1,362. What Community Leaders Do on a Fast Day

Hilchos Taaniyos 1:16 When a community fasts because of rain, if it starts to rain before noon, they should not complete the fast. Rather, they should eat, drink and gather to recite the Great Hallel, which is only recited when one is feeling spiritually and physically sated. If rain started to fall after noon, they should complete the fast since the major part of the day has already passed in that state. Similarly, if the community was fasting because of some trouble and it was resolved, or if they were fasting because of a decree that got annulled, if this happened before noon, they do not complete the fast, but after noon they do. Hilchos Taaniyos 1:17

Whenever a communal fast is called because of some problem, the local court and elders convene in the shul from after shacharis until noon in order to review the conduct of their city’s residents. They remove the obstacles that cause the people to sin. They issue warnings, make inquiries and investigate anyone who is violent or sinful in order to help them to change their ways; the same is true regarding those who use intimidation to get others to comply with their will and other such issues. From noon until evening, they proceed as follows: during the next quarter of the day, they read the blessings and curses in the Torah, as per Proverbs 3:11, “My son, do not despise God’s instruction and do not reject His rebuke.” They would read a selection from the Prophets appropriate to their situation as a haftarah. In the final quarter of the day, mincha and tachanunim (supplications) are recited and the people cry out to God and recite confessions according to their abilities.