An Orthodox Jewish congregation of suburban Minneapolis, providing a welcoming environment for Jews of all observance levels.
There are four minor fast days that you should be aware of throughout the year. The rules for these fasts are to fast from sunrise to sunset on the day of the fast. Extra rules may apply to individual days. Consult the Rabbi for more information.
Gedaliah was the magistrate in charge of the occupied Judah in the time of the first exile. His assassination eliminated all hopes of Jews living in the Holy Land and cemented the Babylonian exile. He did not believe rumors that people wanted to kill him, thus his assassination illustrated the caveat in Lashon Hara rules, i.e.. you are allowed to take precautions based on Lashon Hara. His assassination also illustrates Jews putting their personal agenda above the good of the group and acting out of baseless hatred. The Fast of Gedaliah occurs the day after Rosh Hashana, the third of Tishrei.
This fast day commemorates the first time the Torah was translated into Greek and thereby opened up to misinterpretation. It occurs shortly after Chanukah.
This is the fast that takes place before the holiday of Purim. It commemorates the fast instituted by Esther in order to reverse the decree originating with Haman that would have wiped out the Jews of Diaspora. It should remind you that in every generation there is someone that wants to kill the Jews, and there is also a way in which the Jews are saved by G-d.
Occurring on the 17th of Tammuz, this fast day ushers in the three weeks that mourn the Babylonian exile and the second destruction of the Temple. This commemorates the day when the Romans breached the walls of Jerusalem and there was no hope for the rebels. It is also mourning causeless hatred between Jews. For the three weeks you are not to shave, bathe in a luxurious manner or eat meat and drink wine, except on Shabbat.