The Feast at the End of the Fast: Yom Kippur's Break Fast Rituals and American Judaism

Yom Kippur—the Jewish Day of Atonement— is well known for its obligation of fasting.  Indeed, the biblical rules of the Israelites gave form to the frequent petitioning fasts of early New England Puritans, as well as to their thanksgivings for God’s agricultural bounty.   Similar to the way 19th century magazines helped to make Thanksgiving into the holiday we recognize today, over the last few decades magazines, cookbooks, and even supermarkets have shaped the feast that should follow the Yom Kippur fast.  While conservative practitioners tend to urge moderation in breaking the fast, contemporary publications frequently suggest a more satisfying—and filling—gastronomical conclusion to the day’s supplications.  The menu suggestions for this meal—generally referred to as the Break Fast— reflect the shift from a traditionally modest affair of breaking the fast with a glass of tea and dry piece of honey cake to a far more lavish breakfast-style event that usually includes, at a minimum, bagels and smoked fish.   The solemnity of Yom Kippur traditionally sets it apart from the more familiar food-centered Jewish calendar year, but with this increased popularity of the Break Fast party, the holiday has become more palatable to those who enjoy the time with family and friends but may be less likely to spend the day in organized prayer.   According to recent Jewish population surveys, a much higher number of American Jews fast than those who affiliate with a synagogue and evidence points to multiple meanings for this fast.  This paper will address the significance of the growing popularity of the Break-Fast gathering among American Jews, as well as its ability to make Yom Kippur a recommitment holiday less about committing to God, and more about recommitment to the community of fasters.