Hazon
Encyclopedia
Hazon is a nonprofit organization
, based in New York City
, that seeks to create new vision in the Jewish community through outdoor and environmental education
. In Hebrew, hazon means "vision."
Hazon is best known for the Jewish environmental bike rides it organizes in the New York City
region, and for its joint sponsorship of the Israel Ride, a fundraiser in Israel
for the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
. The New York ride, which takes place during Labor Day
weekend each year, combines a Shabbaton
on the Friday and Saturday, with two days of cycling on the Sunday and Monday. The first New York ride was held in 2001. The Israel Ride has been held since 2003.
Hazon was founded in 2000 by Nigel Savage. Its first program was a six week cross-USA bike ride, from Washington State to Washington DC.
Hazon also promotes programs on issues related to food, and the annual Hazon Food Conference
is held every December. Its Tuv Ha'aretz program sponsors Jewish communities (synagogues, JCCs, schools) to build community supported agriculture programs (farm shares), and to engage in study of Jewish sources and traditions as it relates to healthy eating. Tuv Ha'aretz is a Hebrew phrase that suggests both "best of the land" and "good for the land".
Hazon's Board of Directors includes Mandy Patinkin
and Ruth Messinger
.
Our programs are multi-generational and give entree points for Jews of all backgrounds who are concerned about the environment and the world. Hazon serves a national and international population; members of every denomination and those who are unaffiliated; intergenerational from children to seniors – including families and singles, with a particular focus on young adults interested in developing the skills to take on leadership roles in their communities and make a difference in the world.
We effect change in the world in three ways.
Hazon's New York Ride is held over 4 days during Labor Day weekend in the New York area and draws over 300 participants from across the country. Rider fundraising supports the work of Hazon and its major partners. A series of smaller grants are allocated to projects in the Jewish community.
Hazon’s California Ride is held in the spring in Northern California. We launched our inaugural Ride in 2010 with 120 participants. The Ride features Hazon programming at the Shabbat retreat, followed by a beautiful ride in Sonoma and Marin Counties, and ending in San Francisco.
The Arava Institute Hazon Israel Ride: Cycling for Peace, Partnership & Environmental Protection is held annually over 7 days in the Fall. The Israel Ride is a 200–300 mile journey that provides participants the opportunity to experience the beauty and challenges of the Israeli landscape in a whole new way.
The Hazon Food Conference brings together foodies, educators, rabbis, farmers, nutritionists, chefs, food writers and families who share a passion for learning about and celebrating food.
Hazon CSA is the first Jewish Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in North America and is currently the largest faith-based CSA program in the country. In 2010, more than 50 Hazon CSAs put over $1 million in Jewish family purchasing power behind local, sustainable farms. Hazon CSA sites include JCCs, synagogues, Jewish day schools, and Hillels – and we’d love to add your community to the list.
The Jewish Food Education Network (JFEN) offers resources, curricula, and training about food and Jewish tradition, to help you navigate questions on topics such as nutrition, industrial farming, obesity, and family food traditions in a Jewish context. JFEN enables educators to tap into the passion about food and the environment in their communities and use food as a platform for innovative Jewish education.
"The Jew and the Carrot", a partnership between Hazon and the Forward, at jcarrot.org, serves as a public front page for our food work, bringing the discussions among Jewish farmers, day school educators, food enthusiasts, chefs and families about what is kosher – literally, "fit" – for us to eat to far reaching corners of the Jewish community and beyond.
Through the work initiated two years ago with the Jewish Climate Change Campaign, Hazon is participating in a new global initiative on Green Pilgrim Cities to inspire pilgrims on all continents and the pilgrim cities that receive them to leave a positive footprint on the Earth.
Hazon is one of the largest American funders of the Israeli environmental movement. Our outdoor events support some of the most vital work happening on environmental issues in Israel. The Israel Ride has raised over $1.5 million for the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. It also enables participants to learn first hand about some of the key issues Israel faces, and some of the ways that environmentalists are helping to create peace.
Hazon supports a number of environmental organizations that have significantly benefited from the grants awarded through the New York and California Rides. Since 2000, we have given away $600,000 to support more than 70 projects, including:
Additionally, Hazon fiscally sponsors a number of innovative and cutting edge Jewish environmental organizations, including Jewish Farm School and Wilderness Torah.
If we have a set of values which stand purely as values, these include:
We hold a series of connected beliefs:
Bike to the Beach: Hazon’s annual day of biking and beach lounging! Starting from multiple locations and riding to Coney Island for a party on the beach, it’s the perfect summer fun (and free!) activity for friends and family.
Founded in 2010, Makom Hadash now offers office space for up to 27 full-time workers, with the possibility of increased capacity up to 45 seats; a few spaces for resident organizations are available for immediate occupancy.
