The Fast of Behav (תענית בה"ב) refers to a tradition of Ashkenazic Jews to fast on the Monday, Thursday, and then following Monday after the holidays of

Sukkot Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths, is a Torah-commanded Jewish holiday celebrated for seven days, beginning on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei. It is one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals on which Israelite ...

and

Pesach Passover, also called Pesach (; ), is a major Jewish holidays, Jewish holiday and one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Biblical Egypt, Egypt. According to the Book of Exodus, God in ...

. While today very few people fast, many Ashkenazic communities recite the Selichot for these days. Practically, the fasts are observed in the months of

Cheshvan Marcheshvan (Hebrew language, Hebrew: , Hebrew language#Modern Hebrew, Standard , Tiberian vocalization, Tiberian ; from Akkadian language, Akkadian , literally, 'eighth month'), generally shortened to Cheshvan (, Hebrew language#Modern Hebrew, S ...

and

Iyar Iyar (Hebrew language, Hebrew: or , Hebrew language#Modern Hebrew, Standard ''ʾĪyyar'' Tiberian vocalization, Tiberian ''ʾĪyyār''; from "Rosette (design), rosette; blossom") is the eighth month of the civil year (which starts on 1 Tishrei ...

, so as not to fast in the happy months of Tishrei and

Nisan Nisan (or Nissan; from ) in the Babylonian and Hebrew calendars is the month of the barley ripening and first month of spring. The name of the month is an Akkadian language borrowing, although it ultimately originates in Sumerian ''nisag' ...

Source and practices

The Masekhet Soferim (Chapter 21) says that there were "students" who fasted on a Monday, Thursday, and following Monday in the month of

. However, it is clear that this was a private practice which was not publicized. The Tur cites the custom of Ashkenazic and French Jewry to fast in

and

. In later generations, this custom spread to some Sephardic communities.Kneset Hagedola
492
/ref> Some explain that the reason for the fasts is in case one sinned over the long

holidays, and others say that it should be for an atonement before the raining and harvest seasons. The days of Monday and Thursday were chosen because they are considered days of extra mercy from Heaven. According to the Mishnah Berurah (492:3), the fasts should always be on the first Monday, Thursday, and following Monday, following the first Sabbath after Rosh Chodesh

and

. However, some communities have the custom to delay the fasts in

until the end of the month. Since

Shavuot (, from ), or (, in some Ashkenazi Jews, Ashkenazi usage), is a Jewish holidays, Jewish holiday, one of the biblically ordained Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan; in the 21st century, it may ...

is only one day (or two days in the Diaspora), there is less of a concern that one sinned, and there was no widespread custom to fast after Shavuot. Nevertheless, there have been individuals who fasted on a Monday, Thursday and Monday after Shavuot. Traditionally, on the Sabbath preceding these fasts, a special Mi Shebeirach is recited for those who intend to fast. Most communities recite this Mi Shebeirach before returning the Sefer Torah to the Ark, but some (generally Western European communities) add it as an additional line to the Mi Shebeirach recited for the community (after Yekum Purkan). One who responds "Amen" to this blessing does not need to accept the fast upon oneself at the Mincha of the proceeding day. While today few people fast, there are many communities which recite the special Selichot prayers on the mornings of these fasts.The Selichot according to the Eastern Ashkenazic rite can be found on page 816 of the Artscroll Siddur. A reminder also sometimes appeared in an advertisement in the Yiddish Forward, se
October 10, 1950

External links

*Rabbi Ari Enkin
The Fast of Behab
on OUTorah. *Rabbi Yehuda Spitz
BeHa"B vs. Pesach Sheini
on Ohr Somayach.

References

{{Reflist Ashkenazi Jewish culture Jewish fast days