Fast of Esther
| The Fast of Esther | |
|---|---|
Drawing of the Jewish people fasting and praying following Esther's request | |
| Official name | תַּעֲנִית אֶסְתֵּר |
| Type | Jewish |
| Significance | Commemorating the three-day fast observed by the Jewish people in the story of Purim |
| Observances | Fasting |
| Begins | 13th day of Adar at dawn (if Shabbat, then 11th day of Adar at dawn) |
| Ends | The same day, at nightfall |
| Date | 13 Adar |
| 2025 date | March 13 |
| 2026 date | March 2 |
| 2027 date | March 22 |
| Related to | Purim |
The Fast of Esther (Hebrew: תַּעֲנִית אֶסְתֵּר, romanized: Ta'anit Ester) is a fast in Judaism observed on the eve of Purim. According to most scholars, it commemorates the communal fast held by the Jewish people throughout the Achaemenid Empire on the 13th day of Adar. According to the Book of Esther, this was the date scheduled for the battle between the Jews and their antagonists, and the fast followed a tradition where Jewish communities would fast during wartime to arouse "mercy from God".
Unlike other fasts, the Fast of Esther is a Jewish custom. It is not mentioned in the Talmud, but it is mentioned in the Midrash and other later sources from the days of the Geonim. Therefore, it is considered less severe than the other fasts.