By Michelle Durham

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Jews throughout the Delaware Valley and the world are observing the most solemn holiday of the Jewish year: Yom Kippur, the “Day of Atonement.”

As part of the observance, members of one Philadelphia congregation are also looking to fulfill the needs of others as they reflect on their own actions over the past 12 months.

(Marjorie Rosenbluth Philips. Credit: Michelle Durham)

Congregation Rodeph Shalom, at Broad and Mt. Vernon Streets in North Philadelphia, is the spiritual home to more than 1,100 area families, including that of Marjorie Rosenbluth Philips (right).

“I’m a third generation Rodeph Shalomer, and it is very special,” she said today, referring to the synagogue’s observance. “We basically sit here and think how we can do more for the community, how we can be better selves.”

As worshippers filed in for the service, they stopped by a large Philabundance truck to drop off bags of nonperishable items for needy families.

“We’re asked to collect food so that it can be donated after the service,” Philips explains. “It’s just a demonstration of how we can be better people.”

(Bins of food donations are collected for Philabundance, the anti-hunger organization. Credit: Michelle Durham)

Jews fast today as they reflect, then will gather at sundown with those special to them to break the fast.