Topic: Press Release

Not our hazon, and not in our name – Hazon statement

By Nigel Savage on March 7, 2019 in In the News, Newsletters, Nigel, Press Release

Thursday, March 7, 2019 | Rosh Chodesh Adar II, 5779 A new organization called “hazon” has suddenly appeared in Israel. They are using our name – and they have very different values from us. We want to make clear not only that we have no relationship with them but also that we have issued a cease-and-desist letter to them in relation to our name. For more on this, read on… The word “hazon” means “vision.” There are many things that need fixing in the world and thus many different visions of what could be or should be. Recently a new organization called “hazon” put up billboards around Israel. Were these to protest against poverty or inequality? Against climate change, or species loss, or our human mistreatment of animals? Against discrimination towards minorities? Oh, no, none of those. It spent money to attack people who are lesbian or gay or transgender or queer. A number of people pointed out to us a recent story about them in The Jerusalem Post. Then yesterday, for good measure, the group, now described as a “hardline national-religious organization” called for demonstrations against Women of the Wall at the Kotel tomorrow morning. Then Arutz Sheva published an op-ed critiquing this […]

Changing the Way Animals are Raised for Food

By Hazon on October 18, 2017 in Animals, Farming, Food Justice, In the News, Institutional Food Values, Press Release

Hazon joins Bon Appetit, UC Berkeley, Airbnb and other organizations as a leader in animal welfare in food service supply chains. Hazon was invited to join Farm Forward’s Leadership Circle for the eggs we serve to the thousands of guests who visit our home each year in the Connecticut Berkshires—Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center. Farm Forward announced the launch of the Leadership Circle, a new institutional purchasing program that leverages the buying power of businesses, universities, and civic and religious institutions to change the way animals are raised for food. The program increases the public’s understanding of higher-welfare farming, supports a network of farmers who are third-party certified, and meets the demand among American consumers for products bearing animal welfare certification labels with meaningful standards. Further, the Leadership Circle encourages institutions to adopt a “less meat, better meat” approach by sourcing higher-welfare meat, poultry, and eggs while incorporating more plant-based proteins to lower costs and improve public health, the environment, and animal welfare. Founding members of the Leadership Circle include Bon Appetit Management Company, Airbnb’s Portland office, Cal Dining at the University of California Berkeley, Dr. Bronner’s, and Hazon, the largest Jewish sustainability organization in North America. These institutions are leaders in ethical and sustainable […]

Largest Jewish Sustainability Organization Brings Farm Animal Welfare to the Table

By Hazon on October 23, 2015 in Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Oct. 23rd, 2015)—Hazon, the leading Jewish sustainability organization in North America, has teamed up with The Humane Society of the United States to further farm animal welfare education and advocacy within the Jewish community in time for Food Day 2015 this Saturday, October 24th, an event that inspires Americans to reflect upon their diets and food choices. Christine Gutleben, director of Faith Outreach at The HSUS, said: “Hazon’s work to provide transformative experiences in food education aligns with our work to promote more compassionate food choices among faith communities. Together we can help Jewish communities reduce their meat consumption and avoid purchasing animal products from factory farms.” The two organizations are working together on a range initiatives, including a camp program for Jewish youth that explores the practices of industrial animal agriculture along with what Jewish tradition teaches about animal welfare and environmental sustainability. “The pilot program we ran this summer was a huge success,” said Becca Linden, Associate Program Director at Hazon. “Over 1,000 campers participated in our creative games, thought deeply about their values when interacting with our educational materials, and had vigorous debates in their dining halls about whether, when, and how we should […]

Kohenet Institute Ordains Nine Hebrew Priestesses

By Hazon on August 10, 2015 in Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center, Press Release

Graduating Class of 2015 Serve As Jewish Ritual Leaders and Educators On Friday, July 24, 2015, the Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute gave smicha, ordination, to nine women at a ceremony at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village, Connecticut. The nine new Kohanot, Hebrew Priestesses, constitute the fourth graduating class since Kohenet started 10 years ago. Under the guidance of Kohenet co-founders Rabbi Jill Hammer, PhD and Taya Shere, they have been trained as ritual leaders in an earth-based, embodied, feminist Jewish paradigm that honors the history of women’s spiritual practices and the sacred feminine. They are from three countries: the US, England and Ireland. The Kohenet certification empowers and enables new graduates to continue building on the work they are doing, in positions such as a congregational rabbi in Colorado, a youth educator at Eden Village Camp in New York, and a founding resident of Moishe House in London, England. The graduating class has published articles, books, and poetry, created Judaica artwork, and facilitated workshops on midwifery, gender inclusivity, earth-based ritual, storytelling, and strategic planning. They are activists for human rights, for dialogue and understanding, and for ecological sustainability. Kohenet graduates will lead communities in prayer, conduct […]

White House Honors Faith Leaders for Climate “Champions of Change”

By Hazon on July 20, 2015 in Climate Change, Colorado, Press Release

Congratulations to Rabbi Marc Soloway, chair of Hazon’s Rabbinic Advisory Board, for being honored by the White House’s Champions of Change program! THE WHITE HOUSE Office of Communications FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, July 20th, the White House will recognize twelve people of faith as “Champions of Change” for their efforts in protecting our environment and communities from the effects of climate change. These Champions have demonstrated clear leadership across the United States and around the world through their grassroots efforts to green their communities and educate others on the moral and social justice implications of climate change. The program will feature remarks by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy and Senior Advisor to the President Brian Deese. The Champions of Change program was created as an opportunity for the White House to feature individuals doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities. The event will be live streamed on the White House website. To learn more about the White House Champions of Change program, visit www.whitehouse.gov/champions. Follow the conversation at #WHChamps. Huda Alkaff, West Bend, Wisconsin Huda Alkaff is the Founder and Director of the Islamic Environmental Group of Wisconsin (Wisconsin Green Muslims), formed in […]