Siach is also deepening the nuanced understanding of Jewish Peoplehood and Israel engagement with those for whom the pursuit of social and environmental justice is one of the defining characteristics of their identity.
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, that seeks to create new vision in the Jewish community through outdoor and environmental education
Environmental education
Environmental education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to...
. In Hebrew, hazon means "vision."
Hazon is best known for the Jewish environmental bike rides it organizes in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
region, and for its joint sponsorship of the Israel Ride, a fundraiser in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
for the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies is an accredited academic program for undergraduate and graduate studies located at Kibbutz Ketura on the Israeli side of the Arava Valley. It seeks to train future leaders of the Middle East in environmental issues so that they will be able to...
. The New York ride, which takes place during Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
weekend each year, combines a Shabbaton
Shabbaton
The Hebrew term Shabbaton, , may be translated into English to mean sabbatical year. In Israel, when one takes a sabbatical year, one takes the year off in search of other pursuits. It is a rest from work, a hiatus, typically 2 months plus...
on the Friday and Saturday, with two days of cycling on the Sunday and Monday. The first New York ride was held in 2001. The Israel Ride has been held since 2003.
Hazon was founded in 2000 by Nigel Savage. Its first program was a six week cross-USA bike ride, from Washington State to Washington DC.
Hazon also promotes programs on issues related to food, and the annual Hazon Food Conference
Hazon Food Conference
The Hazon Food Conference is an annual meeting of farmers, culinary experts, global citizens, business, community and Jewish leaders to focus on contemporary food issues and exchange ideas on improving health and sustainability in communities throughout the world...
is held every December. Its Tuv Ha'aretz program sponsors Jewish communities (synagogues, JCCs, schools) to build community supported agriculture programs (farm shares), and to engage in study of Jewish sources and traditions as it relates to healthy eating. Tuv Ha'aretz is a Hebrew phrase that suggests both "best of the land" and "good for the land".
Hazon's Board of Directors includes Mandy Patinkin
Mandy Patinkin
Mandel Bruce "Mandy" Patinkin is an award-winning American actor of stage and screen and a tenor vocalist. He is a noted interpreter of the musical works of Stephen Sondheim, and is best-known for his work in musical theatre, originating iconic roles such as Georges Seurat in Sunday in the Park...
and Ruth Messinger
Ruth Messinger
Ruth Wyler Messinger is a former political leader in New York City and a member of the Democratic Party as well as the Democratic Socialists of America. She was the Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York City in 1997, losing to incumbent mayor Rudy Giuliani. She is married to Andrew Lachman, her...
.
Vision And Mission
We create healthier and more sustainable communities in the Jewish world and beyond.Our programs are multi-generational and give entree points for Jews of all backgrounds who are concerned about the environment and the world. Hazon serves a national and international population; members of every denomination and those who are unaffiliated; intergenerational from children to seniors – including families and singles, with a particular focus on young adults interested in developing the skills to take on leadership roles in their communities and make a difference in the world.
We effect change in the world in three ways.
Transformative Experiences
Our programs directly touch lives in powerful ways.Hazon's New York Ride is held over 4 days during Labor Day weekend in the New York area and draws over 300 participants from across the country. Rider fundraising supports the work of Hazon and its major partners. A series of smaller grants are allocated to projects in the Jewish community.
Hazon’s California Ride is held in the spring in Northern California. We launched our inaugural Ride in 2010 with 120 participants. The Ride features Hazon programming at the Shabbat retreat, followed by a beautiful ride in Sonoma and Marin Counties, and ending in San Francisco.
The Arava Institute Hazon Israel Ride: Cycling for Peace, Partnership & Environmental Protection is held annually over 7 days in the Fall. The Israel Ride is a 200–300 mile journey that provides participants the opportunity to experience the beauty and challenges of the Israeli landscape in a whole new way.
The Hazon Food Conference brings together foodies, educators, rabbis, farmers, nutritionists, chefs, food writers and families who share a passion for learning about and celebrating food.
Hazon CSA is the first Jewish Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in North America and is currently the largest faith-based CSA program in the country. In 2010, more than 50 Hazon CSAs put over $1 million in Jewish family purchasing power behind local, sustainable farms. Hazon CSA sites include JCCs, synagogues, Jewish day schools, and Hillels – and we’d love to add your community to the list.
Thought-Leadership
Writing, speaking, teaching, and advocacy.The Jewish Food Education Network (JFEN) offers resources, curricula, and training about food and Jewish tradition, to help you navigate questions on topics such as nutrition, industrial farming, obesity, and family food traditions in a Jewish context. JFEN enables educators to tap into the passion about food and the environment in their communities and use food as a platform for innovative Jewish education.
