A Wonderful and Proven Custom for the Morning of 'Ta'anit Esther' You Shouldn't Miss

Whoever extends their hand is given to: On Purim, when the people of Israel extend their hands in supplication before Hashem, Hashem does not turn them away empty-handed and gives each according to their need.

The holy Zohar states that Yom Kippur is like Purim, meaning the illumination present on both days is the same.

The book 'Kav HaYashar' (written by R' Tzvi Hirsch Kaidanover) presents a custom to be performed at dawn on the fast of 'Ta'anit Esther':

One should rise at dawn, wash the hands well, give a coin to charity (as one's heart prompts), and immediately afterward light two memorial candles to burn for 26 hours: one in honor of Queen Esther, and the other in honor of Mordechai the Jew.

After lighting the candles, one should recite Psalm 22 from Tehillim - "For the leader; on the doe of the dawn" (it is recommended by some to recite it seven times), and pray before Hashem that the merit of Mordechai and Esther will stand by us at this time, granting us the salvation we need.

A few additional important points to consider:

• The reason we rise at dawn specifically is because Queen Esther is equated with the 'doe of the dawn,' and because the time of 'dawn' is propitious for annulling decrees.
• It is good to give the charity in silver coins specifically, as according to Kabbalah - the color silver represents kindness, in contrast to gold, which is a color of judgment (and reminds us, for instance, of the sin of the golden calf).
• As brought in the book 'Likutei Halachot' attributed to R' Nachman of Breslov - it is good to set aside coins for the charity box with both hands holding them, in the following order: first set aside one coin, and then the rest of the coins.
• On that day and until after Purim, it is good to increase charity to the poor, and give charity to anyone who extends their hand and asks for it.
• It is good to read the Book of Psalms with intention, focusing on complete redemption for the Jewish people in the sense of 'and it was reversed,' so that all decrees and negative things looming over our heads - will be annulled.

And here is the language of 'Kav HaYashar' on this custom: "This day is very propitious for our prayers to be answered through the merit of Mordechai and Esther, and anyone who needs mercy for anything should pray, take some private time on the fast of Esther, and say first of all Psalm 22 in the Book of Psalms. Our Rabbis, of blessed memory, interpreted that Esther was called 'the doe of the dawn'. After this, one should pour out their talk before the blessed Name, make their request, and mention the merit of Mordechai and Esther, through whose merit Hashem will be appeased, open the gates of mercy, and the prayer will be favorably accepted."

For checking the time of dawn in your location, clickhere