need to fast on Tisha b'Av - even chareidim. It's not like Yom Kippur where everyone is required to fast because the Torah demands it, unless their Rav tells them not to for health reasons.

Anyone who suffered from dehydration while breastfeeding (in warm weather - not fasting) would make their own judgment on this topic. Just use common sense.

Thank god I'm not a pregnant woman

It was the way of the sages to speak of meetings and discussions between the rabbis and members of the imperial Roman family of their era. The sages considered the contents of the discussion as greatly important and learned from them laws and practical customs. For example, they related that a daughter of a Roman caesar, Justinia, asked Rabbi Judah the Nasi (editor of the Mishnah) two questions. 1. At what age may a girl marry? 2: At what age can a girl become pregnant? Rabbi Judah the Nasi answered the first question, saying that a girl may wed from the age of three. To the second question he answered that a girl can become pregnant from the age of 12. Justinia, daughter of the caesar, responded that she was married at age six and had a child at age seven and so is testament to the error of his answer. So ends the story of the encounter. From the discussion between the caesar's daughter and Rabbi Judah the Nasi, one may conclude that a six year old can become pregnant, and so the sages of the Talmud ask: how is it possible that she became pregnant at age six? The sages, after all, had determined that a woman can only become pregnant from the age of 11. They were answered with two possibilities for reconciling the words of the sages with those of Justinia, daughter of the caesar. 1. She is a gentile, and it is possible that they become pregnant younger, while still little girls, even at the age of six. This is unlike Jewish girls, who become pregnant only from the age of 11. (In the words of the Talmud, "Their flesh is as the flesh of asses.") 2. Justinia, daughter of the caesar, lied as is the habit of gentiles. (Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Niddah 45a)

Since most readers of this article won't be fating anyway, and many may not even know what tisha b'Av represents, I have my doubts over the suitability of any article of tis nature here. Moreover, to pass off complicated halachic rulings in a superficial article such as this is seriously irresponsible. Thirdly, the limits this 'rabbi' has set are extreme. Any haredi Rav will require a considerably lower threshold for ANY woman to stop fasting.

Yuval Sherlow should be ashamed. Written Torah is given by Adonai in front of 2 to 3 million people. Halacha is man made to control people's life. we Yehudim should reject this mad made rules. If it is not in the Torah then it should be upto an Individual.

what else can be said for this lunatic?

if they have a craving for traf (non-kosher food) on a fast day even Yom Kippur they (the pregnant women) are allowed to eat according to their desire! so who is this Rabbi who comes along rattling cabinets and making noise?

Halacha does not provide a blanket exemption for pregnant and breast-feeding women when it comes to fasting. The only blanket exception is those women who have underwent labor within the past 3 days. Women who have underwent labor within the past week are able to fast if they so choose. Nevertheless, a woman who is going to undertake the fast should definitely get a physician's opinion before fasting. And no, this is not an Ultra-Orthodox interpretation of Halakha. This is even the norm in my traditional Sephardic community. #5, your statements are 100% correct on the topic of why this finer point of observance is being discussed on Ynet. Most of Ynet's readership is clueless regarding Halakha. While it does bring up an opportunity to educate others about the traditions of our fathers, the lack of critical thought and the general closed-mindedness of most readers will only cause them to heap undeserved scorn on our time-honored traditions...

Have you forgotten what Jethro told Moses in Exodus 18? Note also that in Deuteronomy 16, this suggestion is ratified by G-d Himself. Halakha is partially man-made, but the men who contributed to Halakha were imbued with a G-d-given authority to lay down decisions that stretches back to Mt. Sinai. The position you are advocating could be likened to a person thinking he can get away with murder because the United States Constitution doesn't expressly outlaw murder. This is obviously an absurdity...

