Fasting as a form of protest and fasting on Yom Kippur are such entirely different things! The former hopefully calls positive attention to an issue, if done in a dignified way and properly publicized. But fasting on YK is a way to remove oneself from the daily distractions and ordinary gluttony of our lives, and also to endure a very very mild form of self-sacrifice that puts one in touch with the serious issues that Jews are hopefully thinking about on this day. It is a form of spiritual cleansing at the very least. In a world where so many have too little food, spending one day without food for most of us is a good reminder of how far we have to go! And, many Jewish congregations encourage their members to bring bags of groceries to the synagogue on or after YK; these are donated to the homeless and the needy. There are far too many YK-food connections to cover in this post, but I think that fasting on YK is a worthwhile effort for those healthy enough to do so.