The Jewish people questioned why G-d did not pay attention to their fasts. "Why have we fasted and You did not see? Why have we afflicted our souls and You did not know?" (Isaiah 58, 3).
Hakham Yoseph Hayyim, 'a"h, discusses the meaning of fast days. He explains that each person is obligated to examine his deeds -- both the good and the bad ones. We can easily understand the purpose of examining our bad deeds, but why the good ones?
At times, our good deeds are not as pure and good as they should be. They are mixed with the influence of the Evil Inclination and, therefore, become imperfect. On a fast day, for example, we must reflect and introspect, asking ourselves how we acted on that day while we were fasting. Did I get angry and lose my temper? Did I act arrogantly and put others down? These are just a few examples that illustrate the idea of performing a Miswah (a good deed) with a blemish attached to it.
The Ben Ish Hai stresses that fasting on its own is insufficient. We must look closely at our deeds with honesty, and be careful to distance ourselves from even a trace of undesirable behavior. Such deeds, when done correctly, are precious and valuable.
My dear friends, as we approach the fast of the 9th of Ab, let us take to heart the priceless words of this great Torah scholar. May our fasts be accepted by our Father in Heaven as complete and pure acts, and may we merit to see the coming of the Goel (redeemer), speedily in our days, Amen.
