Prepare well for warm Tisha Be’av fast
07/26/2012 03:00
The Ninth of Av fast is regarded as the most difficult of the year because it comes at the height of summer.
Women pray at the Western Wall. Photo: Marc Israel Sellem
The Ninth of Av fast is the same as that on Yom Kippur – nearly 25 hours – but
physically it is regarded as the most difficult of the year because it comes at
the height of summer, when even those abstaining from food and water move around
rather than stay inside air-conditioned synagogues.
It begins at 7.41
p.m. on Saturday and ends at 8.09 p.m. the next day.
Postponed from
Shabbat to Saturday night and Sunday this year, Tisha Be’av requires preparation
if you fast, says Magen David Adom. The meal before the fast should include
carbohydrates like potatoes or pasta, as well as vegetables and proteins like
eggs, fish or chicken. It is best with no salt, sugar or carbonated drinks.
Drink a lot of cold water.
The elderly and those with chronic diseases
should consult with a doctor about whether they are fit to take part in the fast
and whether they must continue to take medications. Pregnant women in their
third trimester should not fast, according to MDA, which has vast experience
from treating hundreds during and after fast days. At any other stage of
pregnancy, seek medical advice.
Kidney stones might appear during a fast,
according to MDA. Headaches, fuzzy vision and, later, difficulty in
urinating could mean dehydration, so seek medical help.
The
Meteorological Service predicts high temperatures all around the country on the
fast day, so as much as possible stay in cool rooms or, if outdoors, in the
shade. Anyone suffering from chest pains, weakness, respiratory difficulties or
excessive sweating, or noting signs of dehydration, should call MDA at
101.
MDA recommends ending the fast with a light meal – first a tepid
drink, and then a piece of cake or two slices of bread with cheese, for example.
Only an hour later should one eat a regular meal.