Our Mission
Inspired by Jewish values and ideals, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger is a national organization fighting to end hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the United States and Israel.
History
MAZON was founded by Leonard “Leibel” Fein (z”l), Theodore Mann (z”l), and Irv Cramer (z”l) in 1985. Their motivation was simple: to build a bridge between the relative abundance of the American Jewish community and the desperate need felt by millions of hungry people.
MAZON began by building relationships with rabbis and synagogues, encouraging them to donate a portion of life-cycle celebration costs, a modern interpretation of the ancient rabbinical tradition of feeding the poor before a celebration could begin.
In its initial years, MAZON made annual grants to small organizations fighting hunger. As its leadership engaged more deeply with the issue, it became clear that only systemic change could truly end hunger. MAZON’s focus on advocacy was born, and its influential advocacy work continues to this day.
Today, MAZON has an extended family of hundreds of current and former capacity-building partners, thousands of Jewish communal partners, and tens of thousands of individual donors, all committed to ending hunger once and for all.
Forty Years of Impact
A mission is only as strong as the work behind it. For forty years MAZON has fought hunger through legislation, litigation, grantmaking, and community organizing. The results are documented, measurable, and growing.
Read the 2025 Impact Report and see exactly what your support has made possible.
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Support MAZON
MAZON needs your support in the fight to end hunger.
Together, we know it’s possible. Join us.