Ta'anit Esther / תענית אסתר
The Fast of Esther (Ta'anit Ester, Hebrew: תַּעֲנִית אֶסְתֵּר) is a Jewish fast from dawn until dusk on Purim eve, commemorating the three-day fast observed by the Jewish people in the story of Purim. It is a common misconception that this fast was accepted by the Jews for all future generations during the time of Esther, as it is stated in the Book of Esther: They had established for themselves and their descendants the matters of the fasts and their cry (Esther 9:31). This verse actually refers to the four fasts which relate to mourning for the Temple. Rather, the first mention of this fast is a Minhag that is referenced in the Gaonic period.
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List of Dates
Ta'anit Esther begins in the Diaspora on:- Wed, 07 March 2012 at dawn (13th of Adar, 5772)
- Thu, 21 February 2013 at dawn (11th of Adar, 5773)
- Thu, 13 March 2014 at dawn (11th of Adar II, 5774)
- Wed, 04 March 2015 at dawn (13th of Adar, 5775)
- Wed, 23 March 2016 at dawn (13th of Adar II, 5776)
- Thu, 09 March 2017 at dawn (11th of Adar, 5777)
- Wed, 28 February 2018 at dawn (13th of Adar, 5778)
- Wed, 20 March 2019 at dawn (13th of Adar II, 5779)
- Mon, 09 March 2020 at dawn (13th of Adar, 5780)
- Thu, 25 February 2021 at dawn (13th of Adar, 5781)
Torah Portion: Exodus 32:11 - 34:10
1: Exodus 32:11-14
(4 p'sukim)
2: Exodus 34:1-3
(3 p'sukim)
3: Exodus 34:4-10
(7 p'sukim)
References
- The Jewish Holidays: A Guide & Commentary
- Rabbi Michael Strassfeld
- Hebrew - English Bible
- Mechon Mamre
- Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures
- Jewish Publication Society
- "Fast of Esther" in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia
- Wikimedia Foundation Inc.