Topic: Food

Hazon Helps Announce New Federal GMO Labeling Bill

By Hazon on February 21, 2013 in Colorado, Food

While environmental, health and consumer advocate voices are common in the chorus supporting the labeling of foods with genetically modified organisms (GMOs), other voices are less prevalent. In a move to directly counteract that, Congressman Jared Polis (Colorado’s second district) invited representatives from the faith and business communities to share their perspective on why labeling of GMOs is so important. Hazon’s own Becky O’Brien, Boulder director, spoke at a press conference in Boulder where Polis announced that he is a lead co-sponsor of a federal GMO labeling bill. The room was filled to capacity with press and concerned citizens to hear about this exciting new development. The GMO labeling bill, which will require that accurate information be disclosed to consumers when food contains a genetically engineered material or is produced with such material. Following state GMO labeling efforts in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Missouri and Washington State, this federal bill will grant consumers the right to know what they are eating. “I am proud to help lead the GMO Labeling Bill, which is all about consumer choice and information,” said Congressman Jared Polis. “It’s important to empower people with the information they need to make their own healthy choices. People have the right to make […]

10 Ways to Make your Purim More Sustainable

By Hazon on February 11, 2013 in Food, Holidays, Recipes

Here are the Top 10 quick and useful suggestions from Hazon, to make your Purim more healthy and sustainable. To find out more information and suggestions from Hazon for Purim, visit the Hazon Purim Resource Page. 1 – Purim Recipes 2 – Edible Groggers Serve crispy, crunchy, NOISY foods this Purim (try things like: fresh veggies and yogurt-dill dip, blue corn chips and salsa or home made pita chips with your favorite store-bought or home made hummus). As guests snack away, their crunches will let Haman know what a wicked, wicked man he really was. 3 – Can the Canned Fruit! You may want to buy fruit for your hamentashen filling, but try your best to avoid fruit from a can! Buy your fruit for your hamentashen in glass jars, or use fresh fruit. Cans (and most plastics) are lined with a chemical called Bisphenol-A (BPA) which is an endocrine disruptor, and a chemical that all should try their best to avoid. Learn more about Bisphenol-A from Grassroots Environmental Education. 4 – Sustainable Drinks Don’t forget to drink sustainably this Purim. Pick an organic wine from our kosher, organic wine list. For some celebratory Whiskey for Purim, check out the Koval Distillery in Chicago for organic spirits. Or mix your […]

The Heebavore: Jewish Vegan Cooking in the New Year

By Hazon on February 7, 2013 in Food, Reflections

By Rachel Grossman I’m the Heebavore – a Jewish/vegan food blogger, a born and raised secular Jew who, just under one year ago, converted to Judaism and became an aspiring vegan. My Jewish journey really began just a few years ago as I attended classes, met with rabbis, went to services with no frame of reference, repeatedly lost in Hebrew gibberish that made me long for something solid and sweet, guttural. To be one voice among many, to be of something greater, larger. And, of course, part of this was trying to make Jewish foods to internalize it all. At the time, it wasn’t clear to me that foods held any particularly special place in the journey. (more…)

Seven Sustainable Species for Tu B’Shvat

By Hazon on January 14, 2013 in Food, Holidays, Tu B’Shvat

These 7 Tu B’Shvat Species will help to make your Tu B’Shvat celebration even more sustainable! For many people in the US, the 7 species are not in season locally

10 Ways to Make your Tu B’Shvat More Sustainable

By Hazon on January 7, 2013 in Food, Holidays, Recipes, Tu B’Shvat

Here are the Top 10 quick and useful suggestions from Hazon, to make your Tu B’Shvat more healthy and sustainable. To find out more information and suggestions from Hazon for Tu B’Shvat, visit the Hazon Tu B’Shvat Resource Page.

Hazon on GMO Awareness panel in Boulder

By Becky O'Brien, Director, Hazon Boulder on November 8, 2012 in Colorado, Events, Food

Hazon’s Boulder director, Becky O’Brien, joined a panel of local food activists last week for a panel on GMO Awareness at Alfalfa’s Market in Boulder. Moderated by Joel Dyer, editor of Boulder Weekly, the panel also included Shanan Olson of Abbondanza Organic Seeds and Produce, Mary Mulry of FoodWise, and Michael O’Keefe and Mary Von Breck of GMO Free Boulder. Dyer took on the role of Monsanta incarnate and spurred a lively discussion around the concerns of GMOs, the science and history behind them, prospects for the future, current legislative factors, and what individuals can do to empower themselves to eat healthily and safely and get involved with the movement.

We are How We Eat: A Jewish Approach to Food and Sustainability

By Hazon on October 24, 2012 in Food, Institutional Food Values

Jewcology is a diverse platform for Jewish environmental activists to learn from each other in order to educate Jewish communities about our responsibility to protect the environment. Hazon is excited to share these resources with you! Hazon creates healthier and more sustainable communities in the Jewish world and beyond. Our Food Programs are an example of just one of the many ways that we promote a sustainable world for everyone. Our food resources, such as the Hazon Food Guide is a great tool will help you navigate food choices in your synagogue, JCC, camp, Hillel, or other institution. By Rabbi Yonatan Neril Rebbe Nachman of Breslov identifies the desire for food and drink as the central desire of the human being, and the one from which other desires emanate.[1] Jewish teachings can help us appreciate the food we eat and eat it in a spirit of holiness. Doing so can also help the environment, as we will explore. What does it mean to eat in a Jewish way? First of all, we should eat when we are hungry. Rabbi Shlomo Volbe teaches that a person needs to distinguish between eating because of a healthy desire of the body (i.e., eating in order to […]

10 Ways to Make your Sukkot More Sustainable

By Hazon on October 3, 2012 in Food, Holidays, Recipes

Here are the Top 10 quick and useful suggestions from Hazon, to make your Sukkot more healthy and sustainable. To find out more information and suggestions from Hazon for Sukkot, visit the Hazon Sukkot Resource Page.

Modern Manna

By Hazon on September 27, 2012 in Food

“Modern Manna” will be the first public LABA event of our EAT year. It will be held October 3, 2012 at 7pm in the Sukkah on the roof of the 14th Street Y. During the evening we will study texts about manna while experiencing the modern interpretations of the miracle food. There will also be wine, art and music from this year’s fellows and LABA alumni. For more information about the event and to purchase tickets, please visit:

Interfaith Food Sustainability Coalition hosts gathering with Congressman Jared Polis

By Becky O'Brien, Director, Hazon Boulder on September 25, 2012 in Activism, Colorado, Food

On a recent, beautiful Sunday afternoon, an interfaith gathering of gardeners and Community Supported Agriculture volunteers gathered to meet one another and share the successes and challenges they face. Congressman Jared Polis was on hand to hear the stories from members of Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, Buddhist and Unitarian congregations, as well as graduate students studying faith communities and food sustainability. Hazon is a founding member of the Interfaith Coalition for Food Sustainability, which hosted the event. Read more about the gathering in the Boulder Daily Camera. The Interfaith Coalition for Food Sustainability enjoys a delicious potluck with ingredients from congregation gardens.