By Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits

As we approach the Yom Tov of Yom Kippur, thoughts of the day’s significance occupy our minds. At the same time, we’re also concerned about how we will make it through the fast. One of the interesting mitzvos we have in relation to the fast is eating on the ninth day of Tishrei — Erev Yom Kippur. Why is it a mitzvah to eat on this day? Are women obligated in this mitzvah? What about children, or people who will not be fasting on Yom Kippur? What types of food should be eaten? These questions and others will be addressed in this article.

Source

The Gemara says that one should eat on the ninth day of Tishrei. Doing so is a mitzvah and it’s considered as if he fasted on both the ninth and tenth of Tishrei.

Reasons

Rashi mentions that the reason we eat on Erev Yom Kippur is in order to prepare us to fast on Yom Kippur.

The Shibolei Haleket quotes the opinion of Rashi, and then adds that by eating on Erev Yom Kippur, the fast will be harder on Yom Kippur. Therefore, eating on Erev Yom Kippur is like fasting on both days. The Aruch Hashulchan says that out of His love for us, Hashem told us to eat on Erev Yom Kippur so that we will have strength to fast on Yom Kippur.

The Ohr Zerua says that the reason we eat on Erev Yom Kippur is to show our bitachon that we will come out on top in the coming year and Hashem will forgive our sins. Therefore, we have a meal on Erev Yom Kippur. The Prishah holds that we eat on Erev Yom Kippur to show that the fasting on Yom Kippur is for a mitzvah and not for any other reason. By eating and then stopping, we indicate that we are fasting to fulfill a mitzvah. Another reason for eating on Erev Yom Kippur is mentioned by Rabbeinu Yonah in Shaarei Teshuvah. On other Yamim Tovim we eat meals in honor of the mitzvah of the day, because there is a great reward for rejoicing with the mitzvos. Since we need to fast on Yom Kippur, the seudah is celebrated on Erev Yom Kippur.

Day vs. Night

In halachah, the night comes before the day. Is there is a mitzvah to eat on the night of Erev Yom Kippur, or it is only a mitzvah during the day?

The Aruch Hashulchan says that since the main reason for eating on Erev Yom Kippur is to prepare us for the fast, this is only possible during the day. This is the opinion of other poskim as well.

Women

Are women included in the mitzvah to eat on Erev Yom Kippur?

Generally, women are exempt from any mitzvah that is time bound. Accordingly, they would be exempt from this mitzvah as well. On the other hand, since the mitzvah to eat on Erev Yom Kippur is related to fasting on Yom Kippur, and women are obligated to fast, they should be required to eat on Erev Yom Kippur. Most poskim say that since woman are required to fast, they have to eat on Erev Yom Kippur. This is similar to Shabbos, where we say that since they are required to avoid work on Shabbos, they are obligated in Kiddush, Havdalah, and the meals of Shabbos. Some add that eating on Erev Yom Kippur gives us the energy to ask for life on Yom Kippur. Women also need life; therefore, they are obligated to eat on Erev Yom Kippur.

Sick Person

Someone who is too ill to fast on Yom Kippur still has a mitzvah to eat on Erev Yom Kippur. This is true even though he has no need to prepare for the fast.

Some note that according to the reason that eating on Erev Yom Kippur is to celebrate Yom Kippur, even one who does not fast on Yom Kippur also needs to eat on Erev Yom Kippur.

Children

Although a child will not fast on Yom Kippur, he should be trained to eat on Erev Yom Kippur because of chinuch.

Fish/Meat

One should make sure to eat fish at the first meal on Erev Yom Kippur. Eating meat at the meal is also recommended.

One should make sure to eat light foods that can be digested easily so he will not feel haughty during davening.

Minimum Amount of Food There is a discussion in the poskim whether the minimum amount one has to eat is a kezayis or more.

Some question those who suck candies or chew gum on Erev Yom Kippur, since there is no shiur to this eating.

Eating Bread

There is a discussion in the poskim if one has to eat bread on Erev Yom Kippur, or if any food would suffice.

According to the reason that the eating on Erev Yom Kippur is to prepare for the fast, one should eat bread and other filling foods. So too, if this is in place of a meal on Yom Kippur, bread should be eaten. However, according to some of the other reasons, bread is not required, and one can eat any food.

Some mention the custom to have lechem mishneh at the meal on Erev Yom Kippur, but this is not a custom that the majority follow.

Dairy

One should avoid eating dairy foods at this meal, as well as eggs and garlic. These foods increase semen and we want to avoid a discharge on Yom Kippur. Coffee or tea with milk is not an issue.

The More the Better

One should make sure to eat as much as possible, since the more one eats the better off he is. The poskim mention that one should spend less time learning on Erev Yom Kippur in order to have more time to eat. Each time one eats, he fulfills a mitzvah on Erev Yom Kippur.

At the same time, one should make sure not to eat like a glutton.

Ate Too Much

If one ate so much food on Erev Yom Kippur that he does not feel the pain of not eating on Yom Kippur, he has still fulfilled the mitzvah of not eating on Yom Kippur.

No Need to Eat

Even if one does not need to eat before the fast in order to have an easy fast, he has a mitzvah to eat on Erev Yom Kippur.

Brachah on Mitzvah

Although we recite brachos when we perform a mitzvah, no brachah is recited on the mitzvah of eating on Erev Yom Kippur, since it is not apparent that we are eating for a mitzvah. Others explain that we are concerned that we might be able to fast on Yom Kippur even without eating on Erev Yom Kippur, and if so there is no mitzvah to eat on Erev Yom Kippur. In such a case, the brachah would be in vain. In addition, there is no set time for the mitzvah to eat the entire day. Others explain that the eating is connected to the mitzvah to fast on Yom Kippur, and we don’t make a brachah on a fast.

Finally, a brachah only applies if one is obligated to eat a specific food, such as matzah. When the mitzvah is to eat whatever you please, no brachah is recited.

Eating Kreplach

On Erev Yom Kippur, the custom is to eat meat wrapped in dough (called kreplach in Yiddish). The Yom Tov of Erev Yom Kippur is a Yom Tov in “hiding,” since we are permitted to work. Therefore, we eat hidden meat as well, as we know that there is no joy without meat. How does he explain purim and hoshana rabba?

Pills

The poskim permit one to take pills on Erev Yom Kippur in order to ease the fast on Yom Kippur.