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>From today's OU Kosher Halacha Yomis</div>
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<p>A. One is not permitted to fast on Rosh Hashanah because Rosh Hashanah is a <em>
Yom Tov</em>. For this reason, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 597:1) rules that one must eat, drink and rejoice on Rosh Hashanah. Nonetheless, unlike other
<em>Yomim Tovim</em>, one should not overindulge, lest the solemn nature of the day will be obscured. However, there were
<em>Rishonim</em> who held that it is permissible to fast during the daytime because Rosh Hashanah is a day of
<em>teshuva</em>. Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, <em>zt"l </em>said that his great-grandfather, the Beis HaLevi, would fast both days. In fact, there were those who would fast even on Shabbos Rosh Hashanah because they considered the importance of
<em>teshuva</em> on this day to be on the level of <em>pikuach nefesh</em> (life threatening), which overrides the requirement to eat a Shabbos
<em>seuda</em>. Although in practice we follow the Shulchan Aruch and do not fast on Rosh Hashanah, the Mishnah Berurah (584:5) makes a distinction between Rosh Hashanah which falls on Shabbos, and Rosh Hashanah which falls on a weekday, as follows: When Rosh
Hashanah falls on a weekday, we are permitted to extend the <em>davening</em> into the afternoon, while if Rosh Hashanah is on Shabbos, we are required to finish
<em>davening</em> before <em>chatzos</em> (<em>halachic</em> midday) so as not to fast past the morning. As such, if one expects their
<em>shul</em> to finish <em>davening</em> on Shabbos after <em>chatzos</em>, it is best to drink a tea or coffee in the morning before going to
<em>shul</em>, to avoid fasting inappropriately on Shabbos.</p>
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