Topic: Newsletters

Hazon sends out weekly newsletters to keep you in the loop on events, updates, great stories, and happenings from our friends! Not receiving our newsletters? Join our mailing list.

Elul, my Grandma, the Tomato Hornworm, and the Talmud

Dear All, It’s great to be at Isabella Freedman. Adamah Farm Vacation is underway – parents and kids hanging out here and having a whale of a time. I picked some of the last of the raspberries. I learned about the minimum temperature for a compost pile to legally be certified as safe to use (over 130 degrees, for at least two weeks). And I saw a tomato hornworm for the first time and learned about the wasp larvae that eat the hornworms – and thus enable the tomatoes to grow without having pesticides sprayed on them to kill the hornworms. And meanwhile, even as it’s the start of August and the middle of summer, it’s also about to be the start of the Hebrew month of Elul. I’m particularly conscious of the timing because my Grandma died – ten years ago this month – on the last day of Av. Confusingly the last day of Av is the first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul; ie the day before the second day of Rosh Chodesh Elul, which is in fact the first day of Elul. That in turn is the first day we blow shofar, and thus the official start […]

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Announcing the first-ever Conference on Jewish Intentional Communities

Announcing the first-ever Conference on Jewish Intentional Communities Dear All, We’re delighted to announce that the Pearlstone Center, Hazon, and the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center are launching a Jewish Intentional Communities Initiative. Together we share a vision that over the next 3-10 years, new Jewish intentional communities will bloom across the country—from urban kibbutzim to rural moshavim, suburban co-ops, and more—and that these dynamic and vibrant new Jewish communities will become inspiring catalysts in an ongoing renaissance in American Jewish life. To launch the initiative, we are convening a national conference on Jewish Intentional Communities at Pearlstone, November 14-17th, 2013. We anticipate participants from across the country, including people who are already members of intentional communities as well as folks who are just curious and excited by the idea. We hope to learn from and share with each other, vision together, and plant seeds for communities to come. Learn about the Jewish historical and cultural roots of intentional communal living Build relationships through learning, prayer, meals, and rituals Learn from successful communities – urban and rural, Jewish and diverse Learn tools and gain skills for your own communal application Join an international network cultivating Jewish intentional community Build skills […]

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434 Shopping Days To Shmita… and Other Great Dates To Look Forward To

Dear All, Those of you who know me well, know that I have ADD. That is to say I often struggle to get things done, to do them on time, or in some instances to remember them at all. And yet perhaps because of that, I find that in at least some respects, I’m planning further and further ahead. With that in mind, and with Tisha B’Av now behind us, here are a mixed few things to think about and plan ahead for: some from the calendar, some from Hazon’s work. In chronological order this short-ish list runs from this Shabbat to Rosh Hashanah in 2022. This Shabbat. It’s actually not just this Shabbat (which is Shabbat Nachamu), it’s actually any Shabbat. I’ve just been thinking about going to shul a lot recently: when I go, when I don’t go, why I go, (why I don’t go), all that stuff. This is worthy of a longer essay, but for now I simply want to say that a) I think shuls are under some pressure these days, and that when we go (and when we join, even if we don’t go), the act of doing so is a mitzvah. And to […]

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From Film to Food?

Dear All, In 1980, when the first Jewish Film Festival debuted in San Francisco, no one had ever heard of a Jewish film festival, let alone imagined that it would become a staple of Jewish culture across the United States. But today every major – and many minor – Jewish communities have Jewish Film Festivals that have become a significant part of the annual life of the community. Then, in 2004 we launched the first CSA – Community-Supported Agriculture – in Jewish life. Today there are nearly 70 CSAs in Hazon’s network, and they’re having a remarkable impact across the country. We’re proud and delighted that last month, our first inter-faith CSA kicked off in Boulder, CO (a partnership between Bonai Shalom and St Aidan’s Episcopal Church). We hope and intend there will be others. And in 2006, we launched the first multi-day Jewish Food Conference, which has grown steadily since. Next up: Jewish Food Festivals!! The idea is to take the content of our Food Conferences, but develop them within individual communities. The first Jewish Food Festival, to my knowledge, was Michael Leventhal’s Gefiltefest in London. (I like that I got the idea of a Jewish Food Festival from […]

