The Great Tzom: 40 Days of Fasting

Joel 2 :15 "blow the trumpet…announce a time of fasting". 

TZOM IN THE BIBLE

The hebrew word "tzom צוֹם" can be directly translated as a "fast". It means the practice of abstaining intermittently from nourishment for a period of time. As a religious term, it can denote the purpose of “cleansing” the body from unhealthy materials, influences or habits, so that the congregation can stand before GOD as purely and cleanly as possible. Fasting is primarily an exercise of devotion, sometimes with the specific purpose of mourning, supplicating or simply adoring YHWH. Through the willingness to renounce from bodily appetites, for a definite period of time, one practices spiritual discipline and self-control. 

It is interesting to note that fasting is mentioned in the Bible more times than baptism. 

THE GREAT TZOM OF 40 DAYS: GIVING BACK 10% BACK TO YHWH

As GOD faithfully provides abundant food every day of the year, to sacrifice back 10% (364 days x 10%= 30-40 days/year) is a reflection of His holy model.

Deut 14:22 "Make an offering of ten percent, a tithe, of all the produce which grows in your fields year after year."

A tithe is therefore a portion of about 10% given as a thanksgiving for what we received all year long from YHWH. 

 The notion of giving back 10% has been nicknamed the "90-10 rule", for it allows people to enjoy 90% of everything the Most High allows them to have. But in return, they should be able to let go of some of it, also for their own good. The practice of “letting go” is naturally a difficult task for most. Humans tend to latch on to certain things, expectations, habits... However when one person is holding on too tight to something without being able to let go, it can cause them innumerable problems. 

Therefore, everyday of a year, thanks to GOD, we eat, we drink, we fill our tummies with satiété. We blessed HaShem for giving us our daily bread and all the abundant food that accompanies it, and we fast for 30 to 40 days per year, as an act of offering. Because the custom of fasting for several days out of the year is an act of wisdom and adoration, many Jews, Christians and Muslim practice it in different ways.

JUDAISM : HA-TA'ANIT
The Hebrew word "ta'anit תענית" is a term from the Mishnah that defines a day of rabbinical tzom. The Jewish ta'anit is observed from nightfall to nightfall for the 2 major fasts (Yom Kippur ; Tisha B'Av) and from dawn to nightfall for the 4 minor fasts  (Tzom Esther, Tzom Gedalia, Asara B'Tevet and Shiva Asar B'Tammuz). These Jewish fasts focus mainly on tragic events in Jewish history, such as the sacking of Jerusalem in 70 AD. 

In addition to the public days of fasting, there were the voluntary "merit" fasts, practiced by specific Jewish communities or by pious individuals. For instance, it is recorded in Matthew 9:14 that the disciples of John the Baptist frequently fasted  ("we and the Pharisees fast often"). They fasted sometimes as often as twice a week: "The Pharisee (...) prayed, ‘I thank You God that I am not like the other men, I fast twice a week and I pay tithes...’" Luke 18:11-12 

It is possible that some antique Jewish communities were fasting a total of 40 days through out the year, choosing to fast once or twice nearly every week, in order to tithe 10% of their daily bread.  

To this day, there still exists a somewhat lesser-known Jewish fast, the "Behab Fast". Its name is a combination of the letters bet, hey, and bet, which refers to Monday, Thursday, and Monday, respectively. These days are traditionally associated with both divine judgment and favor. The Behab fast may have been established early on to atone for any inappropriate behavior which might have taken place during the year, as well as to act as a therapeutic ritual, intended to strengthen the body in preparation for the changing seasons.

CHRISTIANITY:   LENT

The notion of performing a fast of 40 days before Passover is rooted in the early church traditions. The etymology of the English word "lent" is a shortened form of "lencten" which means "springtime" in Old English, and "quadragesima" in Latin means "forty".

Early in Church history, Eusebius mentions in his Ecclesiastical History (Chp 23-24) that Irenaeus was sending letters to various churches in Gaul around 185 AD concerning fasting prior to Passover.

The first true explicit written reference to a 40-day fast is found, in Canon 5 of the Council of Nicaea (325 AD), where it is treated as something familiar and established.

In imitation of the Gospel account, Christians in pre-Nicene Egypt (100-325 AD) observed a 40-day fast, in January, after the commemoration of Yéhushö's baptism in the Jordan, and fasted for 40 days until Passover.

In the hymns of Byzantine Vespers (the Byzantine Era starting in 451 AD), the cantors proclaimed in their evening prayer before the Holy Week: “Having accomplished the forty days which benefit [their] soul…”.

By the end of the fourth century, the observance of a 40-day fast seems to have been the common practice in most parts of Christendom, with a shorter fasting period for some.

