
and
the
conditions
under
which
fasts
are
observed.
eve
of
Purim
(observed
in
many
communities),
as
well
as
fast
days
such
as
the
10th
of
Tevet
and
the
17th
of
Tammuz,
leading
up
to
Tisha
B’Av.