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 changes in how we eat. We begin and end the period by fasting. And there’s a strong tradition—either for the three weeks, or the nine days from Rosh Hodesh Av to Tisha B’Av—of giving up meat and wine, apart from Shabbat and Rosh Hodesh.

If we’re giving up meat and wine, what should we eat more of?

This seems like a good moment to take stock of the Hazon CSAs. In 2004, few people had heard of a CSA (community-supported agriculture) at all, let alone a Jewish CSA, but with the support of Ansche Chesed, on NYC’s Upper West Side, and Garden of Eve Farm in Long Island, NY, Hazon launched the first Jewish CSA—putting Jewish purchasing power behind a local organic farm, enabling families to eat healthy food at a fair price, giving uncollected shares to people in need, and creating a new platform to think about food in our communities. This summer is our tenth season, and the Hazon CSA network has expanded to a network of 65 sites across the United States, donating over $1.85 million to local farmers, and giving about 35,000 pounds of produce to local emergency food providers. Following the merger with Isabella Freedman, Hazon’s Jewish Food Network will include the Adamah Farm, selling into a CSA, and two farmers’ markets.

The CSAs have broadened and deepened. They’ve led to changes in families and communities. They’ve raised awareness. In Boulder CO, Ru Wing—one of the leaders of our food work there—played a key role in developing a goat farm attached to the synagogue, that’s now producing goat milk for members of the community. And Ru works to make sure that unclaimed shares go directly to people in need.

What happens in the next ten years? Hazon’s Food Council will be leading the charge in thinking about this question. Do we deepen or broaden? More focus on food justice? Or on food systems in Jewish institutions? Or on advocacy? Or interfaith? Or health and nutrition?

Fred Bahnson’s Soil & Sacrament comes out on August 6th and I hope that it will prompt a further conversation about food and faith in this country. (Fred’s a Christian, a scholar, and a farmer, and if you want to invite him to come and speak in your community, you can reach him via his website: fredbahnson.com/soil-and-sacrament.

The world around us is changing fast, but Jewish tradition remains old and wise. Now is indeed a good time to think again about how we eat, to mourn the destructions of the past, and to build in different ways for a healthier future. If you don’t shop at a farmer’s market, try one out. If you want to launch a CSA next year, be in touch. And if you’ve been meaning, for a while, to eat less meat and drink less booze—now’s a good time to try that out.

With all best wishes,

Nigel Savage

Executive Director, Hazon

P.S. Right now in your CSA box, you’re likely to find some delicious, cruciferous kale. Check out the delicious recipe below for kale and quinoa. And check out the website to see how you can get involved in one of Hazon’s CSAs in your community.


Israel Ride: Sign up by July 3rd and save

[Image]Experience Israel from the seat of your bicycle! Cycle on the Israel Ride, from the holy city of Jerusalem to the resort destination of Eilat in one week: October 29 – November 5. The Ride includes a beautiful and relaxing Shabbat in Mitzpe Ramon, overlooking the Ramon Crater. Registration for the Israel Ride is $525 only until Wednesday, July 3rd so now is the time to join the 120+ riders who will experience Israel like never before! Visit us online to learn more about the various cycling options, full support, meaningful cause, and special community on the Ride.

Learn More


Cumin Quinoa with Steamed Kale

[Image]Vegan and Kosher

Serves 2 as a main meal, 4 as a side

½ cup rinsed and drained quinoa*

1 ½ cups water

½-1 tablespoon cumin

1 handful kale, washed, de-stemmed**
and chopped into thin strips

salt and pepper, to taste

*Quinoa is a flavorful, protein-packed grain available at many grocers and supermarkets. If quinoa is not common in your area, feel free to try brown or wild rice – just cook according to package instructions and start at step 2.

**De-stemming kale is the best and easiest way to cut down on kale’s bitterness if you’re dealing with larger varieties. Simply separate the leafy part from the stem, either by tearing with your hand or chopping it with a sharp knife.

1/ Place the quinoa and water into a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat until it is at a gentle simmer. Cover until the quinoa is tender and all the water is absorbed, about 15-20 minutes. If you find that the water has been absorbed and the quinoa is still crunchy, add more water and simmer again.