Shofars blowing and Noah’s ark rolling make for strong Jewish presence at the People’s Climate March

By Hazon on September 22, 2014 in Press Release

Thousands of Jews marched alongside other people of faith in the People’s Climate March, which drew over 300,000 individuals to the streets of New York City on Sunday, September 21st. The march had a strong and visible Jewish presence with over 100 Jewish groups having signed on as partner organizations and hundreds of Jews blowing the shofar – the ram’s horn traditionally sounded as a call to repentance on Rosh Hashanah, in a clarion call for climate justice. Rabbi Arthur Waskow of the Shalom Center spoke at the rally for faith groups at the start of the march, which was timed to send a strong message to world leaders meeting for a climate summit at the UN this week that people around the world are suffering from the changing climate and want strong action to reduce emissions from fossil fuels and support a transition to clean renewable energy. Hazon’s Topsy Turvy bus made guest appearances at Columbia-Barnard Hillel and the Manhattan JCC, with members blowing shofarot on the roof to symbolize the topsy-turvy world we’re living in, and the shofar’s call to teshuva – not only for us as individuals and as a community but for the whole world. “I was enthralled […]

Isabella Freedman If Not Now Induction - May 30, 2012 at Central Synagogue, NYC

Hazon – Isabella Freedman Merger

By Nigel Savage on November 22, 2013 in Press Release

Click here to download our formal press release regarding the merger. Click here to read the email from David Weisberg. Click here to read the email from Nigel Savage. Merger Announcements in the News The Forward The Jewish Week Boulder Jewish News JWeekly JSpace eJewishPhilanthropy Shalom TV

Hazon Receives Grant to Oversee First Formal Research on Integration of Jewish Learning with Food, Environmental and Outdoor Education

By Hazon on December 11, 2012 in Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO – Recognizing the growing interest among individuals and families in experiences that integrate Jewish learning with learning about food, the environment, and the outdoors, a group of national and local funders have awarded a grant to Hazon to oversee new research in this area. Funded by the Jim Joseph Foundation, Leichtag Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, UJA-Federation of New York, and Rose Community Foundation, the research will explore how participation in immersive Jewish food, environmental, and outdoor education programs influences individuals’ Jewish growth and leads to increased Jewish involvement. “More and more people, particularly young adults, express their Jewish identity through passion for building sustainable and environmentally conscious Jewish communities,” says Nigel Savage of Hazon, America’s largest Jewish environmental organization. “We need to learn more about this phenomenon, better understand effective strategies, and determine long-term outcomes on participants. This is an exciting first step in deeply examining this relatively new and emerging space of Jewish learning and engagement.” While organizations have invested time and resources to develop and sustain these immersive educational programs, to date there has been no formal evaluation or research conducted in this field. Nor has there been a review of existing research […]

Hazon and Isabella Freedman are Merging!

By Nigel Savage on December 3, 2012 in Nigel, Press Release

Monday December 3rd 2012 / 19th Kislev 5773 New York Dear All, Sometimes our lives cross and crisscross in unexpected ways. Things that one thinks are incredibly significant prove minor; and minor or accidental decisions can change one’s life. So it was for me in the summer of 1998. That was when, for the first time, I visited Isabella Freedman; spent time at Elat Chayim (then in Accord, NY); and met people like Adam Berman (who went on to direct Isabella Freedman and to found Adamah), Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Nili Simhai (currently the director of Teva) and Rabbi Dr Arthur Waskow. Not more than a few moments’ thought went into the serendipitous construction of that summer. But encountering those people and institutions led me to found Hazon, late the following year. And today, things go full circle: we’re announcing that Hazon is merging with Isabella Freedman (which includes Elat Chayyim, following a merger a few years ago). The Teva Learning Alliance, until now a part of Surprise Lake Camp, is also going to be part of the new Hazon. (Click here to read the official press release.) Why did we do this, and what will change? At one level (happily) […]

Rocky Mountain Jewish Food Summit

By Hazon on November 9, 2011 in Colorado, Food, Press Release

Rocky Mountain Jewish Food Summit – a local day of learning, celebration, eating, community-building and hands-on doing at the intersection of food, sustainability and Jewish life

Continue Reading 0

170 Jewish Social Justice Leaders to Meet With Obama Administration

By Hazon on July 28, 2011 in Press Release, Tzedek/Justice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 170 Jewish Social Justice Leaders to Meet with Obama Administration Washington, D.C.; July 27, 2011â€”On Friday, July 29th, 170 representatives of organizations that are part of the Jewish Social Justice Roundtable (JSJRT) will travel to the White House for a policy briefing to exchange ideas on housing, healthcare, food justice and education. The JSJRT is a group of 21 nonprofit organizations promoting economic and social justice as a core tenet of Jewish life. “Many people think the Jewish community has only one message to bring to Washington and it’s about Israel,” said Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, director of the Jewish Life and Values Program of the Nathan Cummings Foundation, which funds the JSJRT. “In reality, the Jewish community is deeply involved in issues of social justice here and around the globe. We are so pleased to have been invited to discuss these issues with the White House staff as we work to create a more just world.” Some participants are eager to tell White House officials about the public housing tenants in Chicago who teamed up with local organizations to renovate hundreds of uninhabitable apartments for low-income residents. Others want the Administration to hear how a Jewish community […]