Tisha B'Av - Epilepsy Patient
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Question
Regarding the fast of Tisha B'Av, should a patient with stabilized epilepsy fast on Tisha B'Av? Thank you very much.
Answer
Eats and drinks as usual
I am copying the laws of Havdalah for eating on a fast from the recorded messages on the Beit HaHoraa line (line 500):
This year, when the fast begins on Saturday night, a sick person who eats on the fast must make Havdalah over a cup before eating [even a person who became ill on Tisha B'Av itself and needs to eat must make Havdalah over a cup]. And if healthy people who are fasting hear Havdalah from him, they have fulfilled their obligation.
A woman who eats with permission on Tisha B'Av should make Havdalah and drink the cup herself [and there is no concern in this], and some say her husband or another can make Havdalah for her, and she drinks the cup, and even the one making Havdalah fulfills his obligation.
If she cannot drink the Havdalah cup, she should make Havdalah and give it to a child who has reached the age of education [age 5-6] to drink the cup. If there is no child, she can eat before Havdalah and hear Havdalah after the fast ends.
The text of Havdalah for those making it on a fast: do not say the verses before the Havdalah blessing "Behold God, etc.", but start with the blessing "Borei Pri Hagafen", and then the blessing "Hamavdil Bein Kodesh Lechol". Do not bless over spices [and if he has not yet blessed "Borei Meorei HaEsh", he should bless in Havdalah, and if he already blessed over the candle, he should not bless in Havdalah].
Those making Havdalah on a fast should preferably make it over grape juice [and even a woman making Havdalah drinks the grape juice as mentioned above].
The one making Havdalah should drink a revi'it from the cup (and although a cheekful is sufficient, since initially one should drink a revi'it to avoid doubt about the final blessing, it is permitted for the sick to drink all that is necessary for the final blessing).
One who drinks water with permission on Tisha B'Av and does not eat does not need to make Havdalah before drinking.