MAZON Statements

Today, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger announced three new partnership grants as part of the organization’s efforts to combat food insecurity in Israel. The leading nonprofit organization advocating to end hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the U.S. and Israel has worked to address food security and severe poverty issues in the country since its founding 40 years ago, and noted the grantees’ long history of success and impact.

“MAZON is committed to ending hunger at a systemic level by tackling the issue at its root, and we are delighted to join with three new partners who are equally dedicated to our mission,” stated Mia Hubbard, MAZON’s Executive Vice President. “More than 30 percent of all Israelis struggle with food insecurity — a number that should be absolutely unacceptable to every single person. We must work towards a world where no one has to worry about where their next meal comes from, and we look forward to working with our new partners to make that a reality.”

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Life & Environment, and Tzedek Centers will each receive one-year grants from MAZON, with the possibility for annual renewal, to grow and enhance the existing systems change work they are doing in their communities. MAZON will work with the partners to engage new stakeholders and sectors in the fight against hunger in an effort to garner more policy engagement for the issue.

“Our hope is always to find partners that share our values and our commitment to ending hunger in Israel, and we believe we have found just that in our newest cohort of grantee partners,” added Ishai Menuchin, MAZON’s Israel Director. “The issue of hunger in Israel is very real, and the government does not act as if it is its responsibility. Our neighbors living with food insecurity need our urgent attention. By building upon the work that these three organizations are doing, we will have an even stronger chance at lifting up those in need of our help and support.”

“Local governments stand as one of the most hopeful and stable mechanisms within the current complex political reality,” noted Izhar Carmon, founder and CEO of Tzedek Centers. “It is through municipalities that we can advance critical initiatives such as food security and combating poverty. MAZON’s support for the ‘Local Voice’ program, which has already trained and connected nearly 200 city council members across Israel and recently launched a new training program, is deeply important and greatly appreciated.”

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) is Israel’s oldest and largest human rights organization. For more than 50 years, ACRI has advocated for a wide range of human rights for all. They pursue change through advocacy, legal action, education, and public engagement. The grant will allow ACRI to hire a field worker in the Negev to enhance the organization’s capacity to address poverty and food insecurity through more effective legal action, policy advocacy, public campaigns, and collaborative solutions.

Life & Environment (L&E) is a national leader and umbrella organization for Israel’s environmental movement, which boasts over 150 local and national organizations. L&E leads and shapes public and political discourse on climate change and advocates with government officials and the private sector for climate change solutions. Their food security work will encompass four strategies including building the resilience of local agricultural systems, strengthening safety nets for farmers, ensuring access to healthy food at the local level with a focus on vulnerable populations, and promoting innovation in food systems. 

Tzedek Centers is an Israeli grassroots movement that promotes democracy, equality, and justice. Their work towards systemic change centers around training and mobilizing local elected leaders, empowering and building local advocates, and creating and leveraging a network of organized resilient communities throughout Israel. Their most significant collaborative platform is the Equality Forum, which unites over 15 civil society organizations that support council members in the promotion of democratic agendas at the municipal level. Their plans include developing a dedicated focus group of municipal council members tasked with exploring food security needs, as well as targeted trainings and awareness-raising initiatives.

To learn more about MAZON’s ongoing efforts in Israel, visit mazon.org/priorities/israel/.