Hello Rabbi Abadi,
I read your fascinating teshuva on the halachot regarding the 4 fast days. From my understanding, you rule that given the Gemara and the Rishonim, our current era qualifies as a time of SHALOM and therefore fasting is not only optional, but it is forbidden, given that these former fast days have become holidays, as is narrated in Tanakh by those who returned with Ezra to Eretz Israel.
Is my understanding correct? Does this mean that we can not fast this upcoming 9th of Av?
With much appreciation
Excellent question.
My position is that the Gemara, together with a number of Rishonim, strongly supports the conclusion that our era qualifies as a time of shalom, in which the fasts cease being obligatory and revert to the status described by the prophet Zechariah as days of joy and celebration.
However, I would not say that this is an absolutely settled halacha. There are important Rishonim, most notably the Ramba”n, who appear to understand that “shalom” requires the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash. Although I find that difficult to reconcile with what occurred at the beginning of the Second Temple period, when the people stopped fasting before the Temple was completed, the Ramba”n is a major halachic authority, and his opinion cannot simply be dismissed. There may also be a few other poskim over the centuries who understand the issue similarly.
For that reason, I would not tell someone that he is forbidden to fast if he wishes to rely on those authorities. He certainly has whom to rely upon.
At the same time, based on my understanding of the Gemara, Tanach, and the weight of the earlier sources, I believe the stronger conclusion is that fasting today is no longer required, and therefore I do not recommend fasting.
In other words, I view this as a very strong halachic position, but not yet as a completely settled one in the sense that all significant dissenting opinions have disappeared. Therefore, I would not criticize those who continue to fast, but I also would not encourage others to do so.
Chag Sameach!
Here is the breakdown of the known opinions:
Require the Beit HaMikdash for “Shalom”:
* Ramban
* Tur, following the Ramban
* Ritva
* Maggid Mishneh
Do not define “Shalom” by the Beit HaMikdash:
* Rashi
* Ran
* Rashba
* Me’iri
and of course the Gemara and the Navie itself.