Too often, Jews who are unable to safely observe Jewish rituals have to choose between safe accommodations and feeling like they are fully part of the Jewish community.
In a recent survey of Jews who are unable to safely fast, 85% have felt shame on Jewish ritual fast days. Seventy percent have endangered themselves by trying to fast because eating felt wrong. Eighty-six percent have felt alone.
A Mitzvah to Eat provides
Peer Support
Resources
“If fasting is unsafe, it is a mitzvah to eat.”
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Our Impact
 | A Mitzvah to Eat's work is increasing Jewish belonging and decreasing shame. In a recent survey of Jews needing ritual accommodations, 98% of our respondents said that A Mitzvah to Eat’s work had enabled them to safely connect to Jewish practice and community .
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What are people saying about A Mitzvah to Eat?
"A Mitzvah to Eat has helped me enormously in feeling that I have a place in the Jewish community even though my disabilities and neurodiversity have made it hard to live a life of Torah and mitzvot as I would like. I also think that without A Mitzvah to Eat, I would not have had the courage to break my fast on Yom Kippur when I was showing symptoms of lithium toxicity and I would have made myself very ill (or worse) as a result."
"Every year, I found myself thinking that I should at least try to fast, despite the potential dangers to both my physical and mental health. On Yom Kippur 5784, I found myself sneaking outside—away from my congregation, my friends, and my spiritual home—just to take a few bites of food and sip water so I wouldn’t faint between services. I was overwhelmed with guilt.
Before the next Yom Kippur , I found A Mitzvah to Eat. The teachings, blessings, and communal support changed everything. I wasn't alone anymore. The shame I had felt the year before was gone. Instead, I felt a deep sense of belonging."
“There have been multiple times where I have shared information from your organization, and I have received feedback that it has helped my friends from relapsing into their eating disorders on holidays. I personally see that as definitely life-saving. ”
Have Questions about A Mitzvah to Eat? Learn more here.
To contact us:
Please email Sarah Osborne, our Founding Director, at sarah@amitzvahtoeat.org.
*A Mitzvah to Eat is a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives, a registered tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with Tax ID # 94-3255070. Credit card statements and email acknowledgements will show that Community Initiatives received your gift, on our behalf.
To make a gift by credit card:
Please click "Donate" above.
To make a gift by check:
Please make your check payable to Community Initiatives - 6454 [A Mitzvah to Eat]
Please mail checks to:
Community Initiatives / A Mitzvah to Eat
PO Box 45515
San Francisco, CA 94145-0515
To make a gift using a Donor Advised Fund:
Please provide your fund administrator with EIN# 94-3255070 and our address:
Community Initiatives/A Mitzvah to Eat
PO Box 45515
San Francisco, CA 94145-0515
Sofia Garcia, our Community Initiatives advisor, can answer questions and verify the tax ID number. Please reach her at (415) 230 – 7711.
Your support makes our work possible. Thank you.
