Rabbi’s advice for an ill person on Yom Kippur
Question
I’m taking strong medications because of an illness, and my doctor told me that I’m not allowed to fast. Do I still have to consult a rabbi, or can I just go ahead and eat on Yom Kippur? Thank you and speedy recovery
Answer
The letter of the law is that if the doctor told you that you’re not allowed to fast, you have to obey his orders. Nonetheless, it’s very much worth it to consult with an expert rabbi. The problem is that at times doctor’s instructions arise from his frivolous attitude towards the gravity of the fast, and not from an absolute medical necessity.
Besides that, even when an ill person does have to eat on Yom Kippur, he should eat neither more nor less than what is necessary for his condition.
For example, you should ask your doctor the following questions:
- What exactly you need because of your illness, to eat, to drink, or do you need both.
- Exactly how much food and drink you need.
- Do you have to take in a large amount of food every time, or is it enough to ingest small amounts (“shiurim”). Eating small portions of food is a lesser transgression than taking larger amounts.
- Do you have to begin eating in the evening, or can you wait for the morning of the next day.
A rabbi who is sufficiently experienced in these kinds of questions, and who is in frequent contact with knowledgeable doctors, will be able to answer these questions quickly and accurately.
Source
Shulchan Oruch, section Orach Chaim, ch. 618