The Mosaic Law ordered the Jews to “afflict [their] souls, ” that is, to fast, once a year on Atonement Day. This was the only fasting that Jehovah ever commanded his people to do.
( लेवीय १६: २९ - ३१; स्तोत्र ३५: १३) अशा प्रकारे उपवास करण्याची आज्ञा यहोवाने आपल्या लोकांना एकदाच दिली होती.