Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky
Interviewed by Sammi Goldsmith, Deputy Director of Public Policy
Sammi Goldsmith: Congresswoman, what is your connection to MAZON and to the issue of hunger?
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky: I’ll start with MAZON, which I really appreciate, every year hosting a seder with lots of different people, including Members of Congress – Jewish and not Jewish. And, of course, I’m so proud that my rabbi at Beth Emet is part of MAZON as well. I’m just so happy to address this issue of food. And let me just say – and I’ve been saying it for so many years now – here we are, the richest country in the world, getting richer every day, and yet there are so many people in the United States of America who aren’t sure about having food on their table or giving food to their children in places where people are low-income. Are they going to get nutritious food? Shame on us as the richest country in the world.
I was listening to one of the journalists who said, “Imagine that the richest man in the world wants to take money away from the poorest people in the world.” We’re talking about Elon Musk, but this is really the theme of the current president of the United States as well. He doesn’t care. After all, he had the gall to say to his nephew, who has a disabled child, “Just let him die.” I mean, it’s just shocking right now. This idea that these wealthy, wealthy people, and the richest person in the world wants to cut back on, maybe eliminate, food.
Sammi Goldsmith: It’s terrible. Congresswoman, what do you say to those of your colleagues who would cut nutrition assistance programs like SNAP, who are making those considerations right now?
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky: It’s absolutely shocking. I mean, we can present them with people who are struggling right now just to put food on the table. Are they going to go after the student lunches and breakfasts? Are they going to want to take those things away? It’s unthinkable! It’s not anything that we can agree to. And so, I believe that we’re going to be able to, if not get all of the Republicans, at least get some. I mean, don’t they live in communities where families are struggling? We can point that out to them too, to make sure that they’re aware of what is going on in their communities, and we will. We are ready for this fight.
And why do we have to fight? Why do we have to fight for food? It’s just so amazing to me that in this country – when I say that this is the richest country in the world, the majority of Americans can’t relate to that thought because the numbers of people who really are fine right now and have all the wealth that they need are a small minority of Americans right now. And I think that most Americans agree that food, nutrition, that it’s basic. That’s it. That’s what we do. We can do this. We have to do this.
Sammi Goldsmith: We have to. In a few months, we’ll gather folks around the seder table to talk about just that. You mentioned that you have been to many of MAZON’s Hunger Seders on Capitol Hill and were grateful for that. What are your reflections on that tradition, and on similar opportunities to connect our Jewish traditions to this issue, and to justice issues more generally?
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky: Well, I love the Seder, and I encourage other members, Jewish or not Jewish, to come to understand about this celebration, this commitment, and the actual act of providing food. I think it’s so meaningful that this organization, that MAZON, does this, and I think the more people that we can bring from the Congress and those affiliated somehow with the Congress, that you do this is just fantastic. And I try to be there every single year.
Sammi Goldsmith: What stands out to you about MAZON among other public policy organizations?
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky: Oh, first of all, I think focusing on this particular holiday is very, very important and unique. To say that we’re going to talk about how we celebrate the freedom of the people of Israel. And how could we talk about freedom without talking about basic rights and food? And we name the foods we eat on Passover. And so I think it’s very special and very important that we bring people together focused around food, because these Seders also make sure that we understand the necessity of food and of making sure that all people have the privilege of joining in this holiday and every day being able to have the food that they need.
Sammi Goldsmith: In all of our advocacy work on Capitol Hill, in all of our work back home in districts, in the grantmaking that we do, what are your hopes for the next 40 years of MAZON?
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky: You know, it would be so beautiful if in the next 40 years, it was taken for granted that people have enough food, and it could just be a celebration from our Jewish community. My hope is that we can gather and say a blessing that we are so fortunate to live in the United States of America where people have sufficient food, that our children can grow up strong and healthy because we have food. And that we’re just celebrating that. Wouldn’t that be great?
That we can celebrate the fact in the United States of America, that all people are taken care of for basic essentials and can live their lives.
Sammi Goldsmith: Okay, last question and thank you so much for your time. This one is purely for fun. If MAZON were to have a 40th birthday party, what treat would you be bringing to that party, Congresswoman?
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky: Well, I have to tell you, that if there’s anything with lox… you know, I actually am mostly vegetarian. But when I decided to become vegetarian, I said, there’s one thing that I’m not going to give up, and that’s lox. And so I would like to have at least a nibble at MAZON’s celebration. So that’s my input here: lox.
Sammi Goldsmith: Perfect response. Well, Congresswoman, thank you so much for your time and for participating in this special edition for us. We look forward to sharing it with you and your team and in two short months, we will hopefully look forward to seeing you around our seder table.