I know it’s kind of weird to have a favorite fast day, but I do. Tzom Gedaliah, I kind of love you.
Here’s what’s great about fasting today:
I just spent two days eating intense meals and then sitting around. The most activity I got was walking to and from shul. I would be feeling really guilty about all that food, but since I’m fasting today, I’ve decided it’s all kind of evening out.
Yom Kippur is a week from today. I would normally be kind of freaked out but Tzom Gedaliah is like a dry run. Not quite as long or as intense, but a good way to ease myself into the whole fasting thing.
After a weekend of accomplishing nothing, I’ve got tons on my To-Do list. A day without lunch and breakfast breaks will hopefully lead to more items crossed off my list.
It’s a fast day, but showering is allowed, as is wearing leather shoes. So instead of feeling completely disgusting, the way I do on Yom Kippur and Tisha B’Av, I just feel moderately gross.
Tonight I get to go to a break fast with a bunch of friends. Few things are as fun as break fasts.
Happy Tzom Gedaliah?
Yom Kippur
Pronounced: yohm KIPP-er, also yohm kee-PORE, Origin: Hebrew, The Day of Atonement, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar and, with Rosh Hashanah, one of the High Holidays.
