The prophet Isaiah expressed a prophetic exhortation against formal fasting without an inner religious and charitable spirit. Isaiah 58, part of the prophetical reading for the Day of Atonement, teaches that great moral good can be derived from a fast; but only if it is sincerely observed, when it can then remake man's character by arousing his sympathy for the plight of the needly and his fellowman. Fast Days of the Jewish Calendar   

 

DATE  NAME  REASON  HOW OBSERVED

3 Tishri Fast of Gedaliah, Commemorates assassination Gedaliah  (II Kings 25:25),

Dawn  to  dusk  

 

10 Tishri Day of Atonement, for Atonement sins (Lev. 26-32 etc.),

Dusk to Dusk    

 

10 Tevet Asara be-Tevet, Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem   (II Kings 25:1),

Dawn to  dusk

 

13 Adar Fast of Esther, Traditionally   connected with   fast-day decreed by  Esther (Est. 4:16)   

Dawn to  dusk

 

14 Nisan Fast of the first- born, Commemorates last    of the ten plagues   (Ex. 12:29)  

Dawn to dusk

 

17 Tammuz Shivah Asar be-Tammuz, Associated with  breaches of walls of Jerusalem by  Nebuchadnezzar  (Jer. 39:2)    Dawn to dusk

 

 9 Av Tishah be-Av,  Associated with  Destruction of   Temple  (II Kings 25:8-9)

Dusk to dusk