http://jcarrot.org/a-meditation-on-fasting Jews, Food, and Contemporary Issues Mon, 21 May 2012 04:07:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://jcarrot.org/a-meditation-on-fasting/comment-page-1#comment-16968 Lawrence Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:06:34 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/?p=7870#comment-16968 I'm curious about what you mean when you say that fasting has become "perverted." I've seen plenty of perversion of things like kashrut (such as the AgriProcessors debacle, or the destructive and self-destructive meat fetish that plagues so many Jewish communities), but fasting? I'd love to hear more about this. I’m curious about what you mean when you say that fasting has become “perverted.” I’ve seen plenty of perversion of things like kashrut (such as the AgriProcessors debacle, or the destructive and self-destructive meat fetish that plagues so many Jewish communities), but fasting? I’d love to hear more about this.

]]> http://jcarrot.org/a-meditation-on-fasting/comment-page-1#comment-16963 Hannah Lee Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:03:34 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/?p=7870#comment-16963 I think the halachic reason for fasting is to purify the soul and to elevate the neshamah (soul). The focus is not on food or the abstention from it, but to bring us closer to HaShem (God). This is one reason some Orthodox rabbis do not condone adding tefillah (prayers) for other-- even worthy-- causes on Yom Kippur or Pesach or other Jewish holy days. However, this does not preclude our educating others on behalf of these causes, with a Jewish perspective. I think the halachic reason for fasting is to purify the soul and to elevate the neshamah (soul). The focus is not on food or the abstention from it, but to bring us closer to HaShem (God). This is one reason some Orthodox rabbis do not condone adding tefillah (prayers) for other– even worthy– causes on Yom Kippur or Pesach or other Jewish holy days. However, this does not preclude our educating others on behalf of these causes, with a Jewish perspective.

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