Rav, slap me, it fine, but I want to say something here also, i am a jew, i must say this, otherwise my stomach will explo....please liberate the women folks. What more do we amen want, they marry us, put up with our nonsense, carry our baby, put up with thier in laws, YOU THINK Jewsih Women can fast for the days of Temple.Believe me Rav women observe Judaism High holiday more religiously than us men. This issue on " breast logic " breast feeding logic " and " Excemption Logic " live it to them, we dont have breast. Ok Rabbis now SLAP as usual, thank for reminding all of the importance of :Tisha B'Av- the loss and the Jewish Identity. But Rav the women diet most of the time, most o fthe tiem they fast and always feed us men with double potion. Let the men an women all fast for the one heart an one mind journey to experience the hidden mystery in the special season that makes us jews separate and distinct from others. The burdens and the accountriments that comes with it a commandment done to experience the temple our body as one : -)~

If your man-g-d fufilled the Law, then he must have been married and had kids. Also, he must have died and been buried in the Talpiot tombs. Oh but wait, that's right... Yeshu contradicts Devarim 13 and 18. It doesn't matter what you think, the only thing that matters is what Torah says. If you're Jewish, do teshuva. If you're not, start with the Noachide Laws.

or breastfed an infant. He doesn't understand the physical demands of pregnancy or lactation. His advice could put women and their babies at risk.

Obviously Rabbi Sherlow has never been pregnant!!!

Levi Brackman, why do you continue in your "unorthodox" tirade? A Rabbi gave his opinion - and surely it was not in an interview for YNet. You then go and blow the whole thing up into a crazy article. Oh - by the way - Yuval Sherlow is NOT hareidi - he is modern orthodox. It is known that Chassidim are far more lenient in women fasting, though many do try to fast at least half a day.

I've never been pregnant but my wife has, X 3 and so have my daughters-in-law They fasted without ill effects. In fact they all commented that fasting during pregnancy was easier than at other times. My wife fasted on two out of three because with the third she actually gave birth on 9 beAv

Believe each pregnant women should ask their Rabbi, there is no general rule and sometimes women over-estimate their strength. better be safe than sorry!

Life is always more important within Judaism then anything else. You should know that!

LIKE OLMERT GANGS.G-D HELP US

Can't they find someything positive to do? These guys give me the willies.

You all talk (write?) as if fasting is such a terrible thing. Yes, it's not fun, and sometimes hard to do. And I imagine it's harder for a pregnant woman than for a man. According to a rabbi I've spoken to (someone who has been a community rabbi for a long time and would be asked a lot of questions on this topic), the overwhelming majority of pregnant women don't have problems fasting on Tisha B'Av (or Yom Kippur, for that matter). I got the very clear impression from him that he gets a lot of questions about it before such a fast, but rarely any problems arise during the fast itself. He advised preparing properly beforehand (making sure you drink more than usual for a few days before and eat enough the day before), and, in his experience, this avoids almost all problems. Good advice even if you're not pregnant.

he even had a foto added, surprise surprise...he pops up any time he hasnt seen himself enough

I suggest he find an alternative to thinking foolish thoughts. ATTENTION: All pregnant, breast feeding women, mothers of young children, do your best and don't knock yourselves out. Your health is first.

So it appears that this "Rabbi" is an idol worshipper. His particular idol is called Tisha B'Av.

Sometimes, the goal of such articles in YNet seems to be to defame traditional Jews and traditional Judaism. The facts are rarely if ever presented, just the sensational claims. Good for a tabloid, but bad for readers. Then, read a little bit about the importance of health and maintaining life in Judaism. Then, talk to your doctor if any of this might apply to you and see what he / she wants. Then, make an appointment to speak with your local orthodox rabbi to learn about the topic, and ask his / her advice (offer to pay for his time, though he'll refuse) and if there is ANY reasonable doubt in your mind as to the health of yourself or your baby, err on the side of caution. Finally, find a better source of information on such issues that sensationalist articles in sensationalist, anti-religious media outlets.

Such jealousy of the Jewish people is obvious by this tirade. You can never win and I take great pleasure in knowing that.