Jewish Law Prohibits Drinking Water During Seasonal Transition Tonight at 8:30 PM

According to Jewish law, the year is divided into four seasons: Nisan (spring), Tammuz (summer), Tishrei (autumn), and Tevet (winter). During the brief transition periods between these seasons, there is a prohibition against drinking water. This is based on the belief that during these times, the angels responsible for guarding the water change shifts, leaving the water unprotected and potentially dangerous to consume.

This year, the Tammuz transition period occurs on Wednesday at 8:30 PM, during which drinking water is forbidden for one hour. Other beverages such as tea or coffee are not subject to this restriction. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef ruled that caution should be exercised by avoiding water consumption half an hour before and half an hour after the transition period. He also noted the custom of adding iron to water during this time to mitigate risk, and that the prohibition applies only to water, not other drinks.

In recent generations, many have not observed this custom, as noted by Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, who mentioned that the practice was not feared in the House of Chazon Ish. However, Rabbis Meir Mazuz and Ovadia Yosef have advocated for reinstating the custom even in places where it has been forgotten. The Health Ministry also issued a public notice in Petah Tikva regarding this matter.

This tradition reflects a blend of religious law and mystical beliefs about the spiritual guardianship of natural elements, emphasizing caution during these seasonal transitions.