2/ One the quinoa has finished cooking, add cumin to desired strength. Mix well.

3/ Finally, add the kale to the quinoa and cover the saucepan until wilted. Season with salt and pepper, and serve warm.

These are only a handful of the multiple ways you can enjoy kale. If you’re looking for more resources, start by searching the web, or asking a farmer who sells kale how they would recommend preparing it; often, they’ll have a great recipe of their own.


Teva Learning Alliance Hiring for Fall 2013

[Image]Teva Learning Alliance is a program of the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center and Hazon and is focused on innovation in Jewish education. Since 1994, we have worked with over 450 day schools, congregations, camps, JCCs, BJEs, youth groups, and other Jewish institutions to carry out our mission to fundamentally transform Jewish education through experiential learning that fosters Jewish and ecological sustainability. The more than 100,000 individuals who have benefited from our direct programs cover the spectrum of religious affiliation and age. The 700+ educators who have sought out our professional development opportunities spread ripples throughout their own communities.

Teva is currently seeking to hire three positions that will be based at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village, CT, Southern Berkshires during the Fall 2013 season.

Jewish Environmental Educator

Program Assistant

EMT/WFR certified professional

Learn More


Colorful Colorado Bike Rides

[Image]Colorful Colorado Hazon Rides have arrived. This summer Hazon is working to jumpstart a community of people who love to ride their bikes! Our rides combine physical training and an opportunity to learn what is growing in your town—both produce and community.

On Sunday, June 30th, join Hazon Colorado for an easy and fun 16 mile ride from Congregation Bonai Shalom to our CSA farm, Red Wagon Organic Farms. The ride includes a tour of Red Wagon Organic Farms and Boulder Jewish Commons Farm. Snacks for the ride will be provided as well as a delicious brunch at the end of the ride. Registration is free with a nominal charge for the brunch.

This ride is appropriate for families with children age 12 and over.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Start at Bonai Shalom

1527 Cherryvale Rd, Boulder, CO

Learn More

 

Mini-Grants & The Tooth Fairy:
The Challenge of Balance

Dear All,

Orientation began today for our Cross-USA Ride, which kicks off in Seattle this Sunday. (If you’re in Seattle, please join us, or ride out with us, or join us for a week of the Ride.)

It is thus 13 years exactly since Hazon’s first event—the Cross-USA Ride in 2000. Since then the organization has grown and flourished, in ways both imagined and unimagined. Our values have remained remarkably constant—and much of our vision, too—but what we do, and some of how we do it, has changed quite substantially.

One thing that has certainly evolved, in relation to the Rides, is where the money goes. In 2000, our riders raised about $32,000 in sponsorship, and we gave it all away—100% of it. This was because a/ there were a whole series of projects and organizations that we wanted to support, and b/ my business model was that a tooth-fairy would support Hazon’s work, including some of the cost of the Rides.

Well, as we know: no tooth fairy.

So as the Rides have grown, we’ve sought to find a balance. We need to cover the costs of the Rides, and we most especially want to raise money through the Rides to support the growth of Hazon’s work. We have developed the largest faith-based CSA network in North America, which has given over $1.85 million dollars back to local sustainable farmers and through extra produce, and has donated over 37,000 pounds of fresh vegetables to local soup kitchens, food pantries, and other emergency food providers. The initial funding for this work came entirely from monies raised by the participants in our New York Ride.

Yet even as the Rides have fueled Hazon’s growth, it has been important to us to continue to support other important and worthwhile projects and organizations. We’re incredibly proud that so many of our mini-grants have had a substantial impact. We gave the first-ever grant to Adamah, for instance. We paid the down payment on the Adamah house. Separately from the well over $2m that our Israel riders have raised for the Arava Institute, we’ve now distributed more than $670,000 in mini-grants from our US rides and programs. Here’s a list of all the grants we’ve given since inception.

