Mitzvah —
95
Not to eat or drink on Yom Kippur
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כִּ֤י כׇל־הַנֶּ֙פֶשׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־תְעֻנֶּ֔ה בְּעֶ֖צֶם הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וְנִכְרְתָ֖ה מֵֽעַמֶּֽיהָ׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אֱמוֹר
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Leviticus 23:29 - "For any person who will not be afflicted on that very day, shall be cut off from its people."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Holidays – חֲגִים
It is forbidden to eat on the tenth of Tishrei, Yom Kippur.
This mitzvah forbids eating or drinking on Yom Kippur, as part of the command to afflict oneself. Unlike other fasts, which are rabbinic, the Yom Kippur fast is directly from the Torah. Abstaining from food and drink allows the Jewish people to rise above physical needs and focus entirely on prayer, teshuvah (repentance), and seeking atonement before Hashem.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Shevitat Asor 1:5): Eating or drinking even a minimal amount on Yom Kippur is a Torah transgression, punishable by karet.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 316): The root is to humble the body so that the soul can dominate, achieving true repentance and closeness to Hashem.
- Talmud (Yoma 73b): Defines the minimum measure of food and drink that incurs liability, underscoring the stringency of this mitzvah.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
