Jews, Food, and Contemporary Life
As Jews, we’ve been thinking about kashrut – about what is “fit” to eat – for nearly 3,000 years. And a growing number of people today realize that our food choices have significant ramifications – for ourselves, our families and the world around us. Hazon stands at the forefront of a new Jewish Food Movement, leading Jews to think more broadly and deeply about our own food choices. We’re using food as a platform to create innovative Jewish educational programs; to touch people’s lives directly; to strengthen Jewish institutions; and in the broadest sense to create healthier, richer and more sustainable Jewish communities. Hazon’s food-related work consists of the following programs, each of which engages the Jewish community in thinking, learning and acting around food issues.
Follow the links below to find out more information about Hazon’s programs and download resources to use in your community
Transformative Experiences Curricula and Source Books Community Based Pilot Programs
Holidays Program Ideas and Activities Institutional Food Change and Policy
Food Conference
The annual gathering of the New Jewish Food Movement! Join chefs, educators, rabbis, and foodies to learn about social justice, food ethics, Jewish values, and more. Dec 6-9, 2012
CSA Program
Community-Supported Agricultureconnects communities to a local farm, providing seasonal produce to members and steady income to the farmer. Now in 60 sites.
Israel Food Tour
A week-long tour to explore the food movement in Israel, held in conjunction with the Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership. Returning 2013
Gan Nashim
A health and cooking program which draws upon Jewish tradition to address challenges of maintaining a healthy diet in today’s world. Piloting in residential summer camps.
Setting the Table
Four-part series of cooking classes for new and expectant parents that gives parents tools to strengthen Jewish life as their family grows. Piloting in Brooklyn, NY.
Home for Dinner
A middle-school program that uses family dinners as a strategy to reclaim and strengthen Jewish family life. Piloting in San Francisco, CA.
Teen Environmental Fellowship
A leadership training program for 11th and 12th graders to learn and work towards building a healthy and sustainable community. Piloting in Westchester, NY.
Shabbat
Greening Your Shabbat Table: tips for serving up a sustainable seventh-day meal
Kiddush
Work with your synagogue community to serve healthier and more sustainable food at Kiddush and synagogue events.
Rosh Hashanah
Program ideas, menu suggestions, and tips for making the most of this season of teshuva (return to our best selves).
Sukkot
From sukkah decorations to menu suggestions, we’ll help you, your family, and your community have a sustainable sukkot this year.
Tu B’Shvat
The New Year of the Trees offers endless possibilities for environmentally-themed programming. Download our Haggadah, Leader’s Guide, watch a G!d Cast and more.
Purim
Sustainable celebration ideas for one of the wackiest holidays in the Jewish calendar, from mishloach manot suggestions to party ideas
Passover
What’s on your seder plate? Healthy and sustainable tips for leaving Mitzrayim.
Shavuot
Indulge in sustainable dairy delights and pick up some great resources for your all-night study this Shavuot!
Hanukkah
Tips on how to green your Hanukkah celebration, as well as new takes on classic recipes!
Food for Thought
A 130-page sourcebook that draws on texts from within and beyond Jewish traditions to explore a range of topics relating to Jews and food.
Min ha’Aretz
A student curriculum for students grades 5-9 to explore the relationship between Jewish texts, traditions, and practices and the food we eat. Includes family programs to further develop these issues.
Jewish Food Education Network
A portal for educators to connect, share, and learn from each other with the help of Hazon’s innovative food education resources and support. JFEN members can access Hazon educational materials through JFEN Online Member Central, become part of an educator listserv, are invited to webinar training calls.
Brachot Cards
A pocket blessing card for everyday mindfulness, gratitude, and extraordinary moments. Distribute these cards in your community for members to slip into their wallets or purses and use everyday. You can even customize the cards with your institutions logo.
Sustainable Shabbat Dinner
A guide to help plan Shabbat meals, from thinking about what to serve to bringing insightful Jewish learning to your Shabbat table. In partnership with NEXT: A Division of Birthright Israel Foundation.
Food Conference Session Archive
A list of every session ever run at the Food Conference, organized by track. These session descriptions can be used to jumpstart your thinking as you are planning Jewish food programming in your community, whether it is a single evening session or a full-day extravaganza.
Soil to Challah
This short activity helps illustrate the process to make challah, from the soil to your mouth.
Fair Food Book Club
Fair Food is an enlightening and inspiring guide to changing not only what we eat, but how food is grown, packaged, delivered, and sold. Use this book club discussion guide to help frame the conversation through a Jewish lens.
Hazon Food Guide
Use this guide to support your institution in making healthy and sustainable food choices. For lay leaders and professionals.
Food Audit Toolkit
An easy-to-use assessment tool that helps you to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your institution’s policies and practices for promoting food sustainability and justice in seven main categories and develop an action plan.
Institutional Food Values
We have developed a list of food values that we strive to reach when we are planning food at all Hazon events, programs, and meetings. We hope that these values and reports of putting the values in action will inspire your community to take further steps to make healthier and more sustainable choices.
Kosher Sustainable Meat
What should “Kosher Meat” mean in the 21st century? Where is the intersection between kashrut laws, Jewish business ethics, and our modern, Jewish, environmental values?
Farm Bill
Work to pass the next Farm Bill is happening now. Nigel Savage, Executive Director of Hazon, believes it is important for you to act.
