Eating / Drinking on Yom Kippur

[better to read the attachment]

Eating / Drinking on Yom Kippur
​I am trying to send the following scheme every year for those of you who may have to eat on Yom Kippur or suddenly need to do so.

Anyone very familiar with halacha will not need this writing.

If you are not familiar with what is written below, then please print this out BEFORE Yom-Kippur or write the main points down on a piece of paper in case this is suddenly relevant.

Drink and eat frequently the day before Yom ha-kipppurim. This is considered a Mitzwa in itself!Start already drinking and eating plenty on Monday [the dau before erev Yo-Kippur]

SIn 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 help you to decide or may also ask the opinion of your doctor.In case one is not allowed /or not advised medically to fast fully one should try to eat / drink according to shiurim [ this means certain measured amounts of food or drink ] and by doing so one avoids bringing himself in danger.Serious ill patients -where any fasting may cause [even a doubtful] 

danger to their life, will be advised and commanded to eat normally and drink normally.In the case of shiurim [as said before, this means special amounts to eat and drink, if needed] 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.[

 print this out BEFORE Yom-Kippur or write the main points down on a piece of paper in case this is suddenly relevant].

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 a bit less then 28-gram food and a bit less then 42-gram drink can be taken at the “same “time”.Weigh some bread/food before Yom Kippur to get an idea.[the Ashkenazim have a bit simpler method,I would think………]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 in my opinion]Drinking : a cheek-full [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 cheek full for himself by keeping an amount of fluid in one 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 Sephardim opinion above

If one can limit himself only to eating or only to drinking then that should be done.If one has to drink then [diluted] grapefruit juice [if allowed ] is probably the  best as it is also “nutritious” and may prevent unnecessary eatingMedicines which are tasteless or bitter can be taken as such, without fluid.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.This is in short a trial to help you if you need it, it comes from the sources described above.