Rabbi’s Bulletin Column September – October 2025
A Meaningful Fast
Yom Kippur is one of my favorite days of the year.
No, not the fasting part.
I love the feeling of the Jewish people going through something big together. And I love the powerful moments of Kol Nidre amidst a sea of flowing white tallitot, the chorus of Avinu Malkeinu, and the great shofar blast to bring it to a close. After a day of being present and in community, tired and hungry, I feel like I’ve accomplished something. I hope I have. I hope we have.
Even the early rabbis noted that Yom Kippur was one of the most joyous days of the Jewish year, since our prayer and introspection are basically a guarantee for divine forgiveness and a clean slate. What could be better?!
One of the great messages of Yom Kippur comes from the haftarah, taken from the prophet Isaiah, where he criticizes the people for focusing too much on their rituals and less on the needs of their fellow human beings. Truly, what kind of meaningful fast can it be if we ignore the unhoused person on the side of the road, or the immigrant being picked up by ICE while buying a cup of coffee, or the person who ran out of money to buy food for their children? Our ritual life is so much more meaningful when it impacts our lived experience, when it connects us to those around us.
This text from Isaiah Chapter 58 is the impetus for Operation Isaiah, a Jewish-world-wide food collection during the High Holiday season. Our annual collection goes straight to the Schoke Jewish Family Service food pantry, along with all the other synagogues in our area. And I’m writing about it here to ask you to participate.
Last year, there were 2 paper bags full of food that were donated during the High Holiday season, and 1 of them was mine. Some of you may have donated food cards, and if you did—thank you! We have a chance to make a much bigger collective impact this High Holiday season.
If you like to shop for food products, just check for a kosher symbol, fill a bag or 2, and bring your donation to the lobby between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, or when you come for Kol Nidre.
How amazing will it be to see our space full of food for others as we prepare to abstain from food and drink for 25 hours! We will make sure all of it gets to JFS after the holiday.
If you prefer not to do the shopping yourself, you can donate gift cards through our Gift Card program (call the office or use the order form in your High Holiday mailing).
I look forward to a meaningful Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur (and Sukkot and Simchat Torah!) with you. We will enjoy the fullness of our community, we will pray, we will think hard thoughts and feel all the feelings. And I hope we will also make an impact on food insecurity in our community.
I wish each of us a healthy and happy New Year. See you in the sanctuary!
Rabbi Paskind
