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7 Tishri 5782
This coming Wednesday, September 15th, at night we will observe Yom Kippur, a day of fasting and atonement. There are 5 prohibitions on Yom Kippur (1) Eating or drinking, (2) washing our body (3) anointing our body (4) having marital relations and (5) wearing leather shoes.

In some cases, fasting is not observed.

For example:

MINORS: a boy or a girl younger than nine years old should not make any type of fast, even for a few hours. When children reach nine years old, they should fast for a couple of hours, if they are in good health. The following year, the parents should encourage them to fast for a little longer, so they will slowly get used to the idea of a complete day of fasting. When the son or daughter reaches eleven years old, they should try to fast for the whole day, if they are in good health. A healthy girl from the age of twelve and a healthy boy from the age of thirteen are obligated to fast.

MOTHERS: After childbirth, during the first three days, a mother should not fast. The same rule applies for the 72 hours after a miscarriage. After the first 72 hours from the day of childbirth until the 7th day from childbirth, if the mother says that she needs to eat, she should eat. After the 7th day she has to fast like everyone else, unless otherwise indicated by her doctor. A woman in labor should not fast.

SICKNESS: A person with a chronic illness like diabetes, etc. or an elder person who is weak because of his advanced age, or someone who is taking an important medication or is undergoing an important medical treatment, should get the advice of a reliable physician to see if he or she can stop the medication, or needs to take eat medication, if the pills can be taken with no water, if he needs to eat in order to take the medication, etc. After discussing the options with a physician, a Rabbi should also be consulted to establish, based on the doctor’s advice, how to eat his food or how take the medication.
Obviously, in a case of a serious risk to someone's health and of course in a life-threatening situation or even when that might be the case (safeq sakana), the fast should be discontinued even if no physician was consulted.

See below how to eat when you need to break the fast.
FOR PREGNANT AND NURSING WOMEN
The following information is intended as a general guideline for normal and healthy pregnancies. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice.
A pregnant woman should observe the fast normally, provided she and the baby are in good health, and the pregnancy has no complications. Nevertheless, if during Yom Kippur the mother feels sick, and particularly if she is vomiting or having any other symptoms of dehydration, she should break the fast and eat or drink immediately (See below: “How to break the fast”). However, mild dizziness and nausea that can be coped by lying down on a couch or a bed are considered normal in a fast day and should be endured. If the dizziness or nausea persist or worsens, then the fast should be interrupted.
MORE ON PREGNANCY AND FASTING
Dr. Jessica Jacob, an expert OBGYN from Long Island, NY, explains that according to research done on healthy pregnant women there is no evidence that fasting would cause any complication to the mother or her baby. A few years ago, Dr Jacob gave a very detailed lecture in UMJCA on ‘Pregnancy and Yom Kippur’. It is highly recommended for every pregnant women to listen to this lecture where Dr Jacob explains the studies that were done on this subject. Dr Jacob also explains why would a doctor advise a pregnant woman against fasting; how to cope with discomfort; the circumstances in which pregnant women should break the fast, etc.

Click here to download the transcript of Dr Jacob’s class.
RECOMMENDATION TO REDUCE
THE RISK OF DEHYDRATION

To reduce the risk of dehydration you should hydrate your body with enough fluids. But you have to do it the right way. Drinking a great deal of water right before the fast is of little benefit. Most of that water simply leaves the body right away, and usually by the night of Yom Kippur that water is gone. Instead of drinking a lot of water at once you should drink small amounts of water over the 48 hours prior to the fast. The recommended amount is to drink approximately 6 to 8 ounces every hour for the two days prior to the fast so that the cells themselves become hydrated. This recommendation is also given to athletes before running a marathon.
HOW SHOULD YOU EAT OR DRINK WHEN YOU NEED TO BREAK THE FAST?
When you were instructed by your doctor and/or your rabbi to eat on Yom Kippur, proceed as follows

1. Eat a portion of food up to 1 oz. (or 30 grams). After you finished the first portion wait ten minutes and then eat a second portion up to 1 oz. You could do this (eat 1 oz., wait ten minutes, eat 1 oz.) as needed until you recover.

2. When you need to drink. Drink 1 oz. of water or any liquid, then wait 5 minutes and drink 1 oz. again and so forth.

3. Once you feel better and you don't need to eat or drink anymore, you should continue fasting.

4. When you eat or drink on Yom Kippur for medical reasons, you do not need to fast another day to compensate for the fast .

5. To measure "1 ounce" it is recommended to use the plastic 1 oz. liquor shot cups (qiddush little plastic cups) as shown above.

6. In case of an emergency or a possible life threatening situation (for example: hypoglycemia, passing out, dehydration, etc.) when these small portions are not be enough, one should drink or eat whatever necessary.
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