Feeding the Hungry During the High Holidays

On Yom Kippur we read of the Prophet Isaiah exhorting the congregation that merely giving up food for a day was not a proper fast.  Rather a proper fast was to feed the hungry and cover the naked.

Throughout the holidays we are offering our members and guests a chance to feed the hungry and to help those struggling for a better life to help themselves.

Through our membership in the interfaith group Central City Housing Ventures (CCHV) we have built a relationship with the residents of The Studios, an SRO in the south loop that provides not just a room but supportive services to people struggling to overcome or avoid harmlessness.

Most residents work in very low wage or seasonal jobs and many literally run out of money and need emergency food assistance at the end of the month. Makom Shalom is the only synagogue in the interfaith group.  Each faith community takes a turn collecting food and other necessities.  We do our collection at the High Holidays in order to have a “proper” fast. 

Please bring good usable food, Most needed items are: Rice and pasta with sauce, dried beans, hearty canned soups and stews, individual size cans of meat, tuna or salmon, cold and hot cereal or grits, peanut butter, bread and powdered milk. Cans of vegetables and fruit are also needed, Items do not need to be kosher.

This year we are also collecting flash drives and one day CTA passes to help the residents help themselves. These can be used to help residents look for work.

If you are comfortable handling money on the holidays we will also accept cash or checks made to CCHV. For more information about CCHV contact Ina Marks at inamarks@rcn.com or check out the CCHV web site, www.cchvchicago.org.

May you all have an easy fast and may we all make the lives of those who are struggling a little easier.