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July 4th… and Labor Day Weekend

Dear All, I’m looking forward to July 4th—but I’m thinking about Labor Day. That’s the weekend of Hazon’s New York Ride. It’s our 13th New York Ride, and it will be the first one since our merger with Isabella Freedman. It’s the Ride that has anchored all of Hazon’s work. This year we have new routes, an expedited registration process; new low-cost options for first-time riders; and a special discount for those who register between now and midnight on Sunday July 7th. Please join me on the Ride! People historically have really loved the Ride. For some people the Ride has been the first time they’ve ridden a century (100 miles); for others the achievement has been to ride 30 miles, or to ride with a sibling or a parent or a child. We’ve had teens and 70-somethings and everyone in between. A good number of couples have met on the Ride; one year we had a marriage proposal at a rest stop. Another year one of our interns secretly arranged for the Columbia Marching Band to welcome us when we rode into the city. And the Shabbat services, and the yoga, and cocktails by the pool… are all rather […]

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Meat, Wine & Veggies: Thinking about the Three Weeks

Meat, Wine & Veggies: Thinking about the Three Weeks Dear All, Today is the fast of Tammuz, a day that inaugurates three weeks of semi-mourning in Jewish life. The semi-mourning is to remind us of our sadness about the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem and our exile from the land of Israel. It’s a time that naturally raises a whole series of profound questions about the nature of our relationship to land and to Israel. For those of us in the diaspora: why exactly are we mourning if we could, if we so chose, get on a plane and go live in Israel? For Israelis and for Jerusalemites: what exactly are we mourning if we are living in a third Jewish commonwealth? Someone told me recently that Rabbi David Hartman, who died this year, used on the night of Tisha B’Av to go to synagogue, sit on the floor, read Eicha—the Book of Lamentations—and then go home and have dinner. I have no idea if this is true, but it would be a particularly profound way both to show respect for the tradition, and to honor our present reality. Jewish tradition, of course, marks these three weeks by making […]

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A Snapshot of Hazon: Transformative Experiences

          Last weekend, Hazon ran two incredibly successful events. 85 riders and 35 crew peddled for a healthy planet from Sonoma county to San Francisco for our 3rd annual Golden Gate Ride, and 15 participants ate their way across the holy land on the Israel Sustainable Food Tour. Check out photos from both of these phenomenal events on our Flickr page. You too can join Hazon on one of our upcoming transformative experiences, whether a multi-day bike ride or a retreat at Isabella Freedman: Hazon New York Ride Hazon Bike to the Beach Isabella Freedman: Elat Chayyim Living Laboratory Isabella Freedman: Judaism & Baseball   Hazon.org | Isabella Freedman.org Bean of Affliction: Chocolate, Child Labor and Fair Trade With Ilana Schatz, intro by Rabbi Marc Soloway. “The Dark Side of Chocolate” depicts the abuse of child labor in the African cocoa fields. The evening includes a screening of this 45-minute documentary, discussion, Jewish text study, and chocolate tasting with Ilana Schatz, the founding director of Fair Trade Judaica. Fair Trade chocolate will be available for purchase. 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, 2013 Boulder JCC $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Learn More Mini Grants Now Open in […]

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[Hazon Newsletter – 5/30/2013] How Much Adventure is in Your Summer?

Join Hazon this summer for the adventure of a lifetime!Challenge yourself on a supported cycling trip through the most majestic scenery this continent has to offer, and discover the hospitality, style, and community that sets Hazon apart from any other cross-country adventure. We will serve kosher, organic, and local food – and plenty of it! We transport your gear and offer solid support, you just ride. With 49 cycling days through 14 states, 9 Shabbatot, and 3 service days, the Hazon Cross-USA Ride offers a truly unique and transformative experience. Meet people from small Jewish communities and inspire others through Hazon’s environmental work and advocacy. Choose your own cycling adventure! Join us for any segment, from one day to a full or half country, and everything in between. The Cross-USA Ride will visit small farms, speak with transportation alternative advocacy groups, learn about sustainability, and learn about different Jewish communities across the country. Some highlights include Rabbi Morris Allen, founder of Magen Tzedek, our very own CSA farmer Mike Jacobs who runs Easy Bean Farm outside of Minneapolis, and Rabbi Paula Winnig who will speak about Jewish journeys and local and sustainable food in Indianapolis. You can check out our route online […]

