Celebrate Food Day: “Jewish Perspectives on Food Justice”

What does it mean to be a “locavore,” vegetarian or an “ethical omnivore”? What do all of these food choices have to do with being Jewish? The Union for Reform Judaism and the Religious Action Center will tackle
these questions and more this year with Jewish Perspectives on Food Justice, a
special webinar celebrating Food Day
on October 24 at 3 p.m. ET.

Join us as we learn from special guests Richard Schwartz (President of Jewish Vegetarians of North America), Rabbi Kevin Kleinman (Assistant Rabbi at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, PA), and Anna Hanau (Associate Director of Hazon), and discuss practical ways to tackle food justice challenges in our local communities.

Food Day is a nationwide campaign designed to inspire people and communities to “eat real” and support healthy, affordable food grown in a humane, sustainable way. The celebration will unite thousands of events happening in schools, town, cities, synagogues, churches and mosques across America.

This day of action and learning comes just after Sukkot, a particularly relevant time in the Jewish calendar to discuss these issues. On Sukkot we build a sukkah to recall the hardships our ancestors suffered while tending to their harvests each year. Today we celebrate the endless food options available to many while working to ameliorate hunger and malnutrition at home and abroad.

Jewish tradition gives us even more food for thought, calling upon us to think about the social and environmental impacts of our food not just on Sukkot, but also throughout the year. At the 2009 URJ Biennial, Rabbi Eric Yoffie launched the Shulchan Yarok, Shulchan Tzedek (Green Table, Just Table) initiative to promote ethical and sustainable eating within the Reform Movement. The initiative unites a growing number of congregations and communities across North America that are engaged in food justice work, such as running Community Supported Agriculture programs, growing fresh produce in their own gardens, and sharing seasonal cooking recipes.

On October 24, don’t miss the opportunity to explore the Jewish values that affirm conscious food choices. I invite you to register now for our special webinar “Jewish Perspectives on Food Justice” and join us as we celebrate Food Day together.