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Tzom Kol - Easy Fast!

By Seth Dralle | Comments (4) | Posted on July 23, 2007

My experience on the last traditional fast - 17 Tammuz - was less than pleasant. I am an admitted coffee addict (Hi, my name is Seth, I am a coffee-aholic). If I don't get two cups in the morning, I don't function very well. Usually, I also need a cup right around Minchah as well. The last fast left me cranky, in pain, and longing for some java. So I decided that I was going to be proactive for Tisha b'Av and start decreasing my caffeine ahead of time.

About a week ago, I started weening myself off of my coffee-dependency. Believe me, this was tough. I have been a regular coffee drinker for many, many years. I had my first cup of coffee probably in first grade and have been an every day drinker since sixth grade. In college, I discovered "the good stuff"...Starbucks. Now my wallet shells out far too much scratch to feed my habit.

I have never had the discipline to ween myself off coffee before a fast. Previous attempts have always failed. I tried to one year for Yom Kippur, but before I knew it, it was Erev Yom Kippur! So, I downed two cups before sundown in hopes it would help me through (it didn't).

Needless to say, my fasts have always been miserable from this. I have never enjoyed the "spiritual benefits" that other speak of due to my throbbing headache and cranky attitude (When is sundown!?).

But, thank God, this year will be different. I suffered through the withdrawl last week. I have been off coffee for longer than I ever have. This year, I will have an easy fast and not have to worry about caffeine headaches.

My advice to all coffee drinkers, you got to get off this stuff ahead of time. I'm actually looking forward to my fast!

Does anyone else have any good fasting stories? Any good tips on preparing for a fast?

Tzom kol,
Seth Michael Dralle
8 Av 5767

About the Author: Seth Dralle is the fulfillment and shipping department manager and a research and teaching assistant for FFOZ. He is also a contributor to messiah magazine, the Monthly eRosh and the Torah Club Online Dictionary.

Visitor Comments

In the past I, too, suffered from throbbing headaches during various fasts due to coffee withdrawl. My first Yom Kippur was rough. I have been drinking coffee since about the fifth or sixth grade and when I first started fasting after I began practicing Torah, I honestly felt like I was afflicting my soul. If my body felt this miserable from lack of coffee then surely my soul as well!

Posted by: Brian Reed | July 23, 2007 8:46 AM

I have trouble with caffeine addiction myself, although I prefer my caffeine cold in Coca-Cola or tea. If I go off of it "cold turkey" I have horrible headaches and nausea for three days. I have found a symptom free way to break this. I decrease the amount I drink daily by just a few ounces. 16 ounces, 12 ounces, 8 ounces, 6, 4, 2 and the last day 1 ounce. It feels very weird at the end drinking just a couple of ounces but it works!

Posted by: Sue-Ellen | July 23, 2007 10:54 AM

Now that you are off, might I suggest you just stay off :) You'll save a lot of money and you won't have to go through the withdrawals next time :)

***Seth: I don't know about that one, but I'm definitely going to reduce my intake.***

Posted by: Gabriel Anzelini | July 23, 2007 11:05 AM

My first Yom Kippur, I turned green and thought I was dying. Ever since then I have tried to decrease caffeine prior to the fast with pretty good results.

Lamentations 1:16 "For these things I weep; My eyes run down with water; Because far from me is a comforter (i.e. Starbucks), One who restores my soul."

Incidentally, I was off coffee and caffeine free until Boaz introduced me to AROMA coffee while we were in Israel last May. They are like the Starbacks of Israel, and have become a new pilgrimage focus for me.

dtl

Posted by: D. Thomas Lancaster | July 23, 2007 1:00 PM

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