Voor de Joodse lezers: vooravond van jom ha-kippoerim
First of all for all readers: G'mar chatima tova.
Grapes/ linzen and erev Yom ha- Kippurim.
Today-as you all know-is a special Mitzwa to eat and drink more frequently.
Say to yourself that you eat and drink to fulfill this special Mitzwa which G-d commanded us on erev Yom ha- Kippurim.
Everybody knows by experience what food fits him best,but I want to remind you that grapes during the day maybe a very good thing to eat and strengthen for the coming fast.
If you can't get hold of organic grapes then eat for this occasion non organic ones.
Every year a Dutch patient of mine is reminding me how this helps her to fast.........and Dutch are always right as you know..........
Another good thing for the seuda mafseket maybe adashim [lentils][probably best the red ones which help to keep a stabilized sugar level in the blood, maybe with some macaroni and chicken,
If you have any other personnel suggestions ,let me know please.
For those who need to eat or drink on Yom ha-Kippurim
This following e-mail is meant for those of the readerswho may not be familiar with the subject.
I am sure that on yom ha-kippurim every Jew who may fast, will fast!
In all cases where one thinks that one can't or should not fast on yom ha-kippurim,it is important to discuss this with your Rabbi who may decide or may also ask the opinion of your doctor.
In case one is not allowed /or not advised to fast fully but is allowed/commanded to eat shiurim [ this means certain measured amountsof food or drink ] one should do so and not bring oneself in danger.
Serious ill patients -where any fasting may cause [even a doubtful] danger for life will likely be advised to eat normally and drink normally.
In the case of shiurim [special amounts]your rabbi will tell you how much you can eat and drink and how often.
For those of you who were told to eat and drink shiurim and for some reason had no chance to ask a rabbi what to do, the following e-mail is written but it does not come to replace by any means the obligation to try and ask a rabbi.
According to Sefaradim:
[from the book Gateway to Halacha by Rabbi Eliezer Toledano
/ rabbi Shmuel Choueka]
Eating: a piece of bread [or other food] slightly less then one ounce [one ounce = 28.3 gram].
One should wait 9 minutes before eating the next piece if necessary.
The book states: "If these amounts of food or intervals of time between eating prevent the person from being calmed, he should eat in his regular manner".
Drinking: Slightly less than one and a half ounce [=42 gram] which may be repeated every 9 minutes and if not possible,every 7 or 5 or even 2 1/2 minutes and continue for as long as necessary.
If he can't wait, then pause at least for a moment between each mouthful.
If this is also not possible then drink regularly.
The amount of eating and drinking are not counted together!![lo mitztarfim!]
So the allowed piece of food can be combined with the allowed amount of fluid [for example 28 gram food and 42 gram drink at the "same "time".
Ashkenazim: [From the book of Rabbi Elozar Barclay/Rabbi Yitzchok Jaeger][Guidelines]
Eating: maximum at one session: 30 cc [this is a volume and not a weight].The book mentions that the external volume of a standard Israeli small matchbox is 30cc.
[nice idea: mine opinion]
Drinking : a cheekful [as much fluid as one can hold in one cheek].
This can variate from 40 cc to 30cc for an average or smaller person according to the book.
One may measure a cheekful for himself by keeping an amount of fluid in on cheek and then measure this in a glass and mark this.[This I heard and is not brought as such in the book]
The waiting time between portions should be 9 minutes or less if impossible.[see for these times probably the sefaridim opnion above]
If one can limit himself only to eating or only to drinking then that should be done.
Medicines which are tasteless or bitter can be taken as such.
If one can't swallow the medicine without fluid [and one does not drink] then he may try to swallow it with some bitter tasting liquid.