Break The Fast
Jewish-organized march on Yom Kippur in San Francisco calling for immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza
"Justice, justice, you shall pursue" - Deuteronomy 16:20
Join Bay Area Jews on Yom Kippur (Thursday, October 2nd), as we march from Montgomery BART to the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco to protest the famine in Gaza. Bring a grocery bag of food, we will deliver it to the Israeli consulate and demand they break Gaza's involuntary fast.
Many synagogues hold a food drive on Yom Kippur, with the idea that Jews who are voluntarily hungry should donate food to those who are involuntarily hungry. Know who is involuntarily hungry? Two million people in Gaza.
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, after marching with Dr. Martin Luther King at Selma said he was praying with his feet. On Yom Kippur afternoon, there is often a natural break in services at many synagogues. Put your prayers into practice and join Jews from around the Bay Area to pray with your feet and demand Israel stop the famine in Gaza.
Photo credit: UN News
"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry?"— Isaiah 58:6-7
Event Details
When
Thursday, October 2, 2025
2:00pm: Meet at One Post Plaza (Montgomery St and Post St) to gather and hear some brief words
2:15pm: March to the Israeli Consulate
2:25pm: Deliver grocery bags to the front of the Israeli Consulate building, hear a few more quick mini-speeches
2:40pm: Disperse and continue with your Yom Kippur observance
2:45pm: Walk groceries to the organizer's office two blocks away for later donation to a food bank
Route
Start: Montgomery BART
End: Israeli Consulate
456 Montgomery St, San Francisco
~0.8 miles walk
Who
Jews and their families only please
Our Demands
🇮🇱 Israel
Immediate unimpeded delivery of food, water, and medical supplies to Gaza
🇺🇸 CA Senators Padilla and Schiff
Support the next resolution to ban arms sales to Israel (they both voted for continued arms sales to Israel on July 30)
Why We March
The people of Gaza are experiencing a devastating famine caused by Israel. They are not fasting by choice—they are hungry because they have no access to food.
Photo credit: The Guardian
Our tradition teaches us that those who are sick, pregnant, elderly or otherwise endangered by fasting shouldn't fast. Well, millions in Gaza are endangered by an involuntary fast, imposed by Israel.
We call on Israel to immediately allow and facilitate the delivery of food and humanitarian aid to Gaza. Break the fast!
Fasts Should Be Voluntary
Feeding the Hungry on Yom Kippur
Jewish tradition teaches us that on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of our year, we must not only fast ourselves but also ensure that those who are hungry not by choice are fed.
Our voluntary fast becomes meaningless if we ignore those who fast involuntarily. Gaza's hunger is not a choice—it is a crisis that demands our action.
RSVP
Fill out this quick form and we'll follow up with logistics and any last-minute changes. We respect privacy — your info will be used only for event coordination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are you doing this?
Because Israel's blockade of Gaza is causing a famine in Gaza. Intentional famines are immoral. It is a particular affront that this one is being committed by Israel who should know better. Never again means never again.
Why on Yom Kippur?
On this Day of Atonement, we try to atone for our sins through תְּשׁוּבָה Teshuvah (repentance / return), תְּפִלָּה Tefilah (prayer), and צְדָקָה Tzedakah (charity). This action represents us Jews actively doing Teshuvah, Tefilah and Tzedakah, in addition to reading the words in the machzor.
What will happen to the food afterwards, you know the Israeli Consulate won't accept the food, right?
Yeah, we know. Afterwards we'll walk the food over to the organizer's office, two blocks away, and the next day he will take it to the San Francisco Food Bank.
Why only Jews at this protest?
First, this is meant to be a physical and literal manifestation of Teshuvah, Tefilah and Tzedakah as a part of our Yom Kippur observance. Second, Netanyahu, Trump, et al portray criticism of Israel as inherently anti-Semitic. Netanyahu doesn't speak for all Jews, and anti-Semitism is not a shield to be used avoid criticism.
What about the hostages? Why aren't you focusing on how terrible Hamas is?
The Oct 7 attack was awful, the taking and holding of hostages is wrong and we abhor Hamas. But none of that justifies Israel starving Gaza, shooting children, bombing hospitals, etc.
Who is organizing this?
Seth, an Oakland Jew who doesn't recognize any Judaism in Israel's actions.
How can I help if I can't make it?
Donate to the Gaza Soup Kitchen instead (or in addition).
Break The Fast
Break The Fast • October 2, 2025 • Montgomery BART to Israeli Consulate in San Francisco
"Justice, justice, you shall pursue" - Deuteronomy 16:20