In this episode, Anthony Cullen and Rabbi Edelstein discuss the practice of fasting in each of their traditions, inspired by texts from the Bible, the Rule of St. Benedict, and Tanya Iggeret haTeshuva (The Tanya Letter on Repentance).

Fasting, it turns out, can be about a lot more than just not eating for a while...

Texts quoted in this episode:

Matthew 6:16-18:

• When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you. Treasure in Heaven.

The Rule of St. Benedict:

• Chapter 39 – “The proper amount of food for each day” sets norms for monastic fasting.
• Chapter 40 – Regulates wine (indicates moderation/abstinence).
• Chapter 41 – Discusses mealtimes during Lent and other fasting periods.
• Chapter 49 – “The Observance of Lent”: “The life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent…Let each one deny himself some food, drink, sleep, needless talking and idle jesting.”

Tanya Iggeret haTeshuva, from chapter 2 (translated by R' Adin Steinsaltz):

• In general, the mystery of fasting is a wondrous remedy to manifest G-d’s supernal favor, similar to an offering, about which the Torah states, ‘A pleasing aroma to the LORD,’ and as it is written in Isaiah, ‘is this what you call a fast and a day of favor to the LORD?’” This teaches that the fast that is desired by G-d is a “day of favor".

In their inaugural episode, Rabbi Edelstein and Anthony Cullen explore the deep biblical, spiritual, and liturgical connections between Shavuot and Pentecost—two feasts separated by tradition but united in spirit.

Listeners will journey from Mount Sinai to the Upper Room, examining how revelation, covenant, and the gift of the Spirit form a common thread across Jewish and Christian faith.

Welcome to the first episode of Faithful Friends...

Texts referenced in this episode:

• Ex. 19:16-20: (16) On the third day, as morning dawned, there was thunder, and lightning, and a dense cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the horn; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. (17) Moses led the people out of the camp toward God, and they took their places at the foot of the mountain. (18) Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke, for the LORD had come down upon it in fire; the smoke rose like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled violently. (19) The blare of the horn grew louder and louder. As Moses spoke, God answered him in thunder. (20) The LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain, and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain and Moses went up.
• Deut 16:8-11:(8) After eating unleavened bread six days, you shall hold a solemn gathering for the LORD your God on the seventh day: you shall do no work. (9) You shall count off seven weeks; start to count the seven weeks when the sickle is first put to the standing grain. (10)Then you shall observe the Feast of Weeks for the LORD your God, offering your freewill contribution according as the LORD your God has blessed you. (11) You shall rejoice before the LORD your God with your son and daughter, your male and female slave, the Levite in your communities, and the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow in your midst, at the place where the LORD your God will choose to establish His name.
• Acts 2:1-12: When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, "Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God."