Tzom

Tzom is the Hebrew noun meaning fasting. In Jewish practice, it refers to a day of abstaining from food and drink for a designated period as an act of repentance, mourning, or spiritual focus. The concept has biblical and rabbinic roots and is observed on several days throughout the Jewish calendar.

The best known tzom is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which involves a 25-hour fast and additional prohibitions. Other fast days include Tisha B’Av (the Ninth of Av) and Tzom Gedaliah, as well as Ta’anit Esther and Ta’anit Bechorot. There are also minor fasts observed at other times. Timings typically begin at dawn and end after nightfall, though practices can vary by community. In addition to not eating or drinking, some fast days impose restrictions such as refraining from bathing, anointing, wearing leather shoes, or engaging in marital relations.

Exemptions are commonly made for health reasons, and many categories of people—pregnant or nursing individuals, the elderly, young children, and those in danger or with medical needs—may be allowed to eat or drink. Observance and stringency can differ among Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform communities, reflecting diverse interpretations of Jewish law.

Tzom serves as a public, communal practice for reflection, repentance, and remembrance, often tied to specific historical or liturgical occasions. It emphasizes humility, self-control, and dependence on God, central themes in the Jewish approach to personal and communal growth.

See also: Yom Kippur; Tisha B’Av; Ta’anit Esther; Ta’anit Bechorot; Tzom Gedaliah.