Guide for Those Required to Drink or Eat on Yom Kippur

IN THIS ARTICLE

Preparation for the Fast

Shiurim on Yom Kippur

Measurement for Liquids

Measurement for Solid Food

Timing Between Portions

Total Amount Allowed

When to Begin Drinking or Eating?

Berachos, Kiddush, and Washing

Taking Pills on Yom Kippur

Fasting on Yom Kippur is of the highest importance. Drinking or eating pachos mikeshiur, meaning “less than the measurement” (commonly known as shiurim), is still biblically prohibited unless permitted by a Rov. When drinking or eating is deemed necessary because of the danger involved, one is obligated to do so. If you have any questions, ask your Rov.

Given the gravity of the prohibition, these guidelines must be followed carefully. Although following shiurim can sometimes feel more difficult than fasting, doing so when required is key to observing Yom Kippur properly.

Preparation for the Fast

One must do everything possible to minimize the amount of food and drink that will be required during the fast.

Three days before Yom Kippur: Prepare as though you will be fasting by eating and drinking properly. Drink at least one cup of liquid every hour, stay out of the sun, and avoid exertion.

Erev Yom Kippur: Drink three to four liters of water and eat healthy, wholesome, fiber-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates. Avoid excessive salt, sugary foods, and heavy or spicy meals. If one has eaten and drunk enough before the fast, there is usually no need to drink or eat on Yom Kippur night.

On Yom Kippur: Stay indoors and relax in bed or on the couch, preferably in an air-conditioned room. Do not go to Shul if doing so will increase the amount of food or drink that you will need. The mitzvah of Yom Kippur is to fast, not to go to shul and not to daven.

After the fast: Drink the maximum amount that you are able, usually one to two liters. There is no need to wait for Havdalah, but one should first say ‘Baruch Hamavdil Bein Kodesh Lechol’.

Shiurim on Yom Kippur

Anyone who may be required to drink or eat on Yom Kippur should consult a doctor regarding how much liquid is needed and whether food is also needed. The doctor must take into consideration everything the person will drink and eat before the fast and immediately afterward. In most cases, only liquids are necessary, particularly when nutrient-dense liquids are used.

If drinking and eating slowly are medically insufficient, or would create danger, a person must eat or drink normally as much as needed. However, barring an immediate medical need, one must use shiurim. This means drinking or eating small amounts spread out over time.

Because every instance of drinking or eating must be essential, it is crucial to determine together with one’s doctor and Rov exactly how much is needed.

Measurement for Liquids

The maximum amount of liquid that may be consumed at one time is:

• For an average adult: 1.35 fl oz. / 40 cc.

• For a small person: 1.18 fl oz. / 35 cc.

• For an extremely small person (e.g., a small 12-year-old girl): 1.08 fl oz. / 32 cc.

This is the Melo Lugmav, or “one cheekful,” measurement which varies from person to person. One can ascertain their Melo Lugmav by filling the mouth completely with water, expelling it into a measuring cup, and dividing the measured amount in half. The result is the amount held by one cheek. One must drink slightly less than this amount.

NOTE: It is helpful to purchase small 1.25 fl oz. / 37 ml liquor cups and have them ready before the fast. Be sure to measure their actual capacity before Yom Kippur, especially when using cheaper brands. A medicine dropper provides exact measurements. Keep in mind that when these cups are filled to overflowing, they may hold up to 1.32 fl oz. / 39 ml. A smaller person limited to 1.18 fl oz. / 35 cc should mark the correct level on the cups before the fast or use a 1 fl oz. / 30 ml shot cup.

What Should One Drink?

It is advisable to drink liquids containing calories, such as orange juice, apple juice, Gatorade, or milk. These provide energy and are especially helpful if they reduce the total amount of food or drink required.

Measurement for Solid Food

The maximum volume of solid food that may be eaten at one time is 1.83 cubic inches / 30 cc. Food is measured by volume, not by weight. All food, including airy foods such as bread, challah, or cake, may be crushed or compressed to fit within this volume. It must be eaten while still compressed and may not be allowed to expand before it is eaten.

