Temple Rodeph Torah Donates 13,450 Pounds of Food to FoodBank

In another record-setting year, Temple Rodeph Torah used the time its community was fasting during Yom Kippur to give back to the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

The temple collected 13,450 pounds of food this year, which is near seven-tons of food. 

“Last year I did something radical – I asked people to go shopping for the hungry on Yom Kippur, and I was truly amazed by the response,” said TRT Rabbi Don Weber. “Many people described it as a holy experience – to provide food for the hungry while they themselves were fasting.”

The 2013 donation was a record-breaking single-day, single-donor collection for the FoodBank.

“The fact that you didn’t have the same sermon as last year and had the same results shows a real commitment and says a lot about who you are as a community,” said Carlos Rodriguez, Executive Director of the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

The collection truck was 3/4 full on Sunday, Sept. 14 and by sundown that day was almost completely full.

“Through our donations – today and every day - we have made a real difference in the lives of people in our community," Weber said.