"The Jew and the Carrot", a partnership between Hazon and the Forward, at jcarrot.org, serves as a public front page for our food work, bringing the discussions among Jewish farmers, day school educators, food enthusiasts, chefs and families about what is kosher – literally, "fit" – for us to eat to far reaching corners of the Jewish community and beyond.
Through the work initiated two years ago with the Jewish Climate Change Campaign, Hazon is participating in a new global initiative on Green Pilgrim Cities to inspire pilgrims on all continents and the pilgrim cities that receive them to leave a positive footprint on the Earth.
Capacity-Building
Supporting great people and projects in North America and Israel.Hazon is one of the largest American funders of the Israeli environmental movement. Our outdoor events support some of the most vital work happening on environmental issues in Israel. The Israel Ride has raised over $1.5 million for the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. It also enables participants to learn first hand about some of the key issues Israel faces, and some of the ways that environmentalists are helping to create peace.
Hazon supports a number of environmental organizations that have significantly benefited from the grants awarded through the New York and California Rides. Since 2000, we have given away $600,000 to support more than 70 projects, including:
- The down payment on the Adamah house, and ongoing support of the Adamah, the Jewish environmental Fellowship.
- Support for the Teva Learning Center, the largest Jewish environmental education organization in the US.
- The Israel Bicycle Association, which promotes active transport to improve health, communities and overall quality of life in Israel.
- The Green Apprenticeship, a Practical Ecology Training Program at Kibbutz Lotan.
Additionally, Hazon fiscally sponsors a number of innovative and cutting edge Jewish environmental organizations, including Jewish Farm School and Wilderness Torah.
Theory of Change
We start with the belief that engaging Jews in environmental education, action, and advocacy changes them, their families, their institutions, and the community as a whole.If we have a set of values which stand purely as values, these include:
- the value of multi‐generational programs
- a strong commitment to inclusive community
- being both Jewishly serious and open
- cultivating leadership
- seeking to have impact locally, nationally, and in Israel (and, slowly, elsewhere)
We hold a series of connected beliefs:
- that Jewish tradition comes alive when we engage with some of the most important issues of our time such as environmental sustainability, the challenge of living healthily, the question of where our food comes from, etc.
- that Jewish life is most powerfully renewed through transformative experiences
- that the most powerful transformative experiences bring people together across differences
- that effecting change means thinking about multiplier effects: how to inspire and connect people to create and lead their own projects towards our greater goals
- that the distinction between (for instance) “Jewish renewal” and “social justice” is a false one
- properly understood, we believe that renewing Jewish life necessarily involves making a better world for all; and that when Jewish people, as Jewish people, work to renew the world, they necessarily strengthen Jewish life
- that education, action, and advocacy reinforce each other
New York Ride & Retreat
The NY Ride was founded in 2001, and takes place each year over Labor Day Weekend. The Hazon New York Ride is more than a bike ride, it is a four-day event that includes a Shabbat retreat, a 2-day Ride and so much more. Additionally, it raises money for cutting-edge Jewish environmental projects in the United States and Israel.California Bike Ride
The CA Ride is held every spring, and features a Shabbat retreat and a 2-day ride, with a century option for the first day. Funds raised support Hazon and other organizations that support environmental causes in Jewish communities in the United States and in Israel.The Arava Institute and Hazon Israel Ride
The Israel Ride was founded in 2003, and takes place each year in November. The Ride brings people to Israel who’ve never visited before, and gives people who’ve been to Israel many times the chance to see the country from a unique vantage point – the seat of a bicycle! The experience builds relationships among American Jews, and between Israelis and Americans, and raises significant funds to support the work of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies and for Hazon.Cross-USA Ride
Learn more about the 2012 Hazon Cross USA Ride as the ride’s director, Wendy Levine, travels this October and November to speak to potential riders. View a list of the stops she’ll be making below. We ask that you RSVP if you’re planning on attending.Hightlights
- 72 days, 53 cycling days, 9 Shabbat rest days, 5 service days, and an orientation
- Average of 70 miles per day (approximately between 4 and 8 hours of riding each day)
- Segment options available ranging from 1-5 weeks
- Semi-supported tour – a vehicle carries the gear, luggage, and equipment.
- Experienced and knowledgeable tour support team
- Meals are included – kosher and mostly vegetarian (always a vegetarian option)
- Camping accommodations for most of the program
- June 7 – August 16, 2012
- 3600 Miles/Seattle, WA to Washington, DC
Bike to the Beach: Hazon’s annual day of biking and beach lounging! Starting from multiple locations and riding to Coney Island for a party on the beach, it’s the perfect summer fun (and free!) activity for friends and family.
- New York Training Rides: Hazon Training Rides are free, fun rides of varying lengths and difficulty. We ride in New York City, Brooklyn, and New Jersey, all summer long. Training Rides are a great way to find out what Hazon is all about, meet people who are going on the NY Ride, connect with old friends you met on a previous ride, and explore new places…by bike!
Jews, Food, and Contemporary Life
- Hazon Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program: Community-Supported Agriculture is a co-operative agreement between a farmer and a group of urban members where members pay in advance for a share of a farmer’s produce for the season. Hazon’s CSA program is the first ongoing effort in the American Jewish community to support local, sustainable agriculture. Founded in 2004, our CSA program now includes over fifty-six in the US, Canada and Israel, and over 2,300 households. The Hazon CSA program has helped the Jewish community to put over $1 million dollars behind sustainable agriculture, and supported Jewish institutions such as synagogues and JCCs create innovative educational programming around the intersections of Jewish tradition and contemporary food and environmental issues.
- The Hazon Food Conference: The Hazon Food Conference is held every year and brings together a diverse group of participants – educators, food lovers, farmers, home gardeners, nutritionists, rabbis, chefs, and community organizers, to name a few – from across the country. Participants explore the intersections of Jewish tradition and contemporary food issues through an array of speakers and workshops, and enjoy four days of delicious, consciously-prepared food.
- Setting the Table: Setting the Table is a four-part program on healthy family cooking and eating for expectant families living in Brownstone Brooklyn. Each session participants will learn to prepare 3 healthy, delicious and market fresh recipes. Meals will cover different cooking styles and techniques from around the world.
- Israel Sustainable Food Tour: A six-day Tour of Israel, from the unique perspective of sustainable food. This one-of-a-kind mission highlights developments in Israel towards more sustainable food production and consumption.
- The Jewish Food Education Network (JFEN): Hazon’s Jewish Food Education Network, JFEN, is a network of educators teaching and learning about the emerging field of Jewish Food Education. JFEN provides access to cutting edge curricula on Jews, food, and contemporary life as well as other benefits for educators.
- Min Ha’Aretz Curriculum: Min Ha’Aretz is a three-part family education initiative for Jewish day schools consisting of a curriculum for students, a related beit midrash for adults, and joint family-education programs. Min Ha’Aretz uses food and Jewish tradition as focal points to create innovative programming for Jewish grade school children and their parents. It aims to strengthen intra-family conversations about food, Jewish tradition, and the world around us.
- The Jew & The Carrot: Hazon’s award-winning blog "The Jew & The Carrot" serves as a front page for all of Hazon’s food work, bringing the discussions of food, Jewish life and contemporary issues to far reaching corners of the Jewish community. The Jew & The Carrot covers food news and politics, food celebrity interviews and resources to green your holidays and life. The Jew & The Carrot won awards for "Best New Blog" and "Best Kosher Food/Recipe Blog" in the 2007 Jewish and Israeli Blog Awards.
Makom Hadash
Makom Hadash is a hub for the Jewish innovation community in New York, and a residency center for second-stage Jewish non-profit organizations. Combining affordable space and office services with a community of colleagues and regular opportunities to learn, socialize and collaborate, it enables its member organizations to focus more on their missions, develop more sophisticated organizational infrastructure and collaborate more effectively together.Founded in 2010, Makom Hadash now offers office space for up to 27 full-time workers, with the possibility of increased capacity up to 45 seats; a few spaces for resident organizations are available for immediate occupancy.
Siach
The global Siach network of Jewish environment and social justice professionals and activists launched at our 1st conference in May at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center, USA. Plans are underway for next year’s conference in Israel, and the network is supporting ongoing conversations, connections and collaboration to further the impact of Jewish Social justice around the world.Siach is also deepening the nuanced understanding of Jewish Peoplehood and Israel engagement with those for whom the pursuit of social and environmental justice is one of the defining characteristics of their identity.
See also
- SustainabilitySustainabilitySustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
- BiodiversityBiodiversityBiodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
- Global warmingGlobal warmingGlobal warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
- RecyclingRecyclingRecycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
- EcologyEcologyEcology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
- Earth ScienceEarth scienceEarth science is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth. It is arguably a special case in planetary science, the Earth being the only known life-bearing planet. There are both reductionist and holistic approaches to Earth sciences...
- Natural environmentNatural environmentThe natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
External links
- Hazon's official website
- The Jew and the Carrot blog about Jews and Food sponsored by Hazon
- the Hazon Food Conference Hazon's annual event dedicated to creating healthier and more sustainable communities through food and Jewish values
- Venture Cyclist postings on Hazon from blog by Hazon board member, Richard Dale