Rabbi Yose Warns Against Afflicting the Soul With Fasts

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 20:14

Rabbi Yose says: A person is not permitted to afflict himself with fasts, lest he become dependent on his fellow creatures and the creatures show him no mercy. What is Rabbi Yose's reasoning? As it is written, "And the human became a living being" (Genesis 2:7). The Torah said: the soul that I have given you - keep it alive.

Themes