Why are you speaking so publicly about fasting and health?

Answer: We feel that the insistence on privacy, actually often secrecy, sends the message that our eating is wrong. This is not only inaccurate (when fasting is dangerous it is a mitzvah to eat), but also potentially life-threatening. For some people, lacking sufficient support in their mitzvah to eat may result in an attempt to fast.

We believe in changing this harmful messaging by taking this topic out from the shadows, and showing public support to those of us who are upholding the principle of pikuach nefesh (saving a life), by eating on fast days.