Monday and Thursday Fasts?

[iitb]

In a discussion with Henaynei regarding Yom Kippur, she mentioned the Monday and Thursday fasts that are apparently a Jewish tradition. Knowing nothing about this, I asked for further explanation, here's what she said:

The fast on Monday and Thursday correspond to the days when the Torah portion is read in the synagogue during the week. It is a fast of food, not fluids, from sunrise to sunset. I believe that the Torah readings correspond to additional sacrifices that were done on those days but the exact details escape me right now :0(

I've been looking all over the place, but can't find any info on this. Can anyone fill in the holes?

 

[simchat_torah]

hmmm... news to me.

 

[Henaynei]

I may have been wrong - I will try to find the source(s) from which I got this myself

 

[Henaynei]

The tradition to fast every Monday and Thursday seems to be specifically ashkenazi and not wide spread. Follow the link for context and other information.

"Some pious Jews also fast every Monday and Thursday in commemoration of the destruction of the Temple, of the burning of the Torah, and of the desecration of God's name."

Here are some other links about Jewish fasts.

Torah Tots
Torah.org

There are 2 "Monday, Thursday, Monday" fasts that are common and traditional.

I hope this is useful

gotta run to work!

 

[SonWorshipper]

Is this to be every Monday and Thursday? Is this in replacement of the sacrifices that could not be done after the destruction of the Temple?

 

[iitb]

Thanks Henaynei!

 

[simchat_torah]

torah tots ROCKS!

my wife loves that site.

 

[Henaynei]

Is this to be every Monday and Thursday? Is this in replacement of the sacrifices that could not be done after the destruction of the Temple?

Actually Shakhrit (morning prayer service)
Minkha (afternoon prayer service)
Ma'ariv (everning prayer service)
are the replacements for the thrice daily sacrifices no longer done because the Temple is no longer/not replaced yet.

The Monday & Thursday fasts are as mourning for the lack of the Temple and take place on the two days of the week (other than Shabbat - when fasting is forbidden) when the Torah is read publically in shul.

humbly,
Henaynei

 

[koilias]

Very Interesting!!

Monday and Thursday fasts were traditional for the first century church, but I never knew why on those days! I read this somewhere. I could very well be wrong but I believe it's in the Didache, which is a doctrinal work by Jewish Christians written c. 100 CE.

 

[koilias]

I was wrong!! They didn't fast Monday, Thursday!...This is what the Didache says:



Chapter 8. Fasting and Prayer (the Lord's Prayer). But let not your fasts be with the hypocrites, for they fast on the second and fifth day of the week. Rather, fast on the fourth day and the Preparation (Friday). Do not pray like the hypocrites, but rather as the Lord commanded in His Gospel, like this:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily (needful) bread, and forgive us our debt as we also forgive our debtors. And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (or, evil); for Thine is the power and the glory for ever..

​

Pray this three times each day.

 

[Henaynei]

I was wrong!! They didn't fast Monday, Thursday!...This is what the Didache says:

Chapter 8. Fasting and Prayer (the Lord's Prayer). But let not your fasts be with the hypocrites, for they fast on the second and fifth day of the week. Rather, fast on the fourth day and the Preparation (Friday). Do not pray like the hypocrites, but rather as the Lord commanded in His Gospel, like this:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily (needful) bread, and forgive us our debt as we also forgive our debtors. And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (or, evil); for Thine is the power and the glory for ever..

Pray this three times each day.​

​

How interesting - a snapshot of the division as it evolved. Prayer three times a day (like the hypocrites - a.k.a. Jews, probably "MJ") and fastings 2 days a week (like the hypocrites - a.k.a. Jews, probably "MJ") but NOT on their days. BUT one of the suggested days is the Preparation Day (Friday) - the only thing one could be preparing for would be the Shabbat.

Quite a mixed bag - LOL.​

 

[koilias]

Not a mixed bag. These could be MJ's. They simply chose to observe different fast days (weekly fasting is not specified in the Torah, Jews are allowed to choose different week days to fast--remember: not many Jews today even follow this practice!).

There is nothing to say that first century Christians would be ignoring Shabbat observance...this document is proof that they were very observant.

One interesting thing about the Didache is that the bread in the Lord's Supper represents both Life and Knowledge. It is traditional in Judaism that the "manna--what is it?" represents knowledge of Torah. Manna in the Torah is often called "a food your fathers did not know about". When Yeshua speaks of "a food you do not know about" he is referring to the teaching (true manna) of Torah that leads to eternal life (John 6). Likewise, when he says "you must eat my flesh", he means metaphorically you must digest his teaching (not his literal flesh!!) for it leads to life everlasting.

They had the symbolism down correctly. I wish the gentile church had never lost these meanings...

B'rucheem