But he continues: "Some authorities maintain that it is praiseworthy to encourage younger children who are able to understand the severity of the calamity over which we fast to indeed do so for at least several hours if they can."

This is not a universally held opinion. We only train children to observe mitzvot so they will be able to do so on reaching maturity.

As regards the four fasts associated with the destruction of the Temple, this may not be necessary since we would hope that by the time they become adults, it will be rebuilt and these fasts will become joyful festivals as the prophet Zechariah writes (8,19).

This obviously does not apply to the most solemn fast, Yom Kippur, when we do train children for a few years. Surprisingly, this argument would also not apply to the most lenient one - the fast of Esther. So I suppose there would be no objection to children trying to fast then.

In all cases, one should be guided by one's rabbi in this, as in all other matters.

Martin Stern,
7 Hanover Gardens,
Salford.

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