According to early Christian traditions, fasting before the season of Passover would have been established by the apostles themselves, imitating the long fast of the Messiah in the desert, and putting into practice the words of Mat 9:15:

"The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast."

Also, in Messiah's mind, fasting and praying have never meant to be a preference or an oddity, it was a given. In Matthew chapter 6, Yehûshö uses phrases like: "When you give up eating" (v. 2), "When you pray" (v. 5), and "When you fast" (v. 16). He does not say not "if you fast", assuming that his audience would do so.

ISLAM: RAMADAN

To this day, Muslims worldwide observe a long fast called the month of Ramadan. In the 7th century, in the vicinity of deserts where food and water were scarce, the first Muslims in Medina learned to fast all day long under Prophet Muhammed’s guidance. Today, this observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It lasts 29 to 30 days, depending on their lunar month. The fast could also be extended for excellency an extra 10 days if some choose to do so. Yet, unless their health prohibits it, all adult Muslims are to fast for a month from dawn to sunset.  During the day time for almost 30 days, Muslims refrain not only from food and drinks, but also from tobacco products, sexual relations, and sinful behavior. They devote themselves instead to doing good deeds, praying and studying.

For the Muslim, the practice of a long period of fasting is not perceived as an innovation, but rather has always been part of the devout believers' ritual in order to better honor GOD. 

Quran 2:183 - "O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may develop mindfulness to ALLAH." 

WHY IS THE GREAT TZOM IN THE WINTER?

No date is given in the Bible to say precisely when to do a 40-day fast, yet many will find it fitting to perform a long fast in the winter. Indeed it is the perfect time for a deep cleaning and for the preparation of our bodily temples before the beginning of the year and before the holy season of Passover.

Also the creation of GOD is an important source of inspiration. Winter is for many animals and plants a hibernation season. It is therefore an opportunity to slow down. It is also a good time to recharge and to purge our inner cells. On the practical side, during that time of the year, the days are still short, which allows resuming eating sooner after dusk. The weather also gets gradually milder.

The 12th month remains a time of personal reflection, as the year closes and the new one is about to start. It is also during the 12th month that the fast of Esther has been recorded in chapter 9 (Esther 9:21-22).

The invitation to the Great Fast of 40 days therefore starts annually Thursday the 21st of the 11th month and ends on Monday the 30th of the 12th month (12/30). It is immediately followed by the feast of Tekufah, on Tuesday the 31st of the 12th month (12/31). Then it is followed by the beginning of the year, Wednesday the 1st of the 1st month (1/1).  Spring Rosh HaShana opens the way to the 10 days of the Spring cleaning of our homes as we remove all of the leaven from our houses. After having prepared our bodies with the Great Tzom for 40 days, and after cleaning our homes for 10 days from all leaven, we hope to be ready to enter the holy week of Passover, which is celebrated year after year, from Tuesday 14th of the 1st month (1/14) to Tuesday the 21st of the 1st month (1/21).

HOW TO FAST?

The Great Fast of 40 days is generally performed from sunrise to sunset for 40 successive days. It can be shortened for those who are inexperienced in this exercise. 

Fasting means to voluntarily reduce or eliminate your intake of food for a certain stretch of time. It is important to always keep a minimum of one healthy meal per day in order to retain normal health levels. (Integral long fasts should not be performed, since eliminating all foods for several successive days is NOT recommended without medical supervision.) 

There are many types of safe long fasts. All are intermittent which means that there is eating at least once a day. Some fasts can be intense, others moderate:

• A Dry Fast - means to abstain from all food and drinks from sunrise to sunset.

• A Food Fast - means to abstain from all foods and drinks except water from sunrise to sunset.

• A Juice Fast - means to ingest only fruit and raw vegetable juicing from sunrise to sunset.

• An Occasional Fast - means to switch between periods of fasting and eating, based on a personal and flexible schedule. 

• A Partial Fast - means to eliminate only one meal per day, or abstain from some food items for a long stretch of time.

• An Austerity Fast - means to eat moderately during the day while abstaining from comfort habits for a long stretch of time, for exemple abstaining from alcohol, meats, sweets, hot showers, electronics etc. 

The option you choose depends on your overall health, the desired intensity of your fast, and your personal commitment to GOD.

Fasting should also be connected to studying, praying, remaining unperturbed, and doing good deeds during this special time. 

THE SPIRITUAL BENEFITS OF FASTING

Fasting is a physical and spiritual discipline that purifies the body while nourishing the mind. 

