According to representatives from Brown-RISD Hillel, fasting Jewish students across campus this Yom Kippur are relishing the opportunity afforded by the holiday to feel bad for themselves.

“Yom Kippur is a space set aside to take a break from the distractions of everyday life to reflect on the people you’ve hurt in the past year. It offers a chance to feel bad about the things you’ve done wrong and resolve to not do them in the coming year,” said Hillel president Ben Pederman ‘17, eyeing leftover donuts on the table in the Hillel lobby. “But more than that, it offers a chance to feel bad for yourself for not getting to eat for a whole day.”

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year for Jews, Pederman explained. It’s a time for people to atone for the things they feel bad about, like fighting with family, not being a good friend, or willingly choosing to not consume any food over a 24-hour period.

“I regret not being there for my friend Lane when she was going through a breakup last month,” said Ali Rosenstein ‘19, who told reporters that she made the noble decision to skip today's breakfast and maybe even lunch. “But even more than that, I regret not giving my body the nourishment it needs today so that I can study with a clear head. I have an exam tomorrow but all I can think about is food! Ugh, it’s so tough.”

“Could really use a cheeseburger right now,” she added.

“Like, sure, I feel bad about forgetting to pick Lane up at the bus station. But at least there was a vending machine outside!” continued Rosenstein, who, despite being “completely famished,” took the bus all the way to her friend’s apartment today to apologize face-to-face, as per tradition. “To even come close to understanding what I’m going through today, she shouldn’t have eaten anything from that machine for the whole three hours. It’s only fair.”

At press time, hundreds of Jewish students were agreeing to just have a little snack to tide them over until dinner.

Article tools

• Print
• Email
• Tweet