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The fires this time: public goods, the Jewish community, different time horizons

By on September 15, 2020 in Activism, California, Climate Change, Education, Holidays, In the News, Newsletters, Nigel, Reflections

Tuesday, September 15, 2020 | 26 Elul 5780   Dear All, We weren’t going to send an email this week. We figured there’d be enough in your inbox in the days before Rosh Hashanah. But I am prompted by the fires out West to write something I have been thinking about for some while. This isn’t an appeal email, it’s not really a “shana tova” email, but I hope you’ll take a few moments to read it. The fires out west go to the heart of so many of the challenges we presently face, and Covid has provoked its own further re-assessment for us as an organization. We intend that Hazon will come out of this stronger and more focused. But part of that focus is striving to be as truthful as we can about what is possible, what is necessary, and the relationship between the two – for the Jewish community institutionally and for each of us as individuals. What is possible: every single thing we do to help create a more sustainable world is arithmetically close to meaningless. One change in behavior. One fewer plane trip. One donation to NRDC, one vote for the more sustainable candidate. Individually […]

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Hazon Bay Area: Thank you

By on November 2, 2015 in Bay Area, California

We want to thank you and our incredible Bay Area community for supporting our regional office over the years. From 2006 – 2015, Hazon Bay Area has provided Jewish Outdoor Environmental Education (JOFEE) programs, thought leadership, and community partnerships to organizations and individuals in the region. Our work has included six annual Ride and Retreat weekends that welcomed over 340 riders and raised $560,000 to support our vision, mission and our mini-grant program, three Bay Area Food Conferences that reached more than 1,400 participants, piloted Home for Dinner, a synagogue-based family meals initiative, and much more. Over the past year, among other projects, we’ve developed and published Fit to Eat – Food Security and Justice Resource and Action Guide, a resource for Jewish institutions to self-organize actions that deepen and broaden efforts to create a more just, fair food system; launched and implemented a Shmita-inspired Do-It-Yourself (DIY) series for young adults; mobilized collaborative conversations around food security among area partner organizations, and provided seed funding for several food justice-inspired projects. Most recently, we held our 3rd annual Jewish Food Festival, Farm to Table: Eating for a Sustainable Future, at the Oshman Family JCC (OFJCC), a fun-filled afternoon of learning and […]

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Stufato di Fave, Carciofi, e Lattuga Romana (Braised Favas, Artichokes, and Lettuce)

By on April 8, 2014 in California, Food, Food Conference, Recipes, Vegan

Want a bigger taste?  Join us this summer at the Hazon Food Conference! Brought to you by Joyce Goldstein On Sunday, April 27, 2014, prolific cookbook author and chef Joyce Goldstein joined Hazon in Palo Alto for the Jewish Food Festival. She shared with us the health benefits of the California Mediterranean diet and took us on a culinary journey of Sephardi recipes, including this recipe for a spring vegetable ragout to feature at your Passover seder. Ingredients 1 lemon 6 large artichokes 2 pounds fava beans, shelled (about 1 generous cup) 2 small heads romaine or butter lettuce 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, or as needed 4 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1/2 cup water or vegetable stock, or as needed Gremolata of grated zest of 2 lemons, 6 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley or basil, and 1 tablespoon finely minced garlic 1 pound trimmed asparagus, cut into 2-inch lengths, or 1 cup shelled English peas, optional additions Instructions Fill a large bowl with cold water. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the water. Working with 1 artichoke, remove all the leaves […]

