Q. If on Erev Yom Kippur a person has literally no appetite, as is common in my personal experience especially in the last hours before the fast when I start to become extremely unwell due to anxiety over the Yom HaKodosh when the whole year is being decided, is a person pattur (exempt) from (the mitzva of) eating (on Erev Yom Kippur), or what should he do?
A. On question 1459 regarding whether there is there a mitzva of simcha on Yom Kipur and Is the day called a chag or moed, we wrote: Talmud (Taanis 30b) teaches that there were no greater Yomim Tovim than Yom Kipur… since it was a day of forgiveness and redemption. Rabbenu Yonah (Shaarei Teshuva 4: 8) mentions that the seudos (feasts) one celebrates on Erev Yom Kippur, are related to seudos of Yom Tov, See Sichos Rav Sh. D. Pincus (p. 287). He also mentions (p. 339) that since it is also the day of the giving of the Torah, (2nd. Luchos) it became “Beyom Simchas Livo.” Yom Kipur is also included on the two Torah chapters of the moadim and is icluded in the hekesh comparison that unites them all.
The issue appears to hinge on a dispute among the tanna’im in the mishna in Moed Katan (19a) as to whether or not Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kipur cancel aveilus. As we accept Rabban Gamliel’s ruling, that “Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are like the Shalosh Regalim with respect to aveilus, we may deduce that according to Halacha, the simcha obligation indeed applies on Yom Kipur too.
If someone mistakenly recited the brocho of “Lehadlik Ner shel YomTov” on Yom Kipur candle lightning instead of “Ner shel Yom Hakipurum,” Poskim maintain that after the fact he complies and he does not have to repeat the brocho. (Maharam Brisk 2: 44, Kovetz Sifsei Chachomim, Hisorerus Teshuva 122, Nitei Gavriel 25: 6. See also Kovetz Halochos 28: 2)
However, Maseches Sofrim (19: 6) maintains that we do not mention (on the tefilos) on Yom Kipur that it is a Yom Tov, Moed or simcha, since there is no simcha without eating.
Similarly,Mateh Efraim (582: 2) opines that when Yom Kipur coincides with Shabbos, we recite; “Bayi Beshalom… Betzahala,” and omit the word Besimcha.
As we mentioned in regards to Rosh Hashana (Q. 1437 and 1438) the Shalmei Simcha offerings are not brought, and there is no requirement to partake of the sacrificial meat of Shelamim; and on Yom Kippur we fast.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that there is a mitzva of simcha on Yom Kippur, but different than on the other Yomim Tovim.”
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion was regarding the simcha of Rosh Hashana, that it should be seen as “’Gilu Bereada”’ (Tehilim 2: 11) or rejoice, while trembling, so it is similar in Yom Kippur.
Therefore one should have Bitachon an trust in Hashem’s compassion as a father has to his children, and comply with the mitzva of eating Erev Yom Kippur, as it is done by others.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit’a