For practical measuring, a standard 1 fl oz. shot cup can be used. It holds approximately 1.80 cubic inches / 29.57 cc, just less than the maximum allowed volume.

Yogurt, sour cream, and similar foods are subject to doubt as to whether they are considered solids or liquids. Therefore, they must follow the smaller food measurement of approximately 1.83 cubic inches / 30 cc. If they are shaken well until they become very watery, they are considered liquids.

What May One Eat?

There is no need to avoid indulgent food. On the contrary, there is a mitzvah of Simchas Yom Tov (rejoicing on Yom Tov), so one should eat foods that are both nutritious and enjoyable.

Different foods may be combined, provided that their total volume is less than approximately 1.83 cubic inches / 30 cc. For example, one may eat a cracker with a small amount of hard cheese and a piece of cucumber.

Timing Between Portions

After finishing a liquid or food portion, wait at least nine minutes before consuming another portion. Food and liquid are measured independently and do not combine. Therefore, one may consume the maximum allowed amount of each at the same time. The food and drink may even be in one’s mouth together.

After nine minutes has passed, one may drink or eat again. This is calculated from the time one finishes swallowing. In a case of extreme need, and when advised by a Rov, one may wait only five minutes between portions.

Practical recommendation: It is advisable to leave ten minutes between shiurim which is much easier to calculate and track. However, because the waiting period begins only after one has finished swallowing, check the time after finishing and calculate from that point.

Total Amount Allowed

Drink: Generally speaking, 33.8 fl oz. / one liter of liquid is sufficient for the day. With proper preparation for the fast, even as little as 16.9 fl oz. / ½ liter may suffice. One should certainly not drink more than one would drink on a regular day, except in special circumstances.

At one drink every ten minutes (six drinks per hour):

• 1.25 fl oz. / 37 ml cup: 7.5 fl oz. / 222 ml per hour. Drinking ½ liter takes 2 ¼ hours (14 drinks), one liter takes 4 ½ hours (28 drinks).

• 1 fl oz. / 30 ml cup: 6 fl oz. / 177 ml per hour. Drinking ½ liter takes 2 hours and 47 minutes (17 drinks); one liter takes 5 hours and 33 minutes (34 drinks).

Food: In general, liquids are sufficient. When food is required, it should usually be limited to a total volume of approximately 18.31 cubic inches / 300 cc, except in special circumstances.

NOTE: Drinking or eating this slowly may cause a person to feel the urge to drink or eat more than is essential. One should not do so unless there is a specific medical need.

When to Begin Drinking or Eating?

If one knows that drinking or eating is necessary, one may begin at any point in the morning. There is no need to wait, especially if consuming the required amount will take a considerable amount of time.

Berachos, Kiddush, and Washing

• No Kiddush is said before eating, even when Yom Kippur falls on Shabbos.

• Beracha Rishona is said as usual.

• Before eating bread, wash both hands in their entirety without reciting a berachah.

• No Beracha Acharona is said after eating or drinking shiurim.

  
  

Taking Pills on Yom Kippur

If pills are required for an important medical need, they may be taken. If a pill has a sweet coating, it should be wrapped in tissue and may then be swallowed.

A person who is taking shiurim may take the pill with one of their drinks, including the maximum permitted liquid amount.

A person who is not drinking or eating, when necessary, may use a small amount of liquid that has been made to taste bad to swallow a pill. For example, add a small amount of dish detergent or mouthwash to water and use that mixture. Alternatively, before Yom Kippur, prepare extremely strong tea using multiple tea bags. Allow it to sit for a long time until it tastes bitter. It may then be used to swallow a pill.

It’s worth noting that with advance planning, the timing of some daily medications, including certain contraceptive pills, can be adjusted so that one dose is taken before the fast and the next after it, avoiding the need to take a dose on Yom Kippur. If in doubt, ask a doctor or pharmacist.