I got a few phone calls yesterday from people who may have a health situation regarding the Ta'anit (fast) of Yom Kippurim, and there is a great deal of confusion in people's minds because of the other Ta'aniyot. I know it sounds very simple, but it's important to clarify. All the other fasts are Rabbanan (rabbinic enactments). Even Tisha B'Av, which is very Chamur (severe), is Rabbanan. But this one is not Rabbanan; this is from the Torah. Therefore, when it tells you, initem et nafshoteichem (and you shall afflict yourselves), Initem, it's Inuy. One of the definitions of Inuy is to not eat, to not be able to eat or drink. So it's an issur (prohibition) in the Torah, and people are a little confused. “Oh, I'm not feeling well. Oh, I'm sick.” Unfortunately, I feel bad for those who are sick on Yom Kippur; it's terrible. But if it's not a Choleh sheyesh bo Sakana, if it's not a Choleh (sick person) in the category of Sakana (danger)—somebody whose life is endangered—he or she is not allowed to eat or drink anything.
People hear, “Oh, there's a concept of Shiurim (measurements).” What's the Shiurim? Well, if you eat less than a Kezayit (olive-sized amount) or drink less than Melo Lugmav, less than a cheekful, then it's okay. No, it's not okay. The Gemara Yoma says that half a Shiur is Asur (forbidden) from the Torah. So where does this come from? Again, we're talking about Choleh sheyesh bo Sakana. If he or she doesn't eat or drink, there's Sakana; the person could die. That's the only case in which you could break the fast. For that person, we're going to favor doing less than the Shiur rather than having a normal meal. I doubt anyone who eats less than a Kezayit every 10 minutes for 25 hours is going to die. I don't know any doctor who would say, “If you don't have a full meal at the same time, you're going to die.” I don't think this concept makes sense. But who am I? I don't know a doctor. But I have a Sechel (intellect). If you're drinking the whole day, every 10 minutes, less than a cheekful, you're not going to die. Nobody's going to die.
So why do we favor those small Shiurim over a big plate or a big drink? If both are min haTorah (from the Torah), it's a good question. If both are issur min haTorah, it's the same issur. What's the difference between K'kotevet hagasa—it's a little bit bigger than a Kezayit—or Revi'it (quarter-log measure), and less than Revi'it? Both are issur min haTorah. No, back in the days, a person would potentially get Malkut, get a punishment from the Beit Din (Jewish court), if he or she drank or ate more than the Shiur. If it's less than that, there's no punishment down here. But the level of punishment is less than that. So it's less than that. The level of issur in both cases is from the Torah. If one has a punishment, that means it's a higher level of issur. Even in the world of Pikuach Nefesh, we try to minimize the issur.
This is Halacha (Jewish law) in Hilchot Shabbat (laws of Shabbat). Somebody has Pikuach Nefesh. They must go to the hospital. Is the Jew allowed to drive to the hospital in that case? Yes, a Jew is allowed to drive. But if it would make no difference whether a Jew or a guy drives, have the guy drive. Why do you have to have the Jew drive? Or if it's limited by time, because some people have dialysis, for example. It's Pikuach Nefesh. That's their day. If they take another day, it's Pikuach Nefesh. Can they go to the hospital if it's their day? Yes. Is it an emergency of five minutes? No, it's not. So they could go with a guy instead of driving themselves. And it's Pikuach Nefesh. No, but even in Pikuach Nefesh, you try to minimize the issur. Here too, there's Pikuach Nefesh. Try to minimize the issur. So you do the lower tier of issur. It's always in a category of Pikuach Nefesh. We're talking about somebody whose life is in danger if they don't eat or drink. This is very clear, and you have to clarify it. If somebody has a special case, they should consult with their local Orthodox rabbi to clarify their situation. But it's only in the case of Pikuach Nefesh that you're allowed to break the Ta'anit.