[Avodah] Fasting on a Yahrtzeit

[Micha Berger]

On Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 11:36:12AM -0500, Prof. Levine wrote:
:> I think the taanis is minhag, not din.
: 
: The following is from page 418 of Mourning in Halacha
: 
: ~ Fasting

: 24. It is a mitzvah to fast on the yahrzeit of one's father or mother...

The SA (OC 568:7) and the Rama argue whether one should fast on the first
Adar or 2nd but don't say the degree of obligation. The MB (s"q 42) uses
"mechuyav", implying halakhah.

The Rama calls it a "mitzvah" (YD 276:4, 404:12), but the Gra (276 s"q 7)
says that while it seems that way from Shevuos 20a others explain it's yom
hamisah only. Looking at the gemara myself, the yeish meforashim seems
the more intuitive read -- "keyom shemeis bo aviv" sounds like the yom
hamisah, not yahrzeit. But in any case, the gemara is only discussing
meat and wine, not fasting.

So, I am not sure it really is called a mitzvah until the MB.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Man is capable of changing the world for the
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