Thinking Torah Blog

When we recite the Un’taneh Tokef, the most powerful line comes after all the possible fates we may face in the year ahead: “Through t’shuvah (repentance), t’fillah (prayer), and tzedakah (righteous giving), we can transcend the harshness of the decree.”

T’shuvah is deeply personal—it happens within. T’fillah is a conversation between the individual and God. Tzedakah is our sacred responsibility to one another, linking us to society and to those most in need.

Even before recent federal cuts, Food Gatherers relied on TBE’s annual support. As we learned this Rosh Hashanah, they now face an additional $2.5 million shortfall due to changes in federal funding. This year, more than ever, I urge you: give as generously as you can to Food Gatherers and to our Back Door Food Pantry. Too many of our neighbors are left to fend for themselves; together we can at least ensure they have food on the table.

I cannot speak with certainty about the theological efficacy of giving tzedakah, but I do know this: when we give, we help lift the weight of harshness from those who carry it daily. Let us surpass our goal this year, as we have in years past, and embody the very words of our prayer.