Ta’anis Esther: The Fast of the Only One Who Could
Insights from Shulchan Menachem, Volume 3, Siman 346
As we approach the holiday of Purim, we observe the fast of Ta’anis Esther on the 13th of Adar. The Rebbe raises a fundamental question: Why is this fast named after Esther?
Technically, the fasts Esther requested in the Megillah took place in the month of Nissan (on the 14th, 15th, and 16th) and lasted for three consecutive days. The fast we observe on the 13th of Adar, however, commemorates the day the Jewish people gathered to defend themselves against their enemies. Historically, when the Jewish army went to war, they would fast and pray to Hashem for success. So, if the 13th of Adar is a commemoration of a pre-war fast for the entire community, why do we attribute it specifically to Esther?
Why "Esther"?
The Rebbe explores various common explanations:
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The Player Theory: Some suggest it is named for her because she was the central figure in the miracle.
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The Request Theory: Just as the Megillah is named for her because she specifically asked the Sages to "write me for all generations," perhaps the fast follows suit.
However, the Rebbe offers a profound and original Sevara (logical insight) to explain the name.
The Fast of the Non-Combatant
On the 13th of Adar, the decree to annihilate the Jews was still active. Every Jewish man, woman, and child was in mortal danger and had to be ready to fight for their lives. Halachically, a person engaged in physical combat is generally not permitted to fast, as the lack of food and water would weaken them and jeopardize their safety.
Therefore, on that historic 13th of Adar, the vast majority of the Jewish people—who were actively defending themselves—could not have fasted.
There was, however, one person who was not in immediate physical danger and was not required to join the battlefield: Queen Esther. Safely within the king's palace and not included in Haman's initial decree, she was the only one in a position to fast on behalf of the nation while they fought.
The Rebbe suggests that we call it Ta’anis Esther to highlight this specific miracle. While the soldiers fought on the ground, Esther "fought" through prayer and fasting in the palace. The name serves as a reminder that the victory was achieved through a combination of physical effort and spiritual intervention.