This poem was written by Sheldon (Shmuel-Leib) Goldstein Z"L, a person with Down syndrome who lived a meaningful life with his family. Although he was born in 1942 when there were no therapies or programs specific to his needs, his parents Esther and Nathan Z"L succeeded in raising him to be an exemplary individual.

A Day Not To Eat

Sheldon Goldstein

On Yom Kippur, on this day

We all give our sins away.

When somebody tells me not to eat

I won't eat.

I should know I am a Jew

A good Jew

I shall not eat until the day has gone.

I go to synagogue to pray all day.

The sins I made in the past year will all go away.

We should love very much in every heart.

That is the best thing for all of us.

We are all G-d's children.

Let the L-rd look and see.

Thank you, our L-rd.