Making Change

“Ma Tovu Ohalecha Ya’akov, Mishkenotecha Israel”
How lovely are your tents, O Jacob; your dwelling places, Israel.
—Morning Blessings, from Numbers 24:5

A midrash explains that the reason the prophet, Bilam, found the Israelite’s encampment so worthy of blessing was that each family had set up their tent so that their doors did not directly face any other tent, creating respectful privacy in the community.

Similarly, taking steps to change the food we eat, and the way we serve it, at our institution recognizes that the actions we take within our own community have an effect on the world around us.  And there is no one way to go about it; the doubling in this verse suggests that there are many different tents, many different peoples, many ways to achieve our goal of a just and righteous food system.  The important thing is that we take the steps that are right for our community.

Building a new food system–one that respects the health of ecosystems, animals and people, one that ensures all people are fed, one that emits no waste or greenhouse gasses and requires no toxic chemicals–will take a lot of people, and a lot of work at a lot of levels.  By encouraging the Jewish community to add their voice to this project, Hazon is working towards creating healthy and sustainable communities in the Jewish world, and beyond.  We thank you for partnering with us in this important work!

There are plenty of ways you can get involved with Hazon’s work:

• Start a Community-Supported Agriculture project at your synagogue or JCC.  Hazon will help you find a farmer, set up your distribution location, and organize educational programming around local and sustainable food issues
• Participate in one of Hazon’s Bike Rides.  The Rides bring together people of all ages and cycling abilities, to raise money for Jewish environmental projects in the US, Israel and beyond.  Bring a team from your comunity to  join us on our California Ride (May), Israel Ride (November) or New York Ride (September)!
• Bring the Jewish Food Education Network to your community.  Use our family education curriculum, Min Ha’Aretz, or our adult sourcebook, Food for Thought, to start a multi-week learning community to explore issues related to Jews, food and contemporary life.
• Come to the Hazon Food Conference!  This conference will bring together rabbis, educators, chefs, artists, families and more for four amazing days of exploration around the New Jewish Food Movement.

Hazon means “vision,” and our vision is to create healthy and sustainable communities in the Jewish world and beyond.  Hazon is the largest environmental group in the American Jewish community.

Find out more about Hazon at www.hazon.org , or contact us at foodguide@hazon.org.