Celiac Disease — The Fast of Tisha B’Av
Question
My wife has celiac disease, and today (Monday) she had a blood test; her result was 11.7, which is low.
My question is whether she is permitted to fast on Tisha B’Av.
Thank you very much.
Answer
Response of the Beit Hora’ah:
If she is healthy and is not underweight (because of the celiac disease), she should begin the fast.
If she becomes weak during the fast to the point that she needs to lie down in bed, or feels weakness throughout her body, she should stop fasting. She should then eat and drink as usual.
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Attached are Rabbi Amram Fried’s instructions regarding fasting for a sick person:
A sick person who is not in danger, meaning that he is lying in bed, or feels the need to lie in bed if he had the possibility, or whose whole body is ill and he cannot function, in a way that would permit him to take medication on Shabbat, and pain-relief pills do not help him — is exempt from the fast. Therefore, someone who has severe headaches, even if they were caused by the fast, if he feels as described above, is exempt from the fast. Someone who has a fever above 38 degrees is exempt from the fast, and likewise, if there is significant diarrhea and repeated vomiting, he is exempt from the fast.
Someone who has only minor discomforts, such as mild headaches, is not exempt from the fast.
