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Our daf Masechet Ta’anit 11 deals with issues of fasting. Should a personal fast be viewed as a positive trait or a negative one?
This question is debated by the amora’im.
Shmuel rules that a person who accepts a fast upon himself is considered to be a sinner – a choteh.
Rabbi Eliezer argues that he is called kadosh –a holy person.
Resh Lakish says that he is considered pious –a chasid.
The commentaries use this argument as a springboard for discussing the appropriate attitude towards self-flagellation.
We explore the history of divine service through self-mortification and fasting, as well as the physiological benefits and cross cultural similarities of afflicting the body.