Why are we supposed to actively harm our health by fasting?

amother

Ruby

Thu, Jul 27 2023, 2:14 pm

amother OP wrote:

I am one of those who did not get a heter not to fast, even though it will cause me severe physical and mental distress. I'm seeing the posts all over this forum from women who were told similarly. Unless there's an immediate risk to your life, you have to fast. If you KNOW it will cause illness, you still have to start and get sick first before you have a heter to break it.

It's so difficult for me to understand. No it's not risking my life but why am I required to do a mitzva that harms my physical and mental health? That takes me up to a week to fully recover from?

I'm being vague here but it doesn't really matter my specifics, I've seen so many posts here with different specifics but the theme is the same: fasting will hurt me and I was still told to do it.

For those of you who are going to be like "well did you TELL your rav EVERYTHING? You have to ask the FULL SHAYLA" Yes, yes I did, and I'm happy for you if your rav is different but I know of so many others who got the same psak as I did with similar circumstances.

Is this really what fasting is supposed to be?

I have a rav I use for all my shailos, then there are some "specialty" shailos that I ask a specific rav that is familiar with that special area... one area is mental health.

Rabbi Schabes in monsey is familiar in this area.

PinkFridge

Thu, Jul 27 2023, 10:32 pm

amother Poinsettia wrote:

The reason I learned that resonated with me is this.

When we fast we literally give up parts of ourselves blood flesh fat that get depleted. These parts are like a kind of korbon to Hashem.
Fasting is the only thing we have currently that acts like a korbon to Hashem.

Alternatively if you can’t fast then giving tzedaka instead is another way of giving a part of yourself to Hashem. The energy used and calories burned by working to earn that tzedaka money are given to Hashem as a type of korbon.

In the ArtScroll kinnos and siddur, I saw a tefilla said after Mincha Shemoneh Esrei that said, let my cheilev and dam, which has been diminished from today's fast, serve as an actual korban.

But obviously, if there is a serious medical issue, a rav and doctor should be consulted.