Fasting is foremost an act of worship, a chance to get closer to God, it is a way to become more compassionate, and to experience what the hungry feel. Fasting is also seen as a way to learn patience and to break bad habits. It encourages us to be grateful for what we have, and to be generous. Because fasting does put the body under a mild stress, it also forces the person to learn to better self-control and adapt.  It can therefore steer away from greed and lust. 

The 40 days of fasting remain thus a special time of purification, learning and humbling.

Often in the Bible, God's people fasted before a major victory, miracle, or answer to prayers. 

"So we fasted and prayed about these concerns, and He (YHWH) listened." - Ezra 8:23

"While they were worshiping YHWH and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." -  Acts 13:3

Fasting is a doorway to humility and empathy, it is a call of repentance and of deliverance.

Isaiah 58:6: "God says, Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen, to loose the chains of injustice, to undo the heavy burdens, and to set the oppressed free breaking every yoke?"

Joel 1:14: "Declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land, to the house of YHWH your God, and cry out to YHWH."

The Great Tzom is therefore about cleansing and renewal, it is seeking God's protection and guidance, it is preparing self for YHWH's liberation, and for one of His most holy feasts, Passover.

THE PHYSICAL BENEFITS OF FASTING

Although performing every year a 40-day-fast can be challenging and uncomfortable, it has many great physical benefits health-wise. 

In the long run:

• It benefits liver and intestinal functions.

• It protects from obesity and supports weight loss.

• It boosts the immune system and good overall health.

• It reduces inflammation, allergies and  helps with chronic illnesses.

• It decreases the risk of metabolic diseases.

• It helps decrease high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

• It boosts brain function and may guard against neurological disorders.

• It increases cell turn over and it may even reduce cancer risk.

Overall, intermittent fasting is part of a healthy lifestyle with good nutrition and physical exercises.

By performing the Great Tzom of 40 days, we physically clean our cellular closets, after a year of storing up even unknowingly, junk, toxins and pollutants. The Great Tzom of 40 day allows us to get rid of old toxic cells replacing them with new healthy ones, in order to start the year in cleansed bodily temples . 

TIPS WHEN FASTING

Always perform a fast with gradual moderation to ensure that your body remains healthy, well hydrated and safe. It is very important to keep at least one meal a day to avoid depriving dangerously your body from essential nutrients.

A key factor in performing a successful fast is to adapt it, during those 40 days, to your variations in health. If you get sick, or start your menstruation, or have a very physical day ahead, you can lighten your fast by replacing it with a more moderate one, until you get better. The Great Tzom can be modulated depending on the necessity, under the condition it is done in good faith and with your best efforts. God will certainly honor genuine devotion even if it is not ideal. You can also work to make your sacrifice better next year.

When you do eat, ingest healthy easy-to-digest foods. Your stomach becomes smaller and sensitive at this point, so it is important to eat healthy and avoid indigestion in the evening. 

Stay away as much as possible from caffeinated beverages such as coffee, energy drinks, or colas. Because these drinks are stimulants they have a stronger and more negative effects on your nervous system when abstaining from food. 

Rest physically when your schedule will allow, stay moderate in your daily activities if you can, and avoid exertion.

Fasting can result in biological symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, lack of patience, etc. Yet, it is forbidden to be arguing, getting agressive, or expressing any form of violence during Tzom, with the obvious exceptions of self-defense.

Without trying to be more benevolent toward others, the act of fasting is rendered spiritually useless: "Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high." - Isaiah 58. On the contrary, self control and charity in this time is one of the most honorable worships. 

INJUNCTIONS,

• It is NOT advised to perform any integral fast, which is removing all food morning and night for several successive days. Not eating at all for several days in a row, can lead to serious health problems, like organ damage or even death.  No one should perform such a fast or any other extreme fasts over a long period of time without medical supervision and a fasting specialist.

• As you enter this time of heightened spiritual devotion, be aware that the Adversary may try to make you stumble, test your boundaries and patience, as the devil tested Messiah in the desert.  So when you feel the enemy trying to discourage you in the face of difficulties and temptations, go in prayer to YHWH your God and humbly ask Him to strengthen you.

• Your motive in fasting must be to glorify GOD, to present a humble offering and to be pleasing to Him. It is not to have an emotional experience, it is not to attain glorification of self. It is not to earn blessings. It is not to force GOD to answer favorably prayers. GOD cannot be blackmailed by human efforts. It should never consciously or unconsciously be perceived as a way to force GOD's hand.  Also the practice of fasting is not to receive public adulation or to impress others with piety. 

• Remember : Your motives must be right, and GOD will honor you seeking Him. Let our genuine intention in performing the Great Fast of 40 days always be first and foremost to humbly please our Father-Creator who is in Heaven.