Min Ha’Aretz

An 18-lesson curriculum for students with family education programming that weaves together Jewish tradition and contemporary food issues.

Questions? Contact us at foodeducation@hazon.org or 212-644-2332 ext 316

About | Table of Contents | Sample Lesson | Goals | Benefits

About Min Ha’Aretz:

Hazon’s Min Ha’Aretz student curriculum allows students from grades 5-9 to explore the question, “What is the relationship between Jewish texts, traditions, and practices and the food we eat?” More specifically, “How does Judaism relate to all the processes and choices involved in how we grow, harvest, prepare, and eat our food, as well as manage our waste?” At the beginning of Min Ha’Aretz, students encounter the driving question of this curriculum: what is the relationship between Jewish tradition and food? Over the course of eighteen lessons, divided into five units, the students explore this question and develop a deeper understanding of both the question and its myriad answers.

The Min Ha’Aretz curriculum includes:

Teacher’s Guide
Family Curriculum.
Student Worksheets
Glossary

Please note that the Min Ha’Aretz curriculum comes with registering as a JFEN member and is not sold separately.

View the Min Ha’Aretz table of contents here.

View a sample lesson from Min Ha’Aretz here.

Goals of Hazon’s curriculum:

Promote awareness of contemporary food issues that is infused with Jewish values and traditions, integrating both secular and Jewish curricula;
Increase the knowledge that students, families, and teachers have about healthy eating and create a Jewish framework for food choices;
Increase parents’ involvement in their children’s education and promote joint parent-child and family educational opportunities;
Create opportunities for the entire community–students, parents, teachers, administrators, rabbis, program directors, and others–to manifest their own Jewish, health, and environmental values and priorities by taking action around the ideas they learn.

Benefits:

For students, Min Ha’Aretz demonstrates how vitally relevant Jewish tradition is today and builds understanding of where our food comes from. Min Ha’Aretz strengthens students’ Jewish identity by linking something they do every day—eating!—with Jewish tradition and values. kids at farmers market For families, this approach sparks conversations about food, Jewish tradition, and the world around us. Min Ha’Aretz strengthens Jewish life by bringing Jewish texts and values into the food choices families and students make everyday. For schools, synagogues, and other Jewish organizations, Min Ha’Aretz offers an innovative way to engage students and families. Min Ha’Aretz taps into community interest in food and the environment and stimulates community “greening” efforts.