1) When one does fast in conjunction with Teshuva it is important for him to be careful to not start having arrogant thoughts such as " I am such a Tzadik for fasting" or similar thoughts, as such arrogance will defeat the purpose of the fast.
In fact, if one [arrogantly] tells other people that he is fasting for purposes of Teshuva, he will receive heavenly punishment. (See Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 565:6)
If, however, someone asks him if he is fasting, he may say the truth that he is indeed fasting, as long as his intention is not to be arrogant. (Mishna Berura Siman 565:14)
2) Furthermore, upon completion of this fast one should not immediately eat enjoyable foods and should rather break his fast with simple foods, as eating enjoyable foods right away has a hint of arrogance to it. (Shla HaKadosh Maseches Ta'anis Perek Derech Chaim)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1) For those who cannot fast even every now and then and even for half a day in conjunction with their Teshuva, there exists some other forms of self-affliction which do not harm the body yet can have the spiritual effect of fasting.
One such example is to control oneself from enjoying a sweet food when he has a desire to indulge in it; this "self-control" serves as a boost to his Teshuva. (See Peleh Yoetz; "Ta'anis)
Alternatively, if one is already in the midst of indulging in a food that is extremely enjoyable to him and stops in the middle as a way of self-affliction, it is also considered like a fast, as it's an extremely difficult thing to do. (Ra'avad Sha'ar HaKedusha quoted in Be'er Heitev Siman 571:1 and Mishna Berura 571:2)
Another thing to do is, upon finishing learning or working, instead of running to eat, he should push himself to stay a few extra minutes, as controlling oneself from running to eat when hungry is also a form of self-affliction and is considered like fasting. (Peleh Yoetz ibid.)
2) Another form of self-affliction is a Ta'anis Dibur, a period of time where one controls himself from talking at all; it is praiseworthy to train oneself to do this from time to time and indeed it may even be more worthwhile than a regular fast. (Mishna Berura ibid. quoting the Gaon of Vilna and other Poskim)
Additionally, one who has no desire to learn Torah, and pushes himself to do it anyway is also considered as if he fasted. (See Sha'arei Teshuva Sha'ar 4:11. See also Shu"t Nodah B'Yehuda Orach Chaim Siman 35 and Kraina D'Igrasa letter 11.)
The Midrash Rabbah (Parshas Mikeitz Parasha 92) teaches that "No human being is free of suffering [in this world], praiseworthy is the one who receives his portion of suffering via Learning Torah [with difficulty]"
Reader's Question:
I hope you don't mind me asking you silly questions, but since we don't know each other I feel comforable.
I know of a minhag that ladies don't sew on Motzei Shabbos. There may be other things as well. Also, I don't know if this question applies to men as well, like not cutting hair or nails on Motzei Shabbos.
My question is, until when is it still considered Motzei Shabbos? Does it end at midnight/chatzos? Does it end at the Alos? Do you need to go to sleep, and wake up, to be mutar?
Answer:
First of all, no question is silly, and no question should be refrained from being asked regardless if we know each other or not. It's Torah and if it needs to be known, it needs to be asked, as the Mishna in Pirkei Avos teaches us "Ain Habaisan Lomed, one who is embarrassed to ask cannot learn [Torah]".
The Mogen Avrohom Siman 299:15 quotes the Avudraham who brings a Talmud Yerushalmi that work that is done before Havdalah on Motzei Shabbos will never bear positive fruit (Aino Roeh Siman Bracha L'Olam) and he writes that although the Yerushalmi seems to say that any work that is refrained from being done after Havdalah is not the proper way, still it is a minhag for women to refrain from doing work the entire Motzaei Shabbos.
If this is indeed your minhag, I would surmise that just as melava malka is ideally eaten before Chatzos (See Mishna Berura Siman 300:2) so too this minhag of not working is in effect until Chatzos.
However, a Rav should be consulted for Halacha L'Ma'aseh.
CHIZUK CORNER
This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmas the late Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Yaakov ben Rav Binyomin Moshe Stein Zatzal.
We will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short inspirational thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
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Important Numbers
