Send page to a Friend Jewish Education Resources Jewish text and tradition provides a clear mandate to work towards the eradication of hunger and can be a key source of motivation for synagogue-based social justice programs. The following activities, lesson plans, and articles link Jewish teachings and homelessness. Check the General Social Justice section of this guide for more Jewish resources. To borrow these materials, or for more information on placing orders, contact tzedekresources@jcrcboston.org. Organizations Mazon, the Jewish Response to Hunger, has extensive educational materials available on its website. The “Hunger No More” and “Decisions 2002” curricula focus on the problem of hunger and what Jewish texts say about our mandate to fight it. While these curricula discuss 2002 legislative issues, they have a shelf life of several years. The six lesson plans were designed for adults and youth in synagogue education programs, and can be used independently of each other if necessary. Handouts, an extensive leaders’ guide, and activities for children and youth are included. Adaptable for all ages, the core curriculum is for teens and adults. These materials can be found at http://www.mazