Hazon Blog

Special Recent Posts

Seven brief thoughts at the end of a long seven days.

March 27th, 2020

Friday, March 27, 2020 | 2nd Nissan 5780 Dear All, These are seven very different thoughts, on very different topics…. Number 1: At Hazon and Isabella Freedman we’re hanging on, and thank you to everyone who has supported us in the last week. Isabella[...]

Vayakhel-Pekudei: Preparing for Pesach during COVID-19

March 20th, 2020

by Leah Palmer, Hakhel Administrative Director I generally start cleaning for Pesach around January time, much to the displeasure of those living with me. The cleaning takes the form of taking everything out of the cupboard, cleaning up any dust and[...]

Noon, Wednesday April 22nd (Please read this.)

March 19th, 2020

Thursday, March 19, 2020 | 23rd Adar 5780 Dear All, First: my heart goes out to everyone. This is unbearably painful. People are in hospital. People are losing their lives. People are losing their jobs. People are losing their savings. People are afraid. And[...]

Wellness Retreat Resources

March 16th, 2020

This email was sent to participants of the canceled Wellness Retreat. It has helpful resources that can be used by anyone during this difficult time. Dear Wellness Retreatniks, We’re sad that our time together has been postponed. In light of the current[...]

Now what? / An update from Hazon

March 16th, 2020

Monday, March 16, 2020 | 20th Adar 5780 Dear All, As well as everything else we’re enduring right now, it is becoming ever clearer that the range of impacts of the virus is extraordinarily varied. This is true in relation to health,[...]

Hazon Detroit: Ice Cores in Greenland

March 12th, 2020

Dear Friends, At a conference last year, I got to visit Ohio State’s (I know: like Haman, boo!), Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center. There, I heard from a lovely couple who had been working in the basement of the facility[...]

Now's the time to plan a cleanse!

March 5th, 2020

Thursday, March 5, 2020 | 9th Adar 5780 Dear All, The coronavirus is spreading, and it will get worse before it gets better. Batten down the hatches, wash your hands, follow public safety advice, be considerate to others – and don’t freak out. And[...]

Engage With the Powerful Energy of Adar: Your Chance for Joy

February 26th, 2020

By Rabbi Ora Weiss The Hebrew Month of Adar, beginning this year on February 26, has great weight and depth, much more so if one is aware and takes advantage of its powerful vertical energy, Source/God energy. There is a circularity[...]

A Goat Breeder Knows… When Pesach is Coming

February 24th, 2020

By Rabbi Aaron Philmus Pesach is coming, I know because my goat Cinnamon is pregnant and in a few months she will be kidding. In Ancient Israel every family prepared for Pesach by selecting a male kid or lamb, tying it[...]

Jewish Tradition / Western Values

February 20th, 2020

Thursday, February 20, 2020 | 25th Shvat 5780 Dear All, Last week we heard the ten commandments. This week we read mishpatim (Exodus 21:1 - 24:18), which expands a short list of injunctions into a more detailed frame for establishing a just society. It[...]

Tell Your Governor: Embrace Regenerative Agriculture in Your State's Climate Plan

February 19th, 2020

Twenty five governors have joined the U.S. Climate Alliance. This coalition is taking on-the-ground actions to implement policies that advance the goals of the Paris Agreement, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26% to 28% below 2005 levels by[...]

The Torah of the Trees

February 8th, 2020

By Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg Excerpted from The London Times, 8 February 2020 From the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden to the dancing saplings of the Psalmist, the Bible shows a loving respect for trees. Living close to the land,[...]

Earth Day, JTree, and Tu B'Shvat

February 6th, 2020

By Rabbi Isaiah Rothstein Hazon Rabbi-in-Residence What is Tu B’Shvat? What is a Tu B'Shvat Seder? Not one, but four times over the course of the year we are called upon to mark a new year, a rosh hashanah. Of these four new years in the Mishnah (Rosh Hashanah[...]

Celebrating Hazon Seal Regional Cohorts

February 3rd, 2020

When your community commits to sustainability, everyone is a winner. And when several communities come together, we are redefining local Jewish life. Targeted efforts in a particular geographical location are a game changer. Physical proximity enables a whole new level of[...]

