tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15222965.post6670845007564560078..comments2023-11-03T11:56:38.726-04:00Comments on the Seforim blog: Purim roundupDan Rabinowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11519934722728609504noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15222965.post-88949371023387050062011-03-17T18:40:27.686-04:002011-03-17T18:40:27.686-04:00These comments pertain to Mitchell First's &qu...These comments pertain to Mitchell First's "The Origin of Ta'anit Esther". While the article is very detailed, I find it hard to believe that a new/ancient custom of fasting on 13 Adar would have developed solely to prohibit fasting on Shabbat or erev Shabbat. <br />It seems to me that the facts are as follows:<br />1. 13 Adar could not have been a permanent day of fasting in Mishnaic times since the megillah could be read on that day. <br />2. 13 Adar was previously known as Yom Nikanor, a day when fasting was prohibited. <br />3. Taanit Esther, as we know it today, is late, as evidenced by the proofs cited in Rabbi Dr. First's article. In addition, the fact that the word Ta'anit and not Tzom is used to describe the day in nearly every instance is further evidence as to the lateness of the custom to fast. The word Ta'anit is only used once in the Bible, in the post-exilic book of Ezra. All other fasts are referred to with the word Tzom.<br />4. There seems to have been a Rabbinic agenda to de-emphasize the Macabean victory as a cause for celebration. This accords with the lack of mention of the holiday of Chanukah in the Mishna (exc. for en pessant references to nerot Chanukah) and the lack of the Maccabean victory being listed as a cause for Chanukah celebration in Gemara Shabbat. Presumably this Rabbinic de-emphasis was because the descendants of the Maccabees became Saducees.<br />Thus, I see the replacement of Yom Nikanor as another attempt to de-emphasize the Macabean victory. Because there was an ancient Palestinian tradition to fast Mon Thurs Mon preceding Purim, replacing a 3 day fast with a one day fast likely proved popular, esp. if it could be tied in to verses in the megillah.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02651336612686387237noreply@blogger.com