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[Newsletter May 23, 2013]The Power & Potential of Jewish Retreats

“This place opened my mind to what healthy, vibrant, connected, spiritual Jewish community can look like. It made me hopeful about my own life, spiritually and otherwise.” – Isabella Freedman retreat participant     What if your vacation was not only fun and relaxing, but also inspiring, enriching, and connected you and your family to an eco-conscious and diverse Jewish community? What if Jewish retreats can anchor a 21st century Jewish community in communal values and vision that go beyond denominations and local communities, forming a wide network of people whose lives have been transformed by their retreat experiences, who themselves become forces for transformation in the world? Hazon’s merger with Isabella Freedman will provide you with an opportunity to access a variety of retreat opportunities in one of the most enchanting and inspiring places in the world. This Jewish retreat center in the Connecticut Berkshires, which has been living Hazon’s values for many years, will soon be ours to call home. Isabella Freedman also comes with an array of programs that invite you to engage spiritually, ecologically, and creatively with a Judaism in which you can find meaning in your own way, through your own passions and interests. This […]

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[Newsletter May 09, 2013] An Extraordinary Weekend

In this email: Hazon New York Ride Farm & Garden with the Jewish Farm School! Intergeneration Jewish Survey What Are You Doing for Shavuot?   AN EXTRAORDINARY WEEKEND AND TWO-DAY BIKE RIDE The Community Celebrate Shabbat and recharge for the Jewish New Year at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center Make new friends and rekindle old connections The Ride Enjoy two days of cycling with routes for riders of all levels Fully supported with bike mechanics, rest stops, luggage transport, and farm-to-table kosher food The Cause Support innovative farm, food, environmental, and educational programs, such as Adamah and Teva REGISTER AT HAZON.ORG/NYRIDE Spring low prices end in two weeks, register before May 20th for the best rate!   Farm & Garden with the Jewish Farm School! I have participated in and taught at eight of the last nine Teva Seminars (I only missed last year because I had just gotten married). As both a learner and an educator, it is one of the most inspiring gatherings of the year. People of all ages, from many different backgrounds, and working in a wide range of settings, all come together to explore the connections between Judaism and the environment, and how we can transform the world through innovation […]

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Two Inspiring Experiments, and Four Stars

Two Inspiring Experiments, and Four Stars Israel Ride Early Bird Registration ends April 30th! Torah of Food Weekend Retreat Hazon Food Festival: Rocky Mountain Region Three Days Away! Behar 2013: Bringing SHmita to Your Community reIMAGINE Society: Behar in the Bay Area Become a JCarrot Writer Today New York Thursday, April 25th, 2013 / 30th day of the Omer Dear All, I just got back from a fascinating and inspiring trip to the West Coast, in which I spent time with our Bay Area staff, finished the first draft of our forthcoming Shmita materials, and visited not one, but two of the most profoundly exciting experiments in Jewish life in the whole country. The first was in San Diego, visiting the Leichtag Foundation’s Paul Ecke Ranch. It’s a 67-acre plot in the middle of San Diego’s North County, and they have an incredible vision for its future (including their new Jewish Food Justice Fellowship. Then I spent Earth Day with Adam Berman in the East Bay, meeting the current crop of Urban Adamahniks and visiting what (I trust and hope; and Adam believes and intends) will be the new permanent home of Urban Adamah – a beautifully-sized and well-located site in West Berkeley. These […]

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[Newsletter February 21, 2012] – A Rose by Any Other Name…

