Q&A: Half a Fast = Half a Pregnancy??
Half a Fast = Half a Pregnancy??
Question
If someone can’t / doesn’t want to / doesn’t have the energy to fast a whole day, is there any point in fasting only until midday?
Answer
There is definitely some point to it. Are you thereby fulfilling a commandment/custom? Possibly yes. It depends on the question whether this is an obligation at every moment throughout the day, or an obligation on the day as a whole. It is commonly accepted that if you ate, you still have to complete the fast. That is an indication that the obligation is for each moment, and therefore there is some commandment in it.
Discussion on Answer
Correction: if I ate and I still have to complete the fast
Indeed. I got mixed up. It is commonly accepted that one is obligated to complete it (see Orach Chayim 568:1), and therefore the obligation is for each moment.
The other way around: if I ate and I still have a commandment, that’s a sign that it’s a commandment for each and every moment, and not on the day as a whole, no?!