MAZON outreach team members have the great privilege to work with synagogue and school communities across the nation in seeding or nurturing the promise of their anti-hunger social justice efforts. And sometimes, that vision is crystalized in the memory of the truly menschlichkeit among us.
Last spring, Congregation Beth El of Norwalk, Connecticut hosted their inaugural Linda Lerman Memorial Tzedek Shabbaton: Confronting Hunger Together. MAZON’s Director of Outreach Liz Braun-Lilenfeld was invited to share a d’var at Friday Shabbat services and join a post-Saturday-oneg panel alongside three incredible local organizations: CT Foodshare, Elayne & James Schoke Jewish Family Service, and Person to Person. But it was Linda’s memory that drove the loving investment of the whole community in the weekend and beyond.
Linda Lerman (z”l), wife of congregant Rabbi Jeffery Silberman and mother of Dina and Avi, wielded the keen perception and resourcefulness of a librarian. She not only identified a hunger issue on the community college campus on which she worked, but was instrumental in organizing a response – an effort her daughter Dina was called to join as well in her time as a student.
Linda’s family wanted to honor her in the spirit in which she lived her life – ensuring the advancement of her holy work. Hand in hand with Congregation Beth El’s Rabbi Ita Paskind, and ideated alongside the Rabbinical Assembly’s Tzedek Center Director Emily Jaeger, this shabbaton was born – a thoughtful amalgamation of Jewish communal connection and observance featuring learning (from the bimah and otherwise), invitations to advocate, and a fill-the-pantry call to action.
“We worked together for many months to create something special in Linda’s memory,” said Rabbi Paskind, “and the result was a weekend that reflected her values and the very best of our congregation.” For MAZON’s part, we see this as laying the foundation of a relationship for years to come.
Looking to plan programming in your community? Get in touch at outreach@mazon.org.