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Why I Ride

By on February 27, 2014 in Bay Area, California, California Ride

by “Super” Ben Rosenthal Reflections from a Golden Gate Rider The year was 1988. Long story short, I entered the Jewish environmental movement at an early age. Growing up in Takoma Park, Maryland, I rode frequently for pleasure, often with friends. In summer 1993, the year before I became Bar Mitzvah, my family rode in Cycle Across Maryland, a six-day, 300-mile adventure. Fast forward to 2000 when Hazon’s Cross-USA Ride arrived in D.C. My mom, De Fischler Herman, who has been the leading influence in my life of bicycling, was there to greet the riders. She then rode in the first New York Ride in 2001 and we both started riding with Hazon two years later. Why do I ride? Today, as much as possible, my bicycle is how I get around. It’s my primary form of transportation. I have not driven a car in over 15 years. In addition, it’s how I lend support to my community and show my commitment to the sustainable world we are building together. Falling in Love It was 2003, shortly after I graduated from Ithaca College, that Mom and I started participating in Hazon New York Rides together. So began a new generation […]

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Hazon Bay Area Awards Food Justice Mini Grants

By on February 5, 2014 in Bay Area, California, Food Justice

The United States’ industrial-based food system does not give equal access to healthy, nourishing food. Jewish tradition, firmly rooted in texts from the Torah, sees a direct connection between social justice, sustainable agriculture, and a call to action by interfaith partners. Hazon stands at the forefront of the New Jewish Food Movement, which incorporates multiple entries into the food justice movement through a Jewish lens. Hazon is expanding our impact on the entire Jewish sustainable food movement, bringing issues of affordability, labor practices, and access to healthy, sustainable food to the forefront of the consciousness of all who are working to improve our food systems. As part of Hazon’s capacity-building efforts, supporting great people and projects in North America and Israel, Hazon is pleased to announce Mini Grant awards to five Bay Area non-profit organizations who participated in Hazon Bay Area’s Interfaith Food Justice Convening held in October 2013. Thanks to the generous support of the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, Hazon Bay Area has allocated a total of $7500 to projects that seek to develop innovative approaches to increasing healthy food access while expanding opportunities for faith communities to engage with food justice advocacy, organizing, and education. ​Food Justice […]

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A note from Hazon Board Member Rabbi Marc Soloway about fighting for a fair food movement

By on October 30, 2013 in Activism, California, Farming, Food, Food Justice

Dear All, I just got back late last night from Immokalee, Florida where I was on a 3-day mission with Truah (The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights). We were working with the C.I.W. (Coalition of Immokalee Workers) with migrant farm workers and activists who have been fighting for a fair food movement. It was very inspiring to witness the changes that have happened down there through  passionate and creative community organizing, and also distressing and humbling to hear about appalling work conditions that continue among the people who pick our food. Here is the official Tomato Rabbis video to learn more. As one of the newest crop of Tomato Rabbis, I have committed to be an ally with C.I.W. and intend to write and talk about the experience and bring greater awareness of the issue and join the national campaigns against Wendy’s and some of the big supermarket chains, pressuring them to sign the Fair Food Agreement, enabling the farm workers to earn an extra penny per pound on the tomatoes they pick in their 10-hour work day. This agreement has already been signed by Taco Bell, Subway, McDonalds, Burger King, Chipotle and others and is supported by some of the largest growers, but there is more […]

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Interfaith Food Justice Convening

By on August 8, 2013 in California, Food Justice

Please join Hazon, Roots of Change and St. Anthony’s for the first Open Space Conference to discuss: How can faith communities engage with the people and policies working to make the food system healthy, equitable, and sustainable?   Friday October 4, 2013 10:00am to 5:00pm SEIU Local 87 Union Hall, 240 Golden Gate Ave., 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA Participation is free and at this time by invitation only. See below for information on how to register.   Nurturing Interfaith Allyship in the Food Justice Movement Seeking to address the inequities in the food system from production to distribution to consumption, the community-driven food justice movement brings together environmentalists, the labor movement, animal rights activists, health advocates, and foodies. Faith-based allies, compelled by our values, have joined this movement to pursue justice in food, environment, economy, and race. We share a common calling to nourish souls as well as bodies, and we must work together. Please join Hazon, Roots of Change, and St. Anthony Foundation as we convene interfaith leaders and food justice advocates to build alliances, forge partnerships, and support and develop projects that contribute to a more just food system in the Bay Area. By exploring shared challenges and building trust, […]

