[Newsletter] April 19 – Halfway There: Cycling Through the Midwest

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Category: Hazon Newsletters

Halfway There: Cycling Through the Midwest

Cross-USA Ride Spotlight: The Twin Cities, Leaders in Cycling and Sustainability

This summer, the Hazon Cross-USA Ride will cycle through the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul. The Cities are excited to host the Hazon Cross-USA riders at the halfway point of their cross-country journey. Host families are lined up to show them the meaning of Minnesota Nice.

St. Paul, “the most livable city in America,” is a true leader in supporting sustainable initiatives, allocating funds to projects throughout the city. The Sustainable St. Paul Awards acknowledges organizations demonstrating a commitment to environmental conservation.

A stretch of the Cedar Lake bike trail in downtown Minneapolis

Did you know Minneapolis has the number one spot on Bicycling Magazine’s list of the most bike-friendly cities? Beating out Portland, Boulder, and Seattle, the city has 81 miles of dedicated on-street bike lanes and 84 miles of off-street trails.

The Twin Cities are also pioneers in supporting sustainable food systems. Three Hazon CSA sites, all connected with the Easy Bean Farm, find their home in the cities. Cross-USA Ride participants will meet Mike Jacobs, owner and operator of the Farm, for breakfast to chat “Food, Farming, and Politics” over a delicious farm fresh breakfast. The St. Paul JCC Farmer’s Market, also in partnership with Easy Bean, gives young adults with disabilities retail and marketing experience selling produce and challah.

In addition to being the halfway point, three shorter segments begin in the Twin Cities. Cycle for five weeks to DC, three weeks to Pittsburgh, or 10 days to Chicago.

More Information | Learn About Segments | Register Now

Cedar Lake Bike Trail Photo By Innotata via Wikimedia Commons

Hazon California Ride and Retreat

It’s not too late to join the action!

[Image: Cycling Mountainside]May 10-13, 2012

The California Ride is just four weeks and we wouldn’t think of riding without you! Whether you’re an individual, a family, a cyclist, or food enthusist, we have an option for you:

  • Participate as a rider, as a crew member, or as a Shabbat participant. A one-day ride option is available! Learn more.
  • Support your friends as an indispensable member of crew. Learn more.
  • Raise money on behalf of innovative programs and organizations (over $45,000 raised to date!). Learn More.

Check out the California Ride route which runs through the tranquil countryside and lower hills of Sonoma Couty. The farms are large and the towns are tiny, few, and far between. The California Ride will celebrate a successful weekend by crossing the iconic Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco.

More Route Information | Register Today

Rocky Mountain Jewish Food Summit

April 29, 2012, University Memorial Center at CU Boulder

The first ever Rocky Mountain Jewish Food Summit is just two weeks away and we’ve got a very full day planned for you.

This one-day conference will include panel discussions, seminars, cooking classes, and more! Join us for a multi-media day to learn about Jewish traditions around food and eating, and to learn about Colorado food, farming and gardening projects. The Summit features a Kugel Contest and a DIY Extravaganza, as well as delicious, kosher food. We look forward to seeing you at this groundbreaking gathering of the New Jewish Food Movement in Colorado!

Register today for only $50; day-of registration is $70.

More Information | Register Today

Hazon Hosts Wilderness First Aid Class

[Image: Wilderness First Aidt]May 31, 2012, 8 AM – 5 PM
BJE (Bureau of Jewish Education)
639 14th Ave., San Francisco, CA
June 1, 2012, 8 AM – 5 PM
Congregation Beth El
1301 Oxford St., Berkeley, CA

Wilderness First Aid is the specific discipline of first aid which relates to care in remote areas, where emergency medical services will be difficult to obtain or will take a long time to arrive. Hazon is partnering with Foster Calm to offer a WFA class with lots of hands-on skills practice.

More Information

Additional Reading: Pikkuah Nefesh in the Wilderness – Saving a Life

Not an Israel Organization, But…

[Image: Photo Alt]How do Jewish organizations with missions that are not Israel-focused relate to Israel? How should they? As professionals with our own strong feelings, how do we relate to those questions?

Thursday, May 3rd, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Makom Hadash, 125 Maiden Lane, Suite 8B, New York, NY
Kosher vegetarian lunch included.

$15, free to Makom Hadash members
A program of Siach and Makom Hadash

Registration

Help Fund Sustainable Food Education Cross the Country Through Jewcer.com

Announcing Hazon’s first Jewcer project!

Hazon is honored to be in the first class of jewcer.com projects for the sustainable food curriculum we are developing for our upcoming Hazon Cross-USA Ride. Jewcer.com is a crowdfunding platform for projects, ideas, and causes benefiting the global Jewish community and Israel.

Please visit our project on Jewcer for more details on how to support this work. Every dollar counts!

More Information

Local Events and Features
from our Partners and Friends

JOIN for Justice National Summit

April 29 & 30 – New York City

Presented by JOIN (Jewish Organizing Institute & Network) for Justice.

Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion
One West 4th Street, New York, NY 10012

The field of Jewish community organizing is growing rapidly. However, as practitioners in this field, we have not yet formally come together – across denominations, across roles, across the country – to share wisdom, build connections, find partners, and plan for the future. JOIN for Justice’s National Summit is a unique opportunity for Jewish organizers to come together to articulate and celebrate their shared vision for the Jewish community and its role in advancing justice in the world. Through networking, training, and other learning opportunities, we will build relationships and gain resources that will strengthen our ability to achieve our individual and collective goals.

More Information

First Annual Boston Jewish Food Conference: Sowing the Seeds of Sustainability

Sunday April 22nd, 12:00 PM – 8:00 PMBoston Jewish Food Conference

Join the Greater Boston Jewish community for an in-depth exploration of cuisine, agriculture, labor, business, health, access, history, and spirituality. Participate in a range of hands-on activities, Jewish textual reflections, and contemporary food justice sessions.

Judith Belasco, Director of Programs at Hazon, will be presenting at two sessions.

More Information and Registration

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Celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut with Dor Chadash

[Image: Photo Alt]Wednesday, April 25th, 6:30 PM
B.B. King’s, New York, NY

Join Dor Chadash and partners at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill as we honor Israel’s fallen and celebrate 64 years of independence at the largest Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut gathering outside of Israel!

More Information | Purchase Tickets

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Apply Now to Become a Jewish Organizing Fellow!

The Jewish Organizing Fellowship is recruiting emerging social justice leaders for our year-long, paid community organizing training program in Boston. The Fellowship is a professional development opportunity for Jewish young adults (ages 21-30) who are currently working as organizers or who are looking for jobs in the field. If not already employed, Fellows are placed in full-time paid jobs that address a wide range of issues including: the environment, civil rights, health care, and interfaith cooperation. We seek Fellows who are eager to learn the theory and practice of community organizing and explore the connections between Judaism and social justice.

Application Deadline: May 7, 2012.

Please join us for an informational conference call on April 23rd from 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM EST, featuring current and former Fellows and JOIN staff, who will share information about the Fellowship and answer any questions. Register now to receive the dial-in information.

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Joshua Venture Group’s Dual Investment Program

Do you have an idea to transform Jewish education, spiritual practice, or cultural experience?

Do you have a groundbreaking idea to transform your Jewish community and beyond? Apply now for Joshua Venture Group’s Dual Investment Program and receive over $100,000 in funding, technical support, and skills development to grow your idea into a sustainable venture that will transform the Jewish landscape.

More Information