An easy fast? - Reform Judaism

	Torah
	Community
	Ethics
	Israel
	Religious Life
	Social Action
	Holidays
	Shabbat
	Lifecycle
	The Future

BOOKS & MUSIC

Inside Intermarriage:
A Christian Partner's Perspective on Raising a Jewish Family
by Jim Keen
(URJ Press)

The Torah: A Women's Commentary
(URJ Press)

Union for Reform Judaism

An easy fast?
October 8, 2008
Community | Holidays (4 comments)

By Gardening Grandma
As Yom Kippur approaches, many people have wished me an "easy fast."

I find it very strange - and disconcerting.

The fast is meant to force us to do some deep and not-so-easy reflection and self-examination. It's meant to push us beyond our normal comfort zone. Why then, should it be easy?

I think I'll stick with G'mar Chatima Tova when I'm at temple tonight. And so, to you, the readers of this blog, "may you be sealed in the book of life."

Tags: fast, Yom Kippur

Comment

Comments

M. B. said:

The traditional greeting, Happy New Year, is still the one that says it best.

The fast reminds us that their are billions of people who live with hunger everyday, billions who live on less than $2 per day. We are so blessed in the United States that for most of us, we would never be truly hungry unless we chose to be. Feeling hunger, even just for a little while, is a way to connect with the poor, especially women and children who are often the last to eat. Its builds empathy and a realization of the importance of charity and of building economic justice and prosperity. Feeling thirst, is a reminder of how precious water is. That too is a resource threatened by population growth and pollution, which we can also do something about.

Happy New Year!

October 8, 2008 8:22 PM

Larry Kaufman said:

The companion greeting to "an easy fast" is "a kosher Pesach." To some extent, whoever extends either of these wishes is really wishing you what he wishes for himself (or she wishes for herself, is announcing his or her personal piety, and is complimenting you by assuming you are on the same piety level.

By the time this comment gets readYom Kippur will be behind us, and we will have broken the fast. Now that's an expression to ponder over -- having break-fast, usually our morning meal, at supper time. What are we actually breaking?

And another quandary -- since it is fairly typical, at least in my mishpocha, that our meal will include Nova -- did that mingag arise because Nova + New, and this is the meal that wraps up the observance of the New Year holidays?

Gee, I haven't even started fasting yet, and already I'm feeling punchy!

October 8, 2008 10:38 PM

M. B. said:

In keeping with the prophetic teachings (see Isaiah 58) we traditionally go to a supermarket right after the morning service on Yom Kippur and buy a few bags of food for the poor. The temple has a reception area for food donations throughout the day. It feels particularly meaningful to shop when you are hungry and yet feeding others. I may skip the afternoon service, but not the chance to shop for the poor.

October 9, 2008 4:34 AM

David A.M. Wilensky said:

It's great that Yom Kipur has come so close to Ramadan this year, M.B.

The idea that a fast is tied inextricably to understanding the plight of the impoverished, is of course central to the meaning of Ramadan. It's a great opportunity for some interreligious understanding.

October 10, 2008 4:02 PM