[Avodah] Taanis Bechorim

[Akiva Miller]

.
For decades, I have wondered about the alleged "Seudas Mitzvah" that we
partake of at a siyum on Erev Pesach. A Seudas Mitzvah is what we do at a
wedding, at a sheva brachos, at a bris. Even a Melaveh Malka is more
kavod-dik than the siyum on Erev Pesach. Is this really a siyum? If we eat
a few cookies,are we really yotzay our requirement of celebrating this
happy occasion? And if we are NOT yotzay the obligation of celebrating,
then do we really have permission to break the fast?

Think about that for a moment.

If seems that this question bothered Rav Henkin too. Here's a psak that Rav
Hershel Schachter issued yesterday. See the conclusions that these
questions led them to. (Rav Schachter wrote it in both Hebrew and English,
so it's HIS words, not my translation.)

<<< Regarding the Fast of the Firstborn, Rabbi Yosef Eliyahu Henkin wrote
that in our time the custom of firstborn sons fasting no longer exists
because everyone participates in a siyum. There is clearly no mandate to
fast since we find people don’t participate in an actual Seudas Mitzvah and
instead, following the siyum, they simply partake of some juice and
cookies. Therefore, Rabbi Henkin felt it was proper to give tzedakah to
take the place of the custom of fasting. In past years those people who are
traveling on Erev Pesach have participated in a siyum over the phone or
internet. The same practice can be relied upon this year when we are not
gathering together because of the Coronavirus. >>>

Rav Shachter's psak can be found on page two at
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/950074/rabbi-hershel-schachter/piskei-corona-1-tevilas-keilim-when-the-mikvah-is-closed/
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