Nourishing Your Soul: Observing Yom Kippur in Eating Disorder Recovery
Blog Post by Contributing Editor Jenna Albert, Founder of Jenna Albert Nutrition
With the Jewish High Holidays just around the corner, many Jewish people are thinking about reflection and renewal. But for those in eating disorder recovery, this time can stir up a lot of mixed feelings. Fasting is thought of as a key part of Yom Kippur, but it can be especially tricky for anyone working to build a healthier relationship with food. In this post, we’ll explore what the High Holidays are and some thoughts on how folks in recovery can balance honoring their bodies’ needs, while observing this holy time.
What are the High Holidays?
The High Holidays include Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and are based around the concept of t’shuvah, or repentance. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and marks the start of a ten-day period called The Days of Awe. The Days of Awe are a time for reflection, forgiveness, and renewal, and end with Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement and is thought of as the holiest day in the Jewish religion (The High Holidays).
There are several ways in which Yom Kippur is observed, but the most well-known tradition is through a 25-hour fast. The intention behind the fast is to cast aside physical needs and distractions to focus on our religious and spiritual needs through reflection and forgiveness (How to Prepare to Fast on Yom Kippur). Some people find this experience to be spiritually grounding, but for others, including but not limited to folks who struggle with eating disorders or other medical or mental health concerns, fasting may not be the safest and most meaningful way to commemorate the holiday. Does that mean that these people cannot observe the holiday? Thankfully, no.
What if fasting isn’t aligned with my recovery?
Fasting is not the only way to observe Yom Kippur, and may not be the best way for folks to connect to the meaning and intentions of the holiday. An important value of Judaism is pikuach nefesh, or saving a life. Pikuach nefesh asserts that preserving human life comes above other commandments, and that if you save one life, it is as though you have saved the world (Glustrom, 2024). For many, not fasting on Yom Kippur can be life-saving. Jewish law encourages individuals to consider physical and mental health needs when deciding whether to fast, and as a result, eating and drinking on Yom Kippur can be completely aligned with observing and practicing Judaism. In fact, one way a person in eating disorder recovery can show repentance or forgiveness is by challenging one’s eating disorder, and that may mean not fasting. It might mean choosing to meet your body’s needs, despite those around you observing the holiday differently.
Not sure if fasting is right for you in your recovery? Talk to your treatment team. Invite your rabbi or another religious or spiritual leader in your life to be part of the conversation. Discuss with them what Yom Kippur means to you, and potential alternative ways to observe the holiday that align with your healing journey.
Curious about non-fasting ideas for observing the High Holidays? Here a few ideas to consider:
Understand the Holiday’s intentions.
Get curious about the deeper meanings of Yom Kippur. How do its themes resonate with your recovery journey?
Repent by nourishing yourself and asking yourself for forgiveness.
Give your body and soul the sustenance they once lacked, whether through mindful eating or other forms of self-care. Take a moment to ask your body for forgiveness. Reflect on how to nurture and support your body moving forward.
Reflect on the past year.
Take time to think about the year that has passed. What were your biggest challenges and triumphs both in recovery and outside of recovery?
Set intentions for recovery.
As you look ahead, set intentions for your eating disorder recovery journey. Are there specific areas you want to focus on in your treatment in the coming year?
Practice self-forgiveness.
Most importantly, focus on forgiving yourself. Acknowledge your journey and the effort you've put into your recovery.
The High Holidays are an incredibly personal time. If none of these ideas speak to you, feel free to observe in whatever way feels most meaningful to you.
To all those observing the High Holidays, I wish you a Shana Tovah (Happy New Year) and a meaningful Yom Kippur.
Jenna Albert, Founder of Jenna Albert Nutrition
About the Contributor: Jenna Albert is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and has been working in private practice since 2020. Jenna received her Masters in Public Health in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Michigan in 2019, where she also completed her Dietetic Internship. She has supervised practice experiences in residential, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), and outpatient care levels of care for eating disorders. Jenna is passionate about providing nutrition care to all bodies, and incorporates a Health at Every Size® approach and intuitive eating framework in her work with clients. Jenna grew up in a Reform Jewish household and continues to observe today. She enjoys working with her clients to explore religious and cultural traditions and how they can be supportive of eating disorder and disordered eating recovery.