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reIMAGINE Society: Behar Happenings in the Bay Area

By on April 18, 2013 in California, Events

On the weekend of May 3-4, Jewish communities read the Torah portion of Behar, which contains the teachings of Shmita. To honor the Shmita values of abundance, resiliency, and redistribution, Hazon invites you to join us for a full day of great events on May 5, 2013 in Berkeley and San Francisco, CA. In the spirit of Shmita, we are offering most aspects of this community day on the basis of donations, though some of the workshops may cost money.  Please share what you can. Shmita Skillshare & Swap Meet Urban Adamah – 1050 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA Edible & Medicinal Plant Walk Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA Afternoon Exchange Market & Skillshare Exchange Market – 1:00 – 5:00pm Do you have perfectly usable items lying around your house that you no longer use? Let other community members enjoy them, and find other items you need.  Clothing, books, toys, childcare items, kitchen appliances, electronics, tools, art, plants/seeds, etc…Donate what you can and receive what you need! If you’d like to make a gift of your time by volunteering before or during the afternoon events, please contact rebecca@urbanadamah.org. Community Skillshare – 2:00 – 5:00pm Backyard Chickens @ 2pm Worm Composting @ 3pm Come celebrate and explore the art […]

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Hazon in Los Angeles!

By on March 29, 2013 in California, Events

Hazon Events in Los Angeles Hazon, the largest Jewish Environmental organization in North America, is landing in L.A. with two upcoming events! First, we’re partnering with Netiya to present an information session about food procurement in Jewish institutions. Then, we’re leading a free training bike ride to help you get outdoors and get in shape. Details for both events are below — we hope you’ll join us! Thursday, April 11th Just Food: Get the 411 on Food Procurement for your Synagogue If you are a part of your Temple’s Green Team, coordinate events, make food purchasing decisions (or know who does), or are just interested in affordable, fresher, more nutritious food that aligns with your Jewish values–come to our panel discussion on April 11th at Temple Isaiah! How we purchase food for events and services is one of the many ways for institutions to express their ethics and values. The Netiya network will share best practices to help us better understand how environment, food workers’ rights, consumers’ health, and small-farmers’ viability all relate to price and convenience. Kosher refreshments and light snacks will be served. Temple Isaiah: 10345 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, 90064 Thursday, April 11th: 7:00PM – 8:30PM […]

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Party in the Sukkah!

By on September 27, 2012 in California, Sukkot

Enjoy fun activities and delicious holiday-inspired treats in the Pottruck Family Atrium and in our rooftop sukkah at the San Francisco JCC! Sample and purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at our mini-farmers’ market. Learn environment-saving techniques from Hazon and EcoJews of the Bay and plant crops with the JCCSF’s resident gardener. Join the PJ Library for story time in our Little Library Sukkah. Free. Presented in partnership with Hazon, EcoJews of the Bay, PJ Library and Capay Organics. For more information, go to www.jccsf.org/sukkot

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Eat, Pray, Lulav

By on September 27, 2012 in California, Events, From Our Friends, Sukkot

Head down to the Urban Adamah farm in Berkeley for ‘Eat Pray Lulav,’ a Sukkot Harvest Festival, on Sunday, October 7, from 2-6pm for a family event featuring live musical performances, goats, storytelling, cob stove building, a Really Local Tea Bar, Farm tours, face painting…and much more! (more…)

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Photos from Israel in the Gardens

By on June 19, 2012 in California, Israel, Israel Ride

Hazon was honored to be a part of this year’s Israel in the Gardens this past Sunday, June 10th at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco. We were so happy to be joined by so many Arava Institute Hazon Israel Ride alumni sporting their jerseys! Israel in the Gardens is the largest celebration of Israel in Northern California. Learn more about Hazon’s connection to the land of Israel

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