A ritual for when fasting would be the opposite of teshuvah תשובה

For many in the Jewish community, fasting is an important and difficult spiritual exercise, reminding them of their attachment to the physical, and helping them focus on teshuvah תשובה  and spiritual growth for 25 hours.

For others, however, fasting presents a different kind of challenge. For individuals who suffer, or are in recovery from an Eating Disorder, eating on Yom Kippur is a holy act. Rather than finding ‘purity’ or ‘spiritual growth’ through denying themselves food, the act of eating itself is an act of Teshuva.

This was not something I had considered until I was approached this year by a friend seeking a liturgy that helps her acknowledge the holiness of the act of eating on Yom Kippurיום כיפור , having found little that helped online or in our traditional liturgy. This was developed together with her, in the hope it might also help others. As she said to me, she would like to create something that would “bring Kavanah (intention) to the act of eating on Yom Kippur, framing it in a positive, constructive way but also recognising the religious and personal challenges of the day.” This piece has been developed in conjunction with two wonderful women who wish  to remain anonymous but to whom I am indebted.

The following ritual is based on various symbolic Jewish ideas, but the starting point is a plate of food set aside as an “eruv tavshilin” תבשיליןעירוב (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eruv_tavshilin). This plate has a holy purpose in being set aside. The plate/box of food we will create for this ritual will also have a holy purpose, but one which will only be fulfilled if the food is eaten.

Resources:

-          A plate or lunch box (perhaps one painted specially for this purpose, as is a seder  סדרplate)

-          A bottle of water

-          Dates

-          Bread

-          Hummus

-          Prayers

The plate should be prepared prior to the fast, carefully setting aside that which will nurture your soul and body during the Day of Atonement.

In dedicating the plate the following blessings are recited (apologies for the poor and lack of Hebrew texts – this is being prepared rather last minute this year – we hope to be better in the next!):

Every person is a question which God addresses to humanity; and every person, from their place, with their own special talents and possibilities, must answer for their own sake  

Adapted from Leo Baeck

Avinu Malkeinu, on this day of atonement, this day of at-one-ment, I answer with all that I am.

ברוך אתה יי אלהינו מלך העולם שעשני בצלמו וכרצונה

Barukh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam Sh’asani B’tzalmo v’kirtzonah

Blessed are You, Eternal One, our God, Ruler of Time and Space, Who has made me in His image and according to Her will*

Traditional blessing for acts done for the preservation of life:

ברוך אתה יי אלהינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במיצותיו וציונו על פיקוח נפש

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, asher kidhsanu bemitzvotav, v’tzivanu al pikuach nefesh.

Blessed are you Eternal, Sovereign of the universe, Who makes us holy through Your commandments, and Who commands us to preserve life.

 Blessed are You Eternal, who creates each of us whole, and none of us perfect.

Before eating or drinking an item we offer a small thought for kavannah  כוונה (intention) and the traditional blessing over that item. Traditionally those who needed to eat on Yom Kippur did so in small amounts, so you may wish to spread the plate through the day, or to eat it as a meal when you are able to.

Tamar  תמר(Date): The Date palm is a symbol of righteousness (Psalm 92). I acknowledge that the right path is not always the easiest one and seek that which will nourish me in body and soul, giving me the strength to live righteously in Your world.

בָּרוּךְBlessed are You, our Living God, Sovereign of the universe, who creates the fruit of the trees.	בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָעֵץ:

Hummus  חומוס: The product of the earth calls me to embrace food and hunger as natural, and asks me to allow myself to ‘eat and be satisfied’ (Deuteronomy 8:12).

בָּרוּךְBlessed are You, our Living God, Sovereign of the universe, who creates the fruit of the earth.	בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה:

Mayim מים(water): God, the source of life, provides me with mayyim chayyim  מים חיים– living water. May it be a source of hope, refreshing my body, comforting my soul.

בָּרוּךְBlessed are You, our Living God, Sovereign of the universe, by whose word all things exist.	בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. שֶׁהַכֹּל נִהְיֶה בִּדְבָרוֹ:

Lechemלחם  (bread): While bread at Tashlich  תשליךis thrown away as our sins, for me to not eat it would be as a sin. Challah חלה is an offering to God, and so today my humble offering is to eat this bread in my attempt to return to you, God.

בָּרוּךְBlessed are You, our Living God, Sovereign of the universe, who brings forth food out of the earth.	בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. הַמּוֹצִיא לֶֽחֶם מִן הָאָֽרֶץ:

Combining the Bread and the Hummus: These bricks and mortar provide my new year with strong foundations, helping me work towards always building a healthier, happier me, as all Jews do on this day, and acknowledging that for me, spiritual emptiness lies in denying my body the nourishment it needs.

When things are difficult during the day, and/or as a closing blessing:

 

In my Maker’s hand I lay my soul

Both when I sleep

And when I wake,

And with my soul my body too,

My God is close, I shall not fear.

בְּיָדוֹ אַפְקִיד רוּחִי

בְּעֵת אִישָׁן וְאָעִירָה

וְעִם רוּחִי גְוִיָּתִי

אֲדֹנָי לִי וְלֹא אִירָא

*Rabbi Elliot Kukla Lilith Vol.31: no 4 p.37

Some further resources:

http://www.ritualwell.org/ritual/meditation-yom-kippur-one-who-cannot-fast

http://urj.org/life/health/eatingdisorders/

http://www.bishviliforme.com/

http://www.jewishcamp.org/static/website/uploads/Beyond_Miriam_pdf_form_for_website.pdf

http://www.b-eat.co.uk/

Contact the UJIA department of informal education who have also produced some resources on the issue of Judaism and Eating Disorders http://jlec.ujia.org/package/list/3/social-welfare-personal-development/ 

And to explore these specific issues more:
Yom Kippur and eating disorders from Student Rabbi Deborah Blausten:  https://medium.com/@debzybee/yom-kippur-and-eating-disorders-22ff8b3eb46c#.z1y2p5s54

Sarah Tuttle Singer on not fasting: http://hevria.com/sarahtuttlesinger/didnt-fast-yom-kippur/

And more from Deborah Blausten: https://medium.com/@debzybee/another-year-another-soapbox-about-fasting-on-yom-kippur-cbca71bc2bc6#.iwl0cl7z2