Why I will not be fasting on Shabbat but will resume on Sunday.
I take vows and promises seriously, even as I am careful not to invoke God’s name when I make a promise. So while I’ve committed to fast until SNAP benefits are restored to one out of every eight Americans, I’m also committed to my observance of Shabbat. And I don’t give up my Shabbat for anything, no matter how important, unless my violation of Shabbat directly saves someone’s life.
I don’t travel on Shabbat. I walk to synagogue on Shabbat, no matter the weather. I don’t drive to rallies on Shabbat, no matter how much I support the cause. I don’t go to weddings, no matter how much I love the couple getting married. In my life, Shabbat comes first. One of the mitzvot of Shabbat is to eat three meals – Friday evening, Shabbat afternoon, and a third meal, literally named se’udah shelisheet, third meal, before the end of Shabbat Saturday evening. A biblical fast like Yom Kippur supersedes Shabbat, while other fast days, like Tisha B’Av, are delayed until Sunday. Some fasts, like the fast of the firstborn before the Seder or the fast of Esther before Purim, are observed on Thursday so they not only don’t fall on Shabbat, but also so their observance doesn’t even infringe on the opening minutes of Shabbat Friday evening.
Therefore, my commitment to the voluntary fast for SNAP does not supersede my obligation to eat Shabbat meals. I’ll refrain from eating at Kiddush, but following services on Shabbat morning, I’ll go home and eat lunch. And then, if necessary, if our government is still closed and if full SNAP benefits are still unfunded, I’ll resume my fast on Sunday.
Please join my and sign up at FastforSNAP.com.
Embodied Torah 