- Halacha
- Torah Reading
Reading on a fast without 10 fasting
Question
A question came to the attention of my Minyan in Chicago this past fast-day (the 10th of Teveth) and we would appreciate your opinion, with sources, for the future.
There were present at Mincha prayers only three men who were fasting. Would it have been Halachicly possible to have read from the Tora portion in such a situation? What is the Halacha and the opinion of the Rabbanim (with their sources). Thank you for your advice.
Answer
It is not possible to read from the Torah on a fast day even if the fast is obligatory one i.e. one of the four fast days mentioned in the Pasuk, unless there are at least seven fasters (Mishna Berura OC 566,14) quoting the Sha'are Teshuva 4 in the name of Maharam Ben Chaviv). If it is a volantary fast one needs all 10 in the minyan to be fasters (Mishna Berura). This ruling is based on the Tur (566,3) in the name of his father the Rosh that we need a Minyan of fasters in order that the gathering be considered a 'congregation' to enact the special prayers.
On a normal day Torah reading the Chayai Adam was undecided if one could reread with less than a Minyan who have not yet heard the reading. The Mishna Berura rules (OC 143,1 Beur Halacha 'Bepachot') that one can reread the Parasha for a majority of a Minyan that have not yet heard the reading. If there is less than a majority one cannot reread the portion. From this we see that Torah reading is stricter than other parts of the prayers and for a fast day you need at least a majority who are fasting to read the Torah. On a fast day and a Thursday morning one can read the special reading with only 6 people are fasting as opposed to the need of 7 men for any other reading.(Mishna Berura ibid).
Rabbi Baruch Paz

Haftorah Sections
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 12 Nisan 5765

Kriat haTorah on a fast day with one who accidentally ate
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Av 25, 5777
Kriat Hatorah Payment
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Cheshvan 27, 5770

Aliyah Latorah for a Non Cohen
Rabbi Jonathan Blass | 14 Tishrei 5763

Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.

Potential wedding date
9 Kislev 5763

I love pork
23 Cheshvan 5763

One bracha or two
15 Kislev 5763

’Assimilated Jew’
1 Kislev 5763

Non Jews wearing a Tallit
Rabbi David Sperling | Kislev 2, 5777

Non Jews wearing a Tallit
Rabbi David Sperling | Kislev 2, 5777

Non Jews wearing a Tallit
Rabbi David Sperling | Kislev 2, 5777