Denver, CO 21st February 2013 / Ta’anit esther 5773 Dear All, Today’s the minor fast day that leads us to Purim. Not for the only time in Jewish tradition, abstinence and excess are paired. I can’t help feeling that the rabbis had a keen sense of balance, quite separate from the nominal reasons given for the fasts adjacent to the feasts (cf, exhibits 2 & 3: the fast of the first born and seder night; rosh hashanah and the fast of gedaliah). I’m struck that, as elsewhere in contemporary society, we retain affection –and observance – for the feast, whilst the numbers who observe the fast are far fewer. Part of the complex challenge of unlearning some of the behaviors that in our day are both normative but also unhealthy – for us, and/or for the wider world we live in – lies in restoring balance, of different sorts. And I note this, by the way, because I struggle with this, not because I’ve figured out how to get to balance. In the last three days I’ve been in Denver and Boulder, meeting with stakeholders in Hazon and in the wider community. Part of this is about the steady drip-drip […]

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Hazon Newsletter [2/14/2013] – Purim, Household Junk, and the Journey to Freedom

Purim, Household Junk, and the Journey to Freedom Why I Ride: Kim Burnham Highlights of the Israel Sustainable Food Tour Hazon Jewish Food Festival at the JCCSF: More sessions announced! God’s Green Earth: The Jewish Environmental Movement at Home and Abroad Teach and Learn with Teva From Our Friends Purim, Household Junk, and the Journey to Freedom As kids we think of Purim, Pesach, and Shavuot as very separate holidays. Purim is hamantaschen and fancy dress; Pesach is Seder night and eating matzah; Shavuot is something to do with receiving the Torah and eating cheesecake. But properly understood I think the three holidays are more deeply connected than we realize. The key to understanding them is Seder night, the central fulcrum around which this season turns. Tu b’Shvat is 8 weeks before; Purim is 4 weeks before; Shavuot is 7 weeks later. Seder night is the night that we ourselves move from slavery to freedom. Our springtime journey to freedom begins with tu b’Shvat – the reminder of new beginnings, new life and new possibility. Which leads us to Purim. The Purim story looks like it’s really anarchic: there’s no mention of G!d (the only book of the tenach of […]

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An Exception to the Rule

This piece is by Shae Selix, intern at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. Hazon partners with The Arava Institute for the Israel Ride, raising money for students who wish learn about environmental research and peace-building. Through my Masa scholarship, I have had the privilege to work for the past three and a half months at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies in Kibbutz Ketura. Like many Masa students, I have been able to see the beauty of Israel, from the acacia trees in the Negev, to the mystical waters in the Dead Sea, to the Jerusalem stone in the capital. I feel that my experience may be particularly unique because at the Arava Institute I have had the opportunity to experience how Jews and Arabs have the potential to not only live peacefully together in Israel, but also become great friends. Of course, due to the timing of my stay, I have also seen that this is not always the case. Only weeks ago, the State of Israel was in armed conflict with Gaza. At the Institute, we all had to watch together as Israel was again in the spotlight of the world stage, and hopes of peace in […]

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[Hazon Newsletter 1/10/2013] – Ancient Land, Modern Flavor

Cross-USA Ride Prices Rising! Pinot & Pomegranate: Wine and Cheese and Trees Tree B’Earth Day at Isabella Freedman Torah Yoga at Isabella Freedman Opportunities From Our Friends Camp Tawonga: Farm to Fork Eco-Quest Pearlstone Center’s 5th Annual Beit Midrash Beyond Bubbie: Tales from the Kitchen Shmita in Chicago Ancient Land, Modern Flavor This Memorial Day Weekend (May 22-27), in partnership with the Heschel Sustainability Center, Hazon is thrilled to be running our third Israel Sustainable Food Tour. This exciting program is a unique way for North American Jews who are passionate about sustainable food to experience the rapidly developing field of sustainable food in Israel. Visit farms, markets, and food producers off the typical tourist map, and meet with the leaders of innovative projects on the forefront of the burgeoning Israeli sustainable food movement. It is also an important opportunity for Israeli activists to meet like-minded counterparts from abroad, and hear about your experiences, successes, challenges, insights and inspiration. The emphasis in this tour is on the social and environmental aspects of sustainable food from farm to fork. We will explore obstacles and opportunities regarding Israeli and Arab agriculture and food issues, the promise of the growing the organic agriculture […]

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