Two current things that you should know about. First, I was just in Denver and Boulder, and saw first-hand how connection to food and land is renewing Jewish life there in remarkable ways. Ekar Farm is flourishing. Rabbi Elisheva Brenner spoke on Friday night about the incredible work she’s doing in Pueblo. At Bonei Shalom on Sunday morning, I said to Rabbi Marc Soloway, “300 years ago one or more of your unknown ancestors must have gotten up, davenned shacharit, and milked the goats; I think it’s pretty cool that you’re one of a very tiny handful of Jews doing that today…” Right now, you can apply for a 2013-2014 mini grant in CO, for projects that seek to create healthier and more sustainable communities in the Colorado Jewish community. This year grants will be awarded of up to $4000. The deadline for applications—June 20th—is quickly approaching! Click here for more information about applying for a Colorado Mini-Grant.

And in California—after a tremendously successful Golden Gate Ride—for the first time ever we’re giving 100% of the fundraising from the Urban Adamah team to Urban Adamah, towards the $2.2m capital cost of their new site in the East Bay. They need to raise that money by early August. I went to visit the site a few weeks ago; I think it’s going to be incredibly significant for the Bay Area Jewish community, and as a powerful urban model across the US. Feel free to pitch in to sponsor one of our Golden Gate riders.

Finally: you’re warmly invited to sign up for this year’s New York Ride. It’ll be our first ride since the Hazon/Isabella Freedman merger—a remarkable opportunity to celebrate, to learn, to have a great time and to make a difference.

Kol tuv,

Nigel Savage
Executive Director, Hazon


NY Ride Mini-Grants

Join us Labor Day Weekend for the New York Ride and apply for a mini-grant for your Jewish environmental project, east of the Mississippi (or in Israel). We will be awarding grants of $1000-$2000. Applications are due on June 30th, and more information can be found at hazon.org/minigrant.

Learn More


Bike to the Beach

Ride to Coney Island from around New York and New Jersey!
Ride for free, stay for lunch and a t-shirt $18!

Start in one of five locations around the New York metro area and ride
to Coney Island with your neighborhood team! Meet up with other riders
as you cycle across bridges and on greenways through the city. All
routes end at the Shorefront Y on Coney Island at 1 pm where lunch,
celebrating, and treasure hunts may ensue.

Sunday, June 23, 2013
For starting times and locations, visit us online.

Learn More


Food Justice Fellowship open in Colorado

Hazon is seeking to hire an outstanding person in Denver or Boulder to fill a new position of Food Justice Fellow for 8 hours/week. The Food Justice Fellow will set the standard of how Hazon leads food justice education and programming in Colorado and will be responsible for engaging the Colorado Jewish community in addressing issues of food justice. We seek a passionate, knowledgeable individual who is versed in Jewish learning and has experience in social justice work.

Learn More


Colorful Colorado Bike Rides

[Image]Colorful Colorado Hazon Rides have arrived. This summer Hazon is working to jumpstart a community of people who love to ride their bikes! Our rides combine physical training and an opportunity to learn what is growing in your town—both produce and community.

On Sunday, June 30th, join Hazon Colorado for an easy and fun 16 mile ride from Congregation Bonai Shalom to our CSA farm, Red Wagon Organic Farms. The ride includes a tour of Red Wagon Organic Farms and Boulder Jewish Commons Farm. Snacks for the ride will be provided as well as a delicious brunch at the end of the ride. Registration is free with a nominal charge for the brunch.

This ride is appropriate for families with children age 12 and over.

Sunday, June 30, 2013
Start at Bonai Shalom
1527 Cherryvale Rd, Boulder, CO

Learn More

 


Jewish and Love Baseball?

[Image]Ever stop to consider the spiritual, cultural, and historical connections between Jews, Judaism, and America’s past-time? Join experts including former major league ballplayers, sportswriters, and other Jewish baseball aficionados for the second annual “Judaism & Baseball” retreat at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in the Connecticut Berkshires. Highlights of the weekend will include former Yankee and Met Elliott Maddox, a keynote from the inventor of Strat-o-Matic—the ancestor of fantasy sports, and Jewish text study focusing on the use of performance enhancing substances. It will be a fun and informative weekend for all.

Friday, June 28 – Sunday, June 30, 2013
Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center
116 Johnson Road, Falls Village, CT

Learn More