Core Text
Core Textרַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: אֵין הַיָּחִיד רַשַּׁאי לְסַגֵּף אֶת עַצְמוֹ בְּתַעֲנִית, שֶׁמָּא יִצְטָרֵךְ לַבְּרִיּוֹת וְאֵין הַבְּרִיּוֹת מְרַחֲמוֹת עָלָיו. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי? דִּכְתִיב וַיְהִי הָאָדָם לְנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה — נְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּתַתִּי בְּךָ הַחֲיֵהָ.
English of Core Text: Rabbi Yose says: An individual is not permitted to afflict himself with fasting, lest he come to need the creatures and the creatures not have mercy on him. Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav: What is the reason of Rabbi Yose? As it is written “and the man became a living soul” — the soul that I placed in you, keep it alive.