25 Sep EATING ON EREV YOM KIPPUR

As we approach the
Yom Tov of Yom
Kippur, thoughts of
the day’s significance
occupy our minds. At
the same time, we’re
also concerned about
how we will make it
through the fast. One
of the interesting
mitzvos we have in
relation to the fast
is eating on the ninth day of Tishrei — Erev
Yom Kippur. Why is it a mitzvah to eat on this
day? Are women obligated in this mitzvah?
What about children, or people who will not
be fasting on Yom Kippur? What types of
food should be eaten? These questions and
others will be addressed in this article.
Source
The Gemara says that one should eat on the
ninth day of Tishrei. Doing so is a mitzvah
and it’s considered as if he fasted on both the
ninth and tenth of Tishrei.
Reasons
Rashi mentions that the reason we eat on Erev
Yom Kippur is in order to prepare us to fast
on Yom Kippur.
The Shibolei Haleket quotes the opinion of
Rashi, and then adds that by eating on Erev
Yom Kippur, the fast will be harder on Yom

Kippur. Therefore, eating on Erev Yom
Kippur is like fasting on both days.
The Aruch Hashulchan says that out of His
love for us, Hashem told us to eat on Erev
Yom Kippur so that we will have strength to
fast on Yom Kippur.
The Ohr Zerua says that the reason we eat on
Erev Yom Kippur is to show our bitachon that
we will come out on top in the coming year
and Hashem will forgive our sins. Therefore,
we have a meal on Erev Yom Kippur.
The Prishah holds that we eat on Erev Yom
Kippur to show that the fasting on Yom Kippur
is for a mitzvah and not for any other reason.
By eating and then stopping, we indicate that
we are fasting to fulfill a mitzvah.
Another reason for eating on Erev Yom
Kippur is mentioned by Rabbeinu Yonah in
Shaarei Teshuvah. On other Yamim Tovim we
eat meals in honor of the mitzvah of the day,
because there is a great reward for rejoicing
with the mitzvos. Since we need to fast on
Yom Kippur, the seudah is celebrated on Erev
Yom Kippur.
Day vs. Night
In halachah, the night comes before the day. Is
there is a mitzvah to eat on the night of Erev
Yom Kippur, or it is only a mitzvah during
the day?
The Aruch Hashulchan says that since the

main reason for eating on Erev Yom Kippur is
to prepare us for the fast, this is only possible
during the day. This is the opinion of other
poskim as well.
Women
Are women included in the mitzvah to eat on
Erev Yom Kippur?
Generally, women are exempt from any
mitzvah that is time bound. Accordingly, they
would be exempt from this mitzvah as well.
On the other hand, since the mitzvah to eat on
Erev Yom Kippur is related to fasting on Yom
Kippur, and women are obligated to fast, they
should be required to eat on Erev Yom Kippur.
Most poskim say that since woman are
required to fast, they have to eat on Erev Yom
Kippur. This is similar to Shabbos, where we
say that since they are required to avoid work
on Shabbos, they are obligated in Kiddush,
Havdalah, and the meals of Shabbos.
Some add that eating on Erev Yom Kippur
gives us the energy to ask for life on Yom
Kippur. Women also need life; therefore, they
are obligated to eat on Erev Yom Kippur.
Sick Person
Someone who is too ill to fast on Yom Kippur
still has a mitzvah to eat on Erev Yom Kippur.
This is true even though he has no need to
prepare for the fast.
Some note that according to the reason that
eating on Erev Yom Kippur is to celebrate
Yom Kippur, even one who does not fast
on Yom Kippur also needs to eat on Erev
Yom Kippur.
Children
Although a child will not fast on Yom
Kippur, he should be trained to eat on Erev
Yom Kippur because of chinuch.
Fish/Meat
One should make sure to eat fish at the first
meal on Erev Yom Kippur. Eating meat at
the meal is also recommended.
One should make sure to eat light foods
that can be digested easily so he will not
feel haughty during davening.
Minimum Amount of Food
There is a discussion in the poskim whether
the minimum amount one has to eat is a
kezayis or more.
Some question those who suck candies
or chew gum on Erev Yom Kippur, since
there is no shiur to this eating.
Eating Bread
There is a discussion in the poskim if one
has to eat bread on Erev Yom Kippur, or if
any food would suffice.
According to the reason that the eating
on Erev Yom Kippur is to prepare for the
fast, one should eat bread and other filling
foods. So too, if this is in place of a meal
on Yom Kippur, bread should be eaten.
However, according to some of the other
reasons, bread is not required, and one can
eat any food.
Some mention the custom to have lechem
mishneh at the meal on Erev Yom Kippur,

but this is not a custom that the majority
follow.
Dairy
One should avoid eating dairy foods at this
meal, as well as eggs and garlic. These foods
increase semen and we want to avoid a
discharge on Yom Kippur. Coffee or tea with
milk is not an issue.
The More the Better
One should make sure to eat as much as
possible, since the more one eats the better
off he is. The poskim mention that one should
spend less time learning on Erev Yom Kippur
in order to have more time to eat. Each time
one eats, he fulfills a mitzvah on Erev Yom
Kippur.
At the same time, one should make sure not to
eat like a glutton.
Ate Too Much
If one ate so much food on Erev Yom Kippur
that he does not feel the pain of not eating on
Yom Kippur, he has still fulfilled the mitzvah
of not eating on Yom Kippur.
No Need to Eat
Even if one does not need to eat before the
fast in order to have an easy fast, he has a
mitzvah to eat on Erev Yom Kippur.
Brachah on Mitzvah
Although we recite brachos when we
perform a mitzvah, no brachah is recited on
the mitzvah of eating on Erev Yom Kippur,
since it is not apparent that we are eating for a
mitzvah. Others explain that we are concerned
that we might be able to fast on Yom Kippur
even without eating on Erev Yom Kippur, and
if so there is no mitzvah to eat on Erev Yom
Kippur. In such a case, the brachah would be
in vain. In addition, there is no set time for the
mitzvah to eat the entire day. Others explain
that the eating is connected to the mitzvah
to fast on Yom Kippur, and we don’t make a
brachah on a fast.
Finally, a brachah only applies if one is
obligated to eat a specific food, such as
matzah. When the mitzvah is to eat whatever
you please, no brachah is recited.
Eating Kreplach
On Erev Yom Kippur, the custom is to eat
meat wrapped in dough (called kreplach in
Yiddish). The Yom Tov of Erev Yom Kippur
is a Yom Tov in “hiding,” since we are
permitted to work. Therefore, we eat hidden
meat as well, as we know that there is no joy
without meat. How does he explain purim and
hoshana rabba?
Pills
The poskim permit one to take pills on Erev
Yom Kippur in order to ease the fast on Yom
Kippur.