Back Taanit Bejorot AST Taanit bekhorot Catalan Ta’anit Bekhorot CEB Půst prvorozených Czech Fasten der Erstgeborenen German Ayuno de los primogénitos Spanish روزه نخست زاده Persian Jeûne des premiers-nés French תענית בכורות HE Digiuno del Primogenito Italian
| Fast of the Firstborn | |
|---|---|
 J. M. W. Turner's depiction of the Plague of the Firstborn (The Tenth Plague of Egypt, 1802) | |
| Official name | Hebrew: תַעֲנִית בְּכוֹרוֹת (Ta'anit B'chorot) or תַעֲנִית בְּכוֹרים (Ta'anit B'chorim). Translation: "Fast of the firstborn" |
| Observed by | Judaism and Jews |
| Type | Judaism |
| Significance | This fast commemorates the salvation of the Israelite firstborns during the Plague of the Firstborn |
| Observances | fasting |
| Begins | 14th day of Nisan at dawn (12th day of Nisan whenever Passover begins on Sunday) |
| Ends | 14th day of Nisan (or the 12th day as above) |
| 2023 date | April 5 |
| 2024 date | April 22 |
| Related to | Passover |
Fast of the Firstborn (Hebrew: תענית בכורות, Ta'anit B'khorot[1] or תענית בכורים, Ta'anit B'khorim[2]) is a unique fast day in Judaism which usually falls on the day before Passover (i.e., the fourteenth day of Nisan, a month in the Jewish calendar; Passover begins on the fifteenth of Nisan). In modern times, the fast is usually broken at a siyum celebration (typically made at the conclusion of the morning services), which, according to prevailing custom, creates an atmosphere of rejoicing that overrides the requirement to continue the fast (see Breaking the fast below). Unlike all other Jewish fast days, only firstborn children are required to fast on the Fast of the Firstborn.
This fast commemorates the salvation of the Israelite firstborns during the Plague of the Firstborn (according to the Book of Exodus, the tenth of the ten plagues wrought upon Ancient Egypt prior to the Exodus of the Children of Israel), when, according to Exodus (12:29): "...God struck every firstborn in the Land of Mitzrayim (Ancient Egypt)...."[3]