The Jewish people mark tomorrow (Friday), December 22, the tenth fast of Tevet - the day that Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylonian Empire, began the siege of Jerusalem, a siege that ended with the destruction of the city and the destruction of the Temple on Tisha B'Av. The Chief Rabbinate of Israel decreed that on this day Kaddish is also recited for the Jews murdered in the Holocaust and that the original day of their murder (death) was unknown to their families.
We spoke with expert Natalie Tamsit Ben Yair, Director of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department of Clalit Health Fund in the Jerusalem District, about how Israelis who mark the fast should prepare for it, especially this year – when the fast begins on Friday, a day when they also cook for Shabbat, shop and clean the house, a series of actions that exhaust many good people.
It is advisable to minimize processed foods,
"This time the fast is short and takes place only during daylight hours, so you can get up before sunrise and eat a meal in advance. It makes fasting much easier, and helps those who find it difficult," says Tamsit Ben Yair.
According to the expert, salty foods and caffeinated beverages should be reduced on the day before fasting. "In the day before fasting, it is highly recommended not to eat processed foods, industrialized foods, and to avoid salty foods such as salted fish or salty cheese. Such foods cause thirst, which is unhealthy for fasting. It is also recommended to avoid drinking coffee, tea or cola because these drinks contain a lot of caffeine and it is a diuretic that causes our body to lose a lot of fluids," she explains, adding that "many people will be in an air-conditioned place tomorrow and they may become dehydrated without noticing."
The couscous with meatballs. A winning combination, photo: Assaf Carla
And what is recommended to eat at the meal that breaks just before fasting?
"You should eat carbohydrates with a lot of fiber like whole couscous, rice, whole wheat bread. This is because the body digests fiber more slowly and this leaves a feeling of fullness and fullness over time. It is also possible to eat vegetables with fiber. Beyond that, protein must also be added to the body. Avocado or non-salty cheese that can be eaten with bread will also make fasting easier, especially when it is not a long fast."
The nutritionist also referred to the fact that fasting falls on Friday while there are lots of activities leading up to Shabbat. Here she advised most of the public to do as many chores as possible tonight for Shabbat in order to minimize tomorrow's activities and not exhaust the body too much. "I suggest cooking tonight, because the kitchen and standing in front of the stove fire are physically drying and exhausting. Regarding tomorrow, it is advisable to get up early and finish all our actions before 12 noon, that is, to do everything while the body is not yet exhausted from fasting. Doing while the body is fasting creates a state of lack of energy, which is impossible to complete." When it comes to drinking, the expert recommended drinking plenty of water the day before the fast and also drinking two glasses of water just before the fast itself.
Challah Shabbat, Photo: Photo: Etiel Zion
As far as the fasting is concerned, there is a problem with this fast, which falls on Friday night, since it cannot be broken before the recitation of Kiddush in the evening, since on Shabbat it is forbidden to eat before Kiddush. In this case, Tamsit Ben Yair suggests that diners wait after eating challah at Kiddush, and not eat the rest of the food immediately. It is advisable to rest a little, drink a cup of tea with sugar or water, and only after a rest of about half an hour continue eating.
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us