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Rabbi T. H. Haber,
I truly enjoyed you post. I particularly appreciated that you cited the original text upon which our customs are predicated on.This is to often neglected by many.Also, while it is a bit laborious it it also quite helpful when you provide a list of references along with your post as you did in your last peice.

Very nice article.  I would just like to point out that Rav Hershel Sechter (in Nefesh Harav) reports that Reb Chaim held that nowadays one need not fast on the four minor fast days because we are all cosidered to be moderately ill, and an ill person is not required to fast.  Also, there has been some discussion in the religious zionist community that perhaps nowadays since the establishment of the state of Israel all the fasts commemorating destruction are nullified.  Perhaps you could discuss these leneincies.

I think probably Reb Chaims heter only applied in Europe where due to the poverty, starvation and physical weakness were common.  It’s unlikely the heter applies in todays world

תודה רב!