Chinuch in Fasting: Analysis of Ein Maanin on Yom Kippur

This shiur provides an in-depth analysis of a Mishna in Masechta Yoma dealing with the concept of "ein maanin" - not preventing children from eating on Yom Kippur. Rabbi Zweig begins by establishing the basic meaning of "ein maanin," arguing that it refers to not preventing a child who wants to eat, rather than forcing a child who doesn't want to eat to consume food. He explains that Rashi (רש"י)'s interpretation ("ein chayav limnoa") suggests there's no obligation to prevent the child from eating, while the Rambam (רמב"ם)'s position indicates it's actually forbidden (asur) to make young children fast due to danger (sakana). The discussion then turns to a fundamental question raised by Tosafos (תוספות): why is there chinuch (educational training) for the mitzvah (מצוה) of fasting on Yom Kippur when we don't require chinuch for other prohibitions like eating non-kosher food? Tosafos provides two answers: first, that the chinuch here is for the positive commandment (aseh) of fasting rather than the negative commandment of not eating; second, that while normally there's no chinuch for lo ta'aseh (negative commandments), here it's different because the father (not Beit Din) is involved.