L’Chaim but hold the whisky
COFFEE, fruit juice, soft drinks and water will be the liquids of choice for a group of rabbis swearing off alcohol for the month of February.
COFFEE, fruit juice, soft drinks and water will be the liquids of choice for a group of rabbis swearing off alcohol for the month of February.
The group, led by Rabbi Yaakov Glasman, has signed up to FebFast, a 28-day alcohol-free initiative aimed at raising funds and awareness for youth drug and alcohol abuse.
“The idea was first suggested to me by one of my congregants. It resonated with me because I believe actions speak a lot louder than words – to preach a message from the pulpit is one thing, but to put it into practice is something entirely different,” Rabbi Glasman, of the North Eastern Jewish Centre, explained.
“Since religion is so often associated with excessive alcohol consumption, especially during Jewish festivals such as Purim and Simchat Torah, it behoves us as the spiritual leaders of our community to lead by example and demonstrate that we can practice our religion fully without the need for excessive alcohol consumption.”
Forming a rabbis’ fundraising group, the team includes nine rabbis to date, and is expected to grow.
In addition to Rabbi Glasman, those who have already registered are Rabbis Stephen Boroda, Shamir Caplan, Philip Heilbrunn, Daniel Rabin, Yirmi Garfunkel, Ralph Genende, Ian Goodhardt and James Kennard.
The team is calling on the community to get behind them and support their 28-day “fast”, which will exclude the minimum halachically-required sip of wine for Kiddush on Shabbat.
Founded in Australia four years ago, more than 10,700 people have since taken up the FebFast challenge, raising more than $1.7 million in the process.
Donate online.
DALIA SABLE
Image: Rabbi Yaakov Glasman will give up the grog for a month in the name of charity. Photo: Lochlan Tangas
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