MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger

May 28th 2009

by Reena Rexrode

Los Angeles is full of wealth & opportunity, yet I see people in need everyday. A shoeless man walks the Sunset Strip; a teenage runaway sits with his dog on Santa Monica’s Promenade; a veteran asks for money and food on the median in front of the gates of Bel Air; and countless faces push ... continue reading »

May 1st 2009

by Heather Wolfson

March 16, 2009 marked a day in history for the El Salvadorian people and we were able to be a part of it as we witnessed the nation’s presidential elections as international observers. At 5 a.m. we entered a polling place, a high school, in the southern part of San Salvador. In El Salvador, citizens ... continue reading »

May 1st 2009

by Heather Wolfson

The past day and half has been incredible. On Friday morning we made the two-hour drive to Chalatenago in the northern part of the country.  We met with the leaders form the community of Guarjila to discuss their partnership with SHARE as the CCR, a grassrooots board of leaders in the neighboring communities.  Many of ... continue reading »

May 1st 2009

by Heather Wolfson

We spent the day in the southeast region of El Salvador visiting two cooperative programs.  After our hour and a half bus ride, we visited Los Frailes cooperative with CONFRAS, a grassroots organization that cultivates organic and agro-ecological basic grains and vegetables.  CONFRAS, with the support of SHARE, organizes the Peasant to Peasant program, where ... continue reading »

May 1st 2009

by Heather Wolfson

Today began by interacting with all of the participants (MAZON’s delegation of eight people is part of the larger SHARE delegation of 150 individuals) while also going through an in-depth orientation on health, safety, and the elections as well as on the SHARE Foundation. Important health, safety and election takeaways: 1. Brush your teeth with ... continue reading »

May 1st 2009

by Heather Wolfson

Eric Schockman (President of MAZON) and I, along with some of our board members, arrived safely in El Salvador early this morning after our short overnight flight from Los Angeles. The sun was just about to peak as we met the representatives from our long-time grantee, the SHARE Foundation: Building a New El Salvador Today. ... continue reading »

Apr 29th 2009

by Ed Yerke-Robins

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5FU-yDC-uI] When 8-year old Bruno leaves the bustling city of Berlin, he finds his new country home to be a virtual prison. His friends are back in the city, his Kommandant father won’t stop fighting with his mother about work duties, and his sister washes away in a sea of patriotism. He even misses school, ... continue reading »

Apr 6th 2009

by H. Eric Schockman

Every year at this time, Jews around the world celebrate Passover, which marks the ancient Israelite’s exodus from Egyptian slavery and a period of desert wandering that lasted 40 years.  It seems appropriate, as we continue to descend into a downward economic spiral of historic proportions, that Americans of all faiths and backgrounds consider the ... continue reading »

Mar 31st 2009

by H. Eric Schockman

As the weather grows warmer and the days grow longer, American Jews are preparing to celebrate Passover. Every spring, we remember our people’s escape from bondage and flight to freedom with songs and stories read from the Haggadah, our traditional guide to the Seder meal. Our primary symbol is a very simple one: matzo, the ... continue reading »

Feb 19th 2009

by Ed Yerke-Robins

For information on ordering 2010 Purim cards for mishloach manot, please visit http://mazon.org/go/purimcards. Purim is my favorite holiday, and not just for the spinning graggers & delicious hamantashen. The megillah is an inspiring story of Jewish unity amidst insurmountable struggle. When the wicked Haman threatens brave Mordechai, he turns his wrath not only against him, ... continue reading »