PHOTO: Bruce Green unloads bags of food off a truck after Temple Shalom of Newton’s successful food drive for Newton Food Pantry

Temple Shalom of Newton recently dropped off about 300 bags of food to the Newton Food Pantry—one of the largest single donations to the pantry—as part of its annual Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur food drive.

Each year for Rosh Hashanah—the Jewish New Year—the temple gives out bags and then asks people to bring the bags back filled with food on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, ten days later.

Part of Yom Kippur is a 25-hour fast from eating. While there isn’t a formalized theological expectation of donating to others for this specific holiday, Senior Rabbi Laura Abrasley sees a connection.

“It’s giving the food you would be eating to others,” she said.

Giving food to the needy is a long-standing part of Judaism, going back to Deuteronomy, where Jews are commanded to give some of their produce to widows and orphans.

Bruce Green, who has been organizing the food drive for more than 25 years, says he sees it as reflecting the Jewish tenet of tikkun olam (repairing the world).

Jeff Lemberg, executive director of the Newton Food Pantry, is pleased by how large the donation is.

“They’re incredible. The congregation over there is very supportive,” he said.

While they had a decline in donations and volunteers during the pandemic, they’re back to pre- pandemic contribution levels.

The Newton Food Pantry is the largest food pantry in Newton, serving about 2,500 people, and it’s open to all Newton residents (including students who attend college in Newton), with no income verification required.

“If you feel you need our help, we’re here to help you,” said Lemberg.

Temple Shalom also donates to the Family Table Food Pantry, run by Jewish Family & Children’s Services in Waltham, throughout the year. And they contribute to the Newton ‘Freedge’, a free outdoor pantry and refrigerator, which is a project of the Newton Food Pantry.

Abrasley noted that there are people who are on the edge of food insecurity who may occasionally need free food, even if they don’t qualify for assistance. She also hopes that the temple can help provide more than just canned goods.

“It’s not just access to food, but access to good food,” she said.

In addition to food, the Newton Food Pantry also provides personal care items like diapers and toothpaste. These items aren’t covered by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) and can be quite expensive, so being able to get them at the food pantry is a huge benefit to Newtonians who are struggling.

“Our clients deeply appreciated the variety of products they had,” said Lemberg, who noted that for many people, SNAP benefits don’t last a whole month.

People can receive a five-day supply of food twice a month. It’s open by appointment on Wednesdays from 12 pm to 3 pm and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and for walk-ins on Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m.

You can donate online to the food pantry. If you’d like to donate goods, Lemberg says the top five items they’re looking for are cereal, coffee, tea, canned tuna, and toothpaste.

Volunteers are also welcome.