MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger

Jewish Educational Resources

If knowledge is power, then the quickest route to alleviating – and ending – worldwide hunger is through an understanding of its symptoms and causes.

Learning about hunger’s underlying causes is a critical first step in the ongoing struggle to achieving justice and equality across the globe.  It is also critical to understanding what Judaism teaches about helping the poor and the stranger.

Torah Study

The Torah, also known as the Tanakh and the Five Books of Moses, is the wellspring of Jewish social justice activism. Its passages engage advocates in the critical process of tikkun olam (healing the world) by raising provocative questions that address their role as participants in a global society.

The Torah’s five books are Bereishit, Shemot, Vayikra, Bamidbar and Devarim; in English, these are known as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Each book is divided into sections – in Hebrew, parasha (singular) or parashot (plural). They offer vital instruction on the ways in which Jews can – and, indeed, are commanded to – contribute to the health and wellbeing of people from every faith and background all around the world.

“Health, Nutrition & Torah” is a parshot discussion series, published weekly on our blog. It offers a Jewish look at hunger relief, through our ancestors’ proclamations to end hunger in their communities, and our own work to further discussion and advocacy on modern health & nutrition. Visit our News section for the latest entry, or browse the archives.

Programs & Activities for Groups

Want to plan a program for your youth group, school, community center or synagogue?  Below you’ll find great programs, lesson plans, activities and ideas that will guide you and your group as you work to understand the complicated problem of world hunger.

Hunger No More

The curriculum helps congregations facilitate discussions of issues related to hunger, poverty and powerlessness in the U.S. and the developing world; the causes, solutions and the roles that they might play. It is about the Jewish community struggling to clarify it’s identify and mission to respond to the tradition at home and abroad.

Read the introduction to the curriculum on our blog or download the full Hunger No More curriculum.

Making Hunger Real

A program that will inspire youth group members to get involved in learning about hunger issues through a creative program that integrates social justice and Jewish tradition.

Download the Making Hunger Real packet for more information.

Hunger & Feeding in the Torah

Download the Hunger & Feeding in the Torah Quiz & Discussion for more information.

Hunger & Poverty in America

Addresses poverty and hunger through a quiz and real life scenarios and challenges.

Download the Hunger and Poverty Quiz & Discussion questions for more information.

Making Ends Meet

Grades 3-6. A lesson plan first developed by Food First Curriculum and compiled by Alameda County Community Food Bank, a long-time MAZON grantee.

Download the Making Ends Meet Lesson Plan for more information.

Judaism and the Art of Living with Others

A Tzedakah lesson plan was written by Rabbi Shelley Kniaz and originally appeared in Tov L’Horot Newsletter of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and adapted by MAZON.

Download Judaism & the Art of Living with Others Tzedakah Lesson Plan for more information.

Hunger and Food in our Tradition

Lesson plans taken from “Kemah:  Kehillot/Communities Mobilizing Against Hunger,” a project of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia  (originally written by Joanne Glosser, Beth Huppin and Bill Kunin of CAJE) and co-sponsored by a grant from MAZON.

Download Hunger & Food in Our Tradition Lesson Plans for more information.

A Debate Within the Jewish Community

A guided debate & discussion appropriate for grades 6-8.

Download A Debate Within the Jewish Community for more information.

Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

A critical thinking game appropriate for grades 1-3.

Download the Who Wants to be a Millionaire? game for more information.

How to Prioritize

A critical thinking group exercise for grades 5-7.  Taken from “Kemah: Kehillot/Communities Mobilizing Against Hunger,” a project of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and co-sponsored by a grant from MAZON.

Download How to Prioritize for more information.

Eat and Be Satisfied

This curriculum is designed to build a sense of connection between current and potential supporters of MAZON and those in need whom MAZON serves.  Through the study of traditional Jewish texts, experiential exercises, and discussion, congregations will increase members’ engagement in Jewish study and practice, identification with the issue of hunger, and perception that ancient Jewish wisdom is valuable and relevant to important contemporary issues.

Through an exploration of the nature of hunger, satisfaction, and blessing, participants will:

• increase their identification with the issue of hunger;
• explore how their perception of abundance and lack in their own lives impacts both their material consumption and ability to give to others;
• maximize their capacity to give to those in need by cultivating a sense of satisfaction, abundance,  and a resulting attitude of generosity.

Download the Eat and Be Satisfied curriculum for more information.
Created by Rabbi Margie Jacobs for the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.

The Eat and Be Satisfied curriculum is a joint project of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.  Special thanks to Jeremy Deutchman, Heather Wolfson, Dr. H. Eric Schockman, Sadie Rosenthal and Rabbis Jonathan Slater, Sheila Weinberg, and Rachel Cowan for their contributions to this project.

If you have any educational or program resources you’d like to share, please contact us.

Holiday Reflections

Holidays play a unique role in Jewish life. Of course, they are cause for celebration and remembrance, deep sorrow and great joy. Our observance links us together in an unbroken chain stretching back thousands of years, and establishes our connection to future generations.

But their purpose is not purely commemorative. As we relive historical triumphs and profound suffering, as we express gratitude for the bounty of our harvests and the comforts in our lives, we are also presented with an urgent challenge: recalling the past to perfect the present, and strengthening the world around us by putting our faith into action.

Jewish holidays are a guide to ethical living. Their themes have endured for thousands of years because they speak to what’s good in all of us: our desire to build community, to exist in harmony with our natural environment and each other, and to create societies driven by justice and compassion. We make these things happen, and we do it – together – through activism and advocacy.

Read our blog for Holiday Reflections, which often include discussion questions and advocacy suggestions.

How Teachers & Parents can use Advocacy

As our economic crisis worsens, the first programs to be dropped from schools are often those which directly involve nutrition and physical education. While it is important to urge your Congressmen to fight for increased funding, another effective strategy is to voice your concerns directly to the school (at a PTA meeting, for example). As a parent or educator, push to include nutrition education in a child’s curriculum, as a child who is well informed about their own nutrition is statistically more likely to improve their eating habits. This is important not only for your child’s physical health but also their mental health, a well nourished child performs better in school and at home.

Check out our tips for contacting your representative »

Need fundraising ideas for your group or event?

Visit our fundraising ideas page or our blog for helpful ideas & donor stories.