How do you convey the reality of hunger to a child?  I recently talked with a mother who was helping her eight-year-old son go through his toys and donate those he has outgrown to less fortunate children.  This mom was concerned that, while her son is willing to part with some of his possessions, he doesn’t “get” the concept that some children don’t live in nice homes, don’t have toys to play with, and don’t have enough to eat. 

The truth is that for many adults, hunger is also an abstraction.  Yes, we may fast on Yom Kippur or go on diets, but we know that food is available when we want it.  “Food insecurity,” or not knowing where your next meal is coming from, is quite a different thing, says Heather Wolfson of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, a national non-profit agency dedicated to preventing and alleviating hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds.  Today’s reality is that one out of every eight Americans is receiving food stamps* and over 36 million are food insecure.

This week we will celebrate Thanksgiving, a favorite holiday when family and friends gather around dinner tables laden with delicious and abundant food.  Is there something dissonant and self-indulgent about stuffing ourselves while others are going hungry? 

The Torah tells us to “eat and be satisfied, and to bless God” for the bounty we receive.**  So it’s not wrong to enjoy a good meal.  But at the same time, we are repeatedly commanded to feed the hungry and care for the needy. 

This responsibility is a central part of the mission of Jewish Community Services.  Our Jewish Community Food Fund, which depends entirely on contributions from the community, provides individuals and families facing economic hardship with food certificates for use at local grocery stores.  In the past year, needs in our Baltimore community grew at such alarming rates that disbursements from the Fund increased by 44% over the same period two years ago, before the economic downturn. 

“This year, Thanksgiving is especially important because the face of hunger in the USA is changing,” says Heather Wolfson.  “It’s not just homeless individuals and people lining up at soup kitchens.  Hunger is also affecting people in middle class homes who are struggling to put food on their tables, people who have lost their jobs and who are much worse off this year than we’ve experienced before.  Hunger is a more compelling issue this year.”

At this season, we receive many requests for donations to a variety of good causes.  We can’t afford to indulge in “charity fatigue,” to close our eyes or tune out the calls for help.  As we gather around our Thanksgiving tables this year, let’s give thanks for our blessings.  Let’s also take this opportunity to remind each other to donate what we can to organizations like the Jewish Community Food Fund and MAZON, or to volunteer for groups that feed the hungry.  By our example, we will awaken in our children awareness and sensitivity to others who are less fortunate.

By Gail Lipsitz, Coordinator, Public Relations, Jewish Community Services.

*The Food Research and Action Center         **Deuteronomy 8:10

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Jewish Community Services helps you solve life’s puzzles, offering you guidance and support when you are looking for solutions.  For more information, call 410-466-9200 or visit http://www.jcsbaltimore.org.  JCS is an agency of THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.

Is November a hard time of year for you, as it is for me?  With the changeover to Daylight Savings Time, it’s already getting dark when most of us leave work.  There’s no time for walking outdoors to unwind before dinner, and the long, cold evenings loom.  Even mornings are more of a rush when you have to scrape frost off the car windows.  The brilliant fall colors are almost gone, rainy days are more dreary, and nature is settling in for winter. 

Is this why I feel more tired and have less energy, and why it seems harder to keep my spirits up at this time of year?  Some folks welcome these shorter days, curling up at home to watch movies or read novels while sipping hot cocoa, and going to bed earlier.  But I’m more in tune with people who are very connected to light and nature, who like to be outside and active.  For many of us, these fundamental physical needs are connected to our emotional and psychological well-being.

If you dread setting the clocks back in the fall, you’re not alone.  It is normal to feel “blue” at times.  But if you feel depressed for days, lose energy or interest in activities or people you normally enjoy, or just feel like hibernating, you may be one of the estimated 6% of Americans who have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). 

SAD is a type of depression that is a cyclic condition, with symptoms usually arriving during late fall or early winter and going away in spring, according to experts at the Mayo Clinic.  (Some people experience an opposite form of SAD, becoming depressed in the spring.)  Other signs of SAD may include feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, appetite or sleep changes, and difficulty concentrating.  In both types of SAD, symptoms may begin mild and worsen as the season progresses, affecting one’s daily life, and sometimes even leading to complications such as substance abuse or suicidal thoughts or behavior. 

Although the actual causes of SAD are not known, it is likely that genetics, age and the body’s natural chemical make-up are involved, says Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic.  Disruptions in one’s biological clock and melatonin and serotonin levels, which affect sleep patterns and mood, may contribute to SAD.  People who live far from the equator are more likely to develop SAD.  There is no known way to prevent it.

“If you have SAD symptoms, you should see your doctor or a mental health professional,” says Dr. Brett Greenberger, Board Certified Psychiatrist, who directs the JCS Mental Health Clinic.  “Starting with a medical work-up is important because depression symptoms could be related to a medical condition, such as thyroid function,” adds Karen James, LCSW-C, Manager of JCS Therapy Services.  The good news is that SAD can be treated, and the earlier it is diagnosed, the more likely that the symptoms can be managed.  Treatment can include psychotherapy, medications, and light therapy (phototherapy), for which your health care professional can provide safe guidelines.

If you’re pretty sure you don’t have SAD, but you still dread this time of year, there are some things you can do.  Be patient, giving your biological clock time to adjust to shorter daylight hours.  Let light into your home, take a walk or sit outside when the sun is shining, and exercise regularly to manage stress.  If something is weighing on your mind, you can come in to Jewish Community Services to talk to a counselor. 

As for me, every year I look forward to December 21.  Even though winter is just beginning, that’s the shortest day of the year, so the days will gradually get longer.  As soon as I start looking forward to spring, my spirits lift.  Until then, Happy Thanksgiving!

By Gail Lipsitz, Coordinator, Public Relations, Jewish Community Services.

Share your comments, experiences, and insights with readers on this new blog. 

Jewish Community Services helps you solve life’s puzzles, offering you guidance and support when you are looking for solutions.  For more information, call 410-466-9200 or visit http://www.jcsbaltimore.org.  JCS is an agency of THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.