Commentary for Berakhot 62:24
ואמר רבי אלעזר משום רבי יוסי בן זמרא כל היושב בתענית בשבת קורעין לו גזר דינו של שבעים שנה ואף על פי כן חוזרין ונפרעין ממנו דין עונג שבת
R. Eleazar also said in the name of R. Jose b. Zimra : Whoever imposes a fast upon himself on the Sabbath, the decree of seventy years is annulled for him ; but for all that the penalty for [denying himself] the delight of the Sabbath will be exacted from him.
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The only fast which is permitted on the Sabbath is that of the Day of Atonement. It speaks here of a voluntary fast as, e.g., after a dream of ill omen.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Seventy years is the normal span of human life (Ps. xc. 10) and this will be shortened if one spoils "the day of delight" by fasting. Rashi explains differently in a favourable sense : If one adds to the severity of his fast by choosing the Sabbath day, then should there be a divine decree to his detriment, though it be incurred in extreme youth (seventy years ago), it will be annulled.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy