The fast

Today was the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, and most Jewish folk fast, even if they are not religious. Some do it for tradition, some do it for spiritual reasons, and some do it to fit into their jeans (well, just for a day or so, and then the few kilos seem to appear again, just like that).

I have fasted every year, as long as I can remember. I normally spend the day at home, just thinking and reflecting, which is what I tried to do again today.

But there is one thing I don't quite understand. Why do people ask you how the fast was, like it is major achievement. Fasting for 24 hours is a walk in the park. What isn't so easy is being good to others. And I guess this is just how the world is today: selfish. People ask you how the fast went because it is something easy, simple and contained. But ask someone if they have been good to others around them and that is not such an easy question to answer.

And yet, people will get judged by their piers if they didn't fast. But whether they do good in the world or not, no one seems to question that.

Interesting world we live in ...

Posted by Ronnie Apteker