I
To Life
ON TH
COVER
Hungry from page 31
thing that will
be 'the thing to
do' — some-
thing easy
and powerful,"
Rabbi Yedwab
said.
In the
meantime,
there are many
ways Mazon
is included
in synagogue
Rabbi Roman
life. At Temple
Israel and
Shaarey Zedek, every b'nai mitz-
vah receives a Mazon brochure
and learns about the organiza-
tion from the synagogue's rabbis.
Area rabbis have been includ-
ing Mazon in their Shabbat and
holiday sermons, and many
are promoting Mazon's annual
Passover appeal.
Last month, the social action
committees of Ann Arbor's Beth
Israel Congregation and Temple
Beth Emeth co-sponsored a
Mazon weekend that included a
presentation by Schockman.
"Supporting Mazon, Yad Ezra,
Gleaners and Forgotten Harvest
is a large part of our congrega-
tion's mission," Rabbi Berkun
said. "Throughout the year, we
remind our members that they
can make a difference in the
lives of those who are hungry. By
contributing to Mazon during
certain Jewish holidays and in
connection to special programs
and events, our community is
constantly fighting to end world
hunger?'
As Passover nears, Temple
Israel sent 1,800 e-mails to
members asking them to donate
some of the cost of their seders
Emily Schottenfels
32
April 6 • 2006
to Mazon. A portion of
the funds collected for
Shaarey Zedek's syna-
gogue seder also will
be donated to Mazon.
Several area syna-
gogues make a contri-
bution to Mazon when
they host events. At
Temple Kol Ami, long-
time Mazon supporter
Rabbi Norman Roman
said, "It is our syna-
gogue policy to include
a Mazon donation at
every function involving food?'
And that's what Emily
Schottenfels is planning to do
at her bat mitzvah celebration
at Kol Ami this Shabbat. The
West Bloomfield 13-year-old is
no stranger to hunger-related
social action, having volunteered
many times at area soup kitchens
and food banks with her
parents, Jody and Lee, and
siblings Peter, 19, and Abby,
15.
"Part of the theme of her
April 8 bat mitzvah is hun-
ger," said Emily's dad, Lee, a
Kol Ami past president and
current executive board
member.
"Her dvar Torah will
include hunger awareness
and, in addition to a dona-
tion of a percentage of
the cost of the meal at her
party, Emily will also give a
portion of her cash gifts to
Mazon."
In The Classroom
While local rabbis are at
work getting synagogue
youth involved in Mazon,
Steve Freedman is bringing
it to the classroom. Last
month, a daylong program
on local, Israeli and world
hunger was held for Hillel's
eighth-grade students.
Initiated by Joel Jacob,
whose daughter is in the class,
Freedman, Jacob and Luger of
Yad Ezra led the program that
included learning and an intro-
duction to the concept of advo-
cacy to effect change.
"Every tangible way that we
iN
addressed the Shaarey Zedek
would otherwise be destroyed,"
board
of directors, describing
Freedman said.
Mazon
and its benefits, and
Mazon offers its own "Hunger
encouraging
them to establish a
No More" curriculum to facilitate
partnership.
discussions among adults and
"At the party, guests will be
youth around hunger and pov-
enjoying
themselves and having
erty.
good food:' he told them. "No
In Jacob's home, his 13-year-
old daughter, Merrick, is a strong guests will leave hungry, but I
know there are people in Detroit,
advocate of alleviating hunger.
in America, in
"She went to
Israel, all over the
Washington and .
world who do not
was a very effective
have enough to
advocate speak-
eat. All we have to
ing to members
do to be a partner
of Congress',' said
synagogue is agree
Jacob, who is
to this resolu-
Mazon's incoming
tion and commit
national vice chair-
to supporting
man.
IvIazon."
Some of our
For Adam's fam-
synagogue youth
ily, including dad
groups were ahead
Dr. Bruce Fisher,
of the game in
Adam Fisher
that meant, in
their longtime
part, making a 3-
involvement
percent donation in honor of his
with Mazon.
bar mitzvah.
"NFTY (North American
According to Rabbi Berkun,
Federation of Temple Youth)
because of Adam, the synagogue
includes a mandatory Mazon
now is an official Mazon partner.
donation in the cost of all of
"Establishing the partnership
their events:' Rabbi Roman
between Mazon and Shaarey
said of a 20-year-old resolu-
Zedek had a much greater impact
tion. "They also do some
educational programming for on how much help he would be
giving',' said Adam's mom.
teens?'
Rabbi Yedwab hopes the future
holds a place where donations
Connections
More than a dozen local syna- and support will come naturally.
"We want our work to reach
goguei of various denomina-
a goal where a few years from
tions have signed as "part-
now it will be hard to find some-
ners" with Mazon, a position
one who doesn't know about
that
encourages
members
to
OCC
Mazon."
make
donations
and
to
fund-
Orchard Ridge
raise for the agency.
Campus
Already a Yad Ezra volun-
teer, Adam.Fisher of Franklin
Sign-up online:
was inspired by a video on
JNIcarathon.com
Mazon shown to him by
To make an online
Rabbi Berkun as part of the
donation to MAZON:
preparation for his September
A Jewish Response to
2005 bar mitzvah.
Hunger, access the Web
After viewing the tape,
site at: mazon.org or
participating in the Mazon 3-per- "Adam went on the [Mazon] Web
mail a check to Mazon,
site and learned Shaarey Zedek
cent solution.
1990 S. Bundy Drive,
was not a partner:' said his mom,
"In a few weeks, when our
Suite 260, Los Angeles,
Dr. Laurie Fisher.
eighth-graders are in Israel, they
CA 90025. For informa-
And so, a month before his
will be volunteering in a soup
tion, call (310) 442-0020
bar mitzvah, Adam, a 13-year-
kitchen and working with the
or e-mail at:
old eighth-grader at Berkshire
organization Table to Table to
mazonmail@mazon.org .
Middle School in Beverly Hills,
harvest produce from fields that
can offer children opportuni-
ties to perform a mitzvah makes
them a partner with God in tik-
kun °lain (repairing the world),"
Freedman said. "Donating a
portion of their gifts, writing
letter's to politicians or lighting
candles at their party to bring
this issue to the attention of all
of their guests are all valuable
and meaningful ways to involve
young teens?'
Hillel's curriculum will con-
tinue to include education on
hunger issues. "Food is a funda-
mental necessity and something
that all children understand,"
Freedman said. "We are teaching
our students that they can make
a difference?'
Middle school students will
learn about becoming involved
in government, and student and
parents will be advised about
.
May 7, 2006
❑
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