Last month, people around the world gathered together to retell the story of the Exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt, a people breaking free from the yoke of the Pharoh’s oppression. As part of this retelling, it is customary for the youngest participant at the table to ask the four questions that illustrate what makes this night different from others during the year. Every year, MAZON proposes a fifth question to everyone gathered at the table. Though the story of Passover is thousands of years old, the moral of the story is evergreen and calls those gathered to confront modern-day inequities that continue to plague our world. In that spirit, MAZON put forth the following fifth question this year:
When will the needs of those who are hungry come before the whims of the powerful?
This question asks us to consider how our political and socioeconomic institutions have a role to play in ending food insecurity. To that end, MAZON asked four Members of Congress and leading advocates for ending hunger to provide their own reflections to this question.
Congressman Andy Levin from Michigan reflected on the immense wealth of our country and yet the injustice of food insecurity, especially amongst overlooked communities, persists and calls upon all of us to support those who are most marginalized in our country.
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs of California reflected on the Jewish obligation to care for one another and the work that remains for all of us to do in order to end the scourge of hunger.
🧵: Passover begins this Friday evening, and like many Jewish holidays, food plays a central role in the celebration. This Passover, my friends at @MAZONusa are challenging us to remember that too many households in America face food insecurity. pic.twitter.com/mNBHvIcdVH
— Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (@RepSaraJacobs) April 14, 2022
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois reflected on the strain the COVID-19 epidemic placed on so many families across the country and the inexplicable choice to allow one in five children to experience food insecurity in the United States.
Finally, Chairman Jim McGovern of Massachusetts asked us to consider the devastating impact of hunger here in the United States and how so many of those who are fortunate are unable to comprehend that families who receive assistance are oftentimes still finding themselves food insecure.
Wishing a Happy Passover to those celebrating this important holiday!
I’m joining @MAZONusa to reflect on how we can fight injustices & remember the millions of Americans who go hungry every day. Today is an important reminder that we CAN organize for a better tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/yomYCREwA1
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) April 15, 2022
MAZON is incredibly thankful not only for these thoughtful reflections from these Members of Congress, but more importantly for their actions as political leaders. Not only do they consistently work to address food insecurity in the United States, but they are often leaders of these efforts.
If you have heard the call from these officials and would like to join MAZON in our advocacy efforts, please join us today. Reach out to hello@mazon.org if you’d like to learn more and get involved.