Halachot and Customs
Can Someone Who Is Not Fasting Serve as Shaliach Tzibbur?
Question
Hi Rabbi
I am unable to fast tomorrow on the Fast of Gedaliah because I need to eat and take a pill every eight hours for my teeth, and I also have an appointment tomorrow. I may read the Torah for the aliyot, like the chazzan who reads and says, "First one should stand, second one," etc. So I wanted to ask whether I may actually read or not. My second question, which is not so related, is whether I may be chazzan tomorrow. It is urgent for tomorrow.
Thank you, and a good year.
Answer
Peace to you.
1. One who is not fasting should not read the Torah in the portion of Vayechal, unless there is no one else who can read the Torah. Likewise, he should not receive an aliyah in this reading, unless the fast falls on Monday or Thursday, in which case he may read the Torah and receive an aliyah at Shacharit. However, it is permitted for one who is not fasting to serve as the gabbai who assigns the aliyot to the Torah.
2. One who is not fasting should not, ideally, serve as shaliach tzibbur on a fast day, since he cannot say Aneinu in the repetition. Only if there is no other shaliach tzibbur may he serve as shaliach tzibbur, on condition that he does not say Aneinu as a separate blessing, but instead says Aneinu within the blessing of Shomea Tefillah, and concludes with Shomea Tefillah.
With blessings, Hillel Meirs
