Fast of Gedaliah
- noun
:
Ayuno de Gedalía
- Many observant Jews mark the Fast of Gedaliah by abstaining from food and drink from dawn until dusk.
Examples
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On the Fast of Gedaliah, special prayers are recited to remember the tragedy that befell Judah.
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The Fast of Gedaliah is observed on Tishri 3.
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The Fast of Gedaliah is one of several minor fasts in the Jewish calendar.
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Many Jews participate in the Fast of Gedaliah each year.
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Many observant Jews mark the Fast of Gedaliah by abstaining from food and drink from dawn until dusk.
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On the Fast of Gedaliah, special prayers are recited to remember the tragedy that befell Judah.
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The Fast of Gedaliah is one of several minor fasts in the Jewish calendar.
Surface Forms
Morphology
fast + of + Gedaliah
The noun 'fast' (a period of abstention) combined with the genitive 'of' and the proper name 'Gedaliah' transparently signals 'a fasting day associated with Gedaliah', so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer it is a fast named for that person. They may not know the specific historical or religious details (e.g. the assassination commemorated), but the basic compositional meaning is clear.
Etymology
Fast of Gedaliah remembers the murder of Gedaliah, a Jewish governor who was killed after the Babylonian attack. One simple story says that when he was killed many people had no leader and were afraid, so they fasted and prayed; that's why the day is kept as a small fast to 'remember' and 'mourn' the loss.
