- Breakfast - bowl of cheerios and milk OR 2 eggs and piece of toast; a banana; cup of tea
- Lunch - peanut butter and jelly sandwich; bowl of lentil soup (in the latter part of the week)
- Dinner - Kasha Varnishkes (buckwheat and bowtie pasta) OR Rice and beans; a bowl of lentil soup
- Snack - I had a 4 extra carrots from the bag of soup and have been having one each night with a little peanut butter as my late night snack.
Therefore, keeping kosher has not had a significant impact on what I have eaten this week. (Click here to read an interesting article on this issue. Also, to hear an interview on NPR this morning with the friend I mentioned who is a nutritionist and helped advise me on my diet, click here.)
While keeping kosher hasn't been an issue, the impending celebration of Shabbat is. A key aspect of Shabbat is Oneg (rejoicing). There are many ways to enjoy Shabbat, but festive meals are a key component. Traditionally, such meals include an overflowing cup of wine or grape juice, 2 challah breads at each meal, and (for those who are not vegetarian) meat or chicken. Many suggest that the purpose of the overflowing cup of wine is a symbol that for this one day, we celebrate as if we have an over-abundance. This was especially poignant during difficult economic times for the Jewish community (much of our history). Rabbinic and Jewish literature also highlight examples of people who struggled to put a meal on their table during the week, yet still held back some each day in order to make sure they could have a Shabbat feast. In ancient and medieval Jewish communities, the kuppah (the Jewish community's version of food stamps) disbursements were made on Friday, in order to ensure that those who relied on it would have enough for their Shabbat meals. In Israel today, there is an organization called the Jerusalem Shabbat Fund that provides extra stipends for people on public assistance to have an extra $50 to make their Shabbat meals.
Unfortunately, I did not take this aspect of Shabbat into my plans. While I certainly thought about Shabbat and what I would eat, I did not leave anything extra for challah, wine/grape juice or anything that would distinguish my meals on Shabbat from the rest of the week. I did plan for kasha varnishkes, which I like a lot better than rice and beans. However, I am concerned that my Shabbat will not feel festive and am debating whether to make kiddush and challah on 2 slice of whole wheat bread instead of over grape juice and challah.
Should I keep to the Challenge and compromise on Shabbat or purchase some of these extras for Shabbat and and compromise on the Challenge. In truth, because I don't actually live in poverty, I have an option that is an "easy" way out - I am leading our Tot Shabbat dinner and service at the synagogue tonight and tomorrow there is a communal Shabbat lunch. While I am not planning to eat the food there as my meals, I could take a sip of grape juice and a bite of challah at each meal and fulfill my Shabbat obligations without overly compromising on taking the Challenge.
But what about those who don't have such easy options, which I would venture to say is true of most Jews on food stamps? One of the things this week has taught me is that people on food stamps are not the "other" - they are right here in our own community. Over the course of this week, I have had a number of people share their stories of life on food stamps with me. Some were from long ago, some more recent, and some who are currently facing this situation. How do they participate in Shabbat? Do they sacrifice each meal and each day to have enough to make Shabbat special? Or, do they sit at their Friday night table wanting to make Shabbat, but lack the means to do so properly? It is easy to say that people in the community will help and invite them to meals, and I know that this does happen. But I also heard many more stories of people who felt isolated from the Jewish community, embarrassed to let anyone know of their situation. While many of us look at the seemingly high cost of synagogue membership, Jewish day schools and overnight Jewish summer camps as placing an economic barrier to participation in Jewish life, what about those for whom purchasing a single challah for $3.50 would use up almost their entire food budget for the day?
Shabbat shalom.
Unfortunately, I did not take this aspect of Shabbat into my plans. While I certainly thought about Shabbat and what I would eat, I did not leave anything extra for challah, wine/grape juice or anything that would distinguish my meals on Shabbat from the rest of the week. I did plan for kasha varnishkes, which I like a lot better than rice and beans. However, I am concerned that my Shabbat will not feel festive and am debating whether to make kiddush and challah on 2 slice of whole wheat bread instead of over grape juice and challah.
Should I keep to the Challenge and compromise on Shabbat or purchase some of these extras for Shabbat and and compromise on the Challenge. In truth, because I don't actually live in poverty, I have an option that is an "easy" way out - I am leading our Tot Shabbat dinner and service at the synagogue tonight and tomorrow there is a communal Shabbat lunch. While I am not planning to eat the food there as my meals, I could take a sip of grape juice and a bite of challah at each meal and fulfill my Shabbat obligations without overly compromising on taking the Challenge.
But what about those who don't have such easy options, which I would venture to say is true of most Jews on food stamps? One of the things this week has taught me is that people on food stamps are not the "other" - they are right here in our own community. Over the course of this week, I have had a number of people share their stories of life on food stamps with me. Some were from long ago, some more recent, and some who are currently facing this situation. How do they participate in Shabbat? Do they sacrifice each meal and each day to have enough to make Shabbat special? Or, do they sit at their Friday night table wanting to make Shabbat, but lack the means to do so properly? It is easy to say that people in the community will help and invite them to meals, and I know that this does happen. But I also heard many more stories of people who felt isolated from the Jewish community, embarrassed to let anyone know of their situation. While many of us look at the seemingly high cost of synagogue membership, Jewish day schools and overnight Jewish summer camps as placing an economic barrier to participation in Jewish life, what about those for whom purchasing a single challah for $3.50 would use up almost their entire food budget for the day?
Shabbat shalom.
No comments:
Post a Comment