The British general election, Tu B’Shvat and Richard Powers

January 28th, 2020

By Nigel Savage Tuesday, January 28, 2020 | 2nd Shvat 5780 Dear All, What does Tu B’Shvat mean in 2020? It’s a deeper question than it may at first seem. It’s the “new year for trees.” And we indeed associate it with trees and[...]

All you need for a glorious Tu B’Shvat

January 27th, 2020

It’s almost Tu B’Shvat, and what kind of an environmental organization would we be if we didn’t make a big deal out of it, right? So here you have it: an entire Hazon Seal Newsletter dedicated (almost) entirely to this[...]

From Organic Farming to Composting: Ramah Campers and USYers Get Hands-on Lessons in Sustainability

January 20th, 2020

by Renee Ghert-Zand Every year, Ramah campers leave at the end of the summer having learned new things that they can incorporate into their lives at home. It could be more Hebrew, how to chant Torah, or how to do a[...]

Reb Isaiah at the March, and Rob Kutner on Daf Yomi...

January 9th, 2020

Thursday, January 9, 2020 | 12th Tevet 5780 Dear All, First: we were so proud of Hazon’s rabbi-in-residence, Isaiah Rothstein, who had a lead role at the march against anti-semitism in NYC on Sunday. You can see links to that here and here. Secondly: part of[...]

Support Conservation on Farms

January 8th, 2020

Deadline January 13th Want to ensure a more sustainable food and farm future? Take action and help us encourage USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to prioritize what’s best for farmers and natural resources! NRCS is currently accepting public comments (input from farmers and concerned[...]

The Month of Tivet: Miracles Large and Small

January 6th, 2020

By Rabbi Ora Weiss The Hebrew month of Tivet, so dark. Even though the longest night has recently passed, the small increments of light are not yet discernable to us. The sense of the month is just ongoing darkness, and the[...]

Hazon Seal Spotlight: Jewish Vegetarian Food Festival at Temple Solel

December 26th, 2019

On November 15th, Temple Solel (FL) held its first Jewish Vegetarian Food Festival with the support of the Hazon Seal Ethical Eating Mini Grant (awarded thanks to the generous support of Emanuel J Friedman Philanthropies). The festival was designed to teach[...]

Recipe: Nectarine Elderflower Chutney

December 19th, 2019

This recipe comes to us from 2019 Hazon Food Conference Presenter Miche Bacher. My tag line, “eat pretty”, is not just about how beautiful flowers are and how pretty your plates are when you include flowers in your food, it is[...]

Recipe: Sutlach (Cream of Rice Pudding)

December 19th, 2019

This recipe comes to us from 2019 Hazon Food Conference Presenter Susan Barocas. A creamy, delicate pudding, sutlach (in Turkish sütlaҫ or mahallebi) is traditionally served to break the fast after Yom Kippur and for Shabbat morning breakfast, although it is[...]

Recipe: Grounding Khichari (Rice and Lentil Stew)

December 19th, 2019

This recipe comes to us from 2019 Hazon Food Conference Presenter Regina Mosenkis. Recipe from What to Eat for How You Feel: The New Ayurvedic Kitchen by Divya Alter (Rizzoli, 2017) Here is my grounding and warming version of this meal-in-a-pot dish.[...]

Recipe: Ejjeh (Edgeh)

December 19th, 2019

This recipe comes to us from 2019 Hazon Food Conference Presenter Susan Barocas. These pancake-like omelets are full of flavor from the green onions, herbs and allspice. Cooked in olive oil, they are traditionally served during Hanukkah in Syrian communities, although[...]

Recipe: Homemade Cheese (Paneer)

December 19th, 2019

This recipe comes to us from 2019 Hazon Food Conference Presenter Regina Mosenkis. Recipe from What to Eat for How You Feel: The New Ayurvedic Kitchen by Divya Alter (Rizzoli, 2017) Paneer is freshly made, soft cheese or curd; it is the[...]

Recipe: Olive Oil Poached Broccoli Stems and Chickpeas on Ricotta Toast

December 19th, 2019

This recipe comes to us from 2019 Hazon Food Conference Presenter Liz Rueven. Recipe adapted from Cooking with Scraps; Turn your Peels, Cores, Rinds and Stems into Delicious Meals by Lindsay-Jean Hard, 2018 Yield: Serves 3-4 with a single slice of toast[...]

