The Fast of Esther: Why?

Must we really fast the Fast of Esther? It is not found in the Talmud. So why fast?

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Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

There is indeed much discussion as to whether fasting the Fast of Esther is a “custom” or a “rabbinic decree” as it is not explicitly mentioned anywhere in the Talmud.

It origins are in the eighth century, in Rav Achai Gaon’s Sheiltot .

Queen Eshter’s original fast was actually a three-day event that coincided with the start of Pesach which means that the Jews of Shushan had no Pesach Seder that year. As such, there are a number of opinions as to what the Fast of Esther truly represents. According to one opinion, the fast is simply to recall that Queen Esther fasted on behalf of the Jewish people. Another opinion is that the fast commemorates Esther’s preparations for her meeting with King Achashverosh where she asked him to save the Jewish people from Haman’s plot. It is brought Le'halacha in the Mishnah Berura that the fast is intended to remind us that when the Jewish people are under attack, we are to gather together in fasting and prayer to beseech God to save us from our enemies and that Hashem listens to our Teffillot and bring us salvation like he did in the times of Mordechai and Esther. It is believed that the Jewish people fasted and prayed for success in the battle that was about to be launched. Indeed, we find that throughout history the Jewish people often fasted in wartime.

According to Kabbala, the spiritual effects of Haman’s evil decree were never completely rescinded. As such,the purpose of the Fast of Esther is to eradicate any harmful effects of Haman’s decree that may still remain in the world. It is also suggested that the Fast of Esther is a fast to atone for any excessive or inappropriate frivolity that one might engage in over Purim.

Maggid Mishna ; Rambam, Hilchot Ta’anit 5:5; Masechet Sofrim 21:1;   Sheiltot , Vayakhel 67; Beit Yosef 686;  Aruch Hashulchan , OC 686:2;   Mishna Berura 686:2.