Yom Kippur and ED Recovery - Should You Fast?
Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is celebrated annually by the Jewish community. This year, Yom Kippur takes place from Sunday, September 24th to Monday, September 25th. It is considered the holiest day in Judaism. There are a variety of traditions associated with the holiday, such as observation and fasting. However, those struggling with an eating disorder or on the path to eating disorder recovery should consider whether fasting is their safest option.
How Is Yom Kippur Observed?
On Yom Kippur, people reflect on their lives during the past year, seek forgiveness and forge a new path with God. For this holiday, family and friends hold parties and participate in masses. One of the traditions of Yom Kippur is fasting for twenty-five fours, in which participants do not eat or drink anything. Those recovering from an eating disorder are encouraged to consider whether fasting is the best option for them or find an alternative practice.
Should I Fast During Yom Kippur?
Therein lies the question: Should those with eating disorders fast during Yom Kippur? That is entirely up to the person and their treatment team. Typically, certain groups, such as children younger than 13, pregnant people, people with diabetes, and people with eating disorders, are not instructed to fast. Jewish community leaders and medical professionals typically agree that people within these groups should not fast, but it is still a personal decision.
Individuals who find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place on Yom Kippur should consult with their family, treatment team, and religious figures in their community when making the tough and personal decision about whether or not to fast. The bottom line is that you should consider your health and well-being before making the call to fast for Yom Kippur.
BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, located in New York City, offers free consultation calls to help you explore next steps. We provide in-person programming seven days a week and are in-network with UnitedHealthcare (UHC), Cigna, Emblem, and Oscar, with Aetna coverage coming soon. Support is available, and recovery is possible.
Our team has extensive experience working with clients in the Jewish community. Our admissions team is happy to answer any questions about BALANCE’s programs.
Read more about our philosophy here, or book a free consultation call with our admissions team to discuss the next steps here.
References
Gerber, L. Z. (2018). Yom Kippur, fasting, and disordered eating. My Jewish Learning. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/here-now/yom-kippur-fasting-and-disordered-eating/
Resnick, J. (2020). To have an eating disorder on Yom Kippur. The Blue Dove Foundation. https://thebluedovefoundation.org/to-have-an-eating-disorder-on-yom-kippur/
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Regina Colie (she/her).
Regina Colie is currently pursuing her Masters in General Psychology at The New School For Social Research. She is interested in working with women who have eating disorders and postpartum depression. Upon her graduation from Marymount Manhattan College, she had the opportunity to be published in Dr. Nava Silton’s book, The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child, Adolescent, and Adult Development. Her previous work has been featured in Project HEAL, BALANCE, Olive Branch Nutrition, and Nourishing NY.