Recipe: Chickpea Salad

December 19th, 2019

This recipe comes to us from 2019 Hazon Food Conference Presenter Ilana Braverman. A healthy, delicious, meat-free recipe. The Jewish Initiative for Animals (JIFA) works with Jewish institutions to help them align their food choices with Jewish values while strengthening Jewish communities[...]

Recipe: Aquafaba Mayonnaise

December 19th, 2019

This recipe comes to us from 2019 Hazon Food Conference Presenter Liz Rueven. Making aquafaba mayonnaise involves using reserved liquid from canned beans. It’s a great no-waste option and a creative solution for vegans. Note that it will be less thick[...]

Recipe: Zero Waste Veggie Broth and other Variations on Making Stock

December 19th, 2019

This recipe comes to us from 2019 Hazon Food Conference Presenter Liz Rueven. Zero Waste broth is an effortless way to use vegetable scraps that might otherwise land in the compost or garbage pile. There are as many versions of this[...]

Tips for Optimum Digestion According to the Ancient Wisdom of Ayurveda

December 19th, 2019

This post comes to us from 2019 Hazon Food Conference Presenter Regina Mosenkis. Ayurveda, meaning the “science of life” in Sanskrit, is a 5000 year old natural healing system originating in the Indian subcontinent. According to this ancient wisdom, optimal health[...]

Hoda'ah Sermon

December 9th, 2019

By Rabbi Nate DeGroot Shabbat shalom and I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving yesterday with family and friends. It’s an honor and pleasure to be here with you on behalf of Hazon Detroit - the Jewish lab for sustainability, and a grateful partner of[...]

Hazon Seal Spotlight: Eggcellent News from Tamarack Camps (MI)

December 4th, 2019

Camp Maas Switches to the Best. Eggs. Ever! The story below was written by Rachel Fine, taken from the Announcements from Tamarack Camps. If you would like to connect with Tamarack Camps, email seal@hazon.org and we will make the shidduch! Yashr Koach[...]

How to feel better in a sometimes thankless world

November 27th, 2019

Wednesday, November 27, 2019 | 29th Cheshvan 5780 Dear Hazon, This year at our JOFEE Network Gathering we learned about Joanna Macy, and her concept of “active hope.” She’s an 80-something eco-philosopher, Christian I think by background; a world apart, on the[...]

Sukkahfest Reflections

November 27th, 2019

By Toby Shulruff My family and I live in Portland, Oregon – which is both geographically and symbolically out on the edges of American Jewish life. My husband and I work outside of Jewish community. Our neighborhood is a little oasis[...]

What Sukkahfest Means to Me

November 27th, 2019

By Rhonda Greif Upon entering Isabella Freedman you are greeted by a warm welcoming wooden sign “We are blessed by your arrival." This just about sums up the overall feeling of good cheer that surrounds Sukkahfest from beginning to end and stays[...]

Reflections from Israel & a Critical Error of Omission in the American Jewish Community

November 14th, 2019

By Nigel Savage Wednesday, November 13, 2019 | 15th Cheshvan 5780 Dear All, I got an inexpensive Airbnb near the marina in Ashkelon, to decompress for a day after the Israel Ride and to catch up with some work and write this email. Right now I’m[...]

What’s On Your Plate? Resources to support better food choices

November 11th, 2019

Dear green teams, leaders, provokers of thought and change! The compilation below is aimed to help you push for healthier and more sustainable nourishment in your communities and institutions. It is intended for all Jewish institutions, organizations, congregations and households. If these resources[...]

Meet the Hakhel Advisors: Noa

November 7th, 2019

Hakhel is an incubator for Jewish Intentional communities, and as such it provides members with a support package for three years. This support includes funding, training, networking, Israel trips, and the crown jewel: a personal professional advisor! Hakhel advisors provide communities[...]

Support Sustainable Agriculture Today!

November 5th, 2019

A gritty but incredibly important process called 'appropriations' is currently being hammered out between the House and Senate agriculture committees. Encourage your representatives to fully fund programs that support sustainable agriculture! Read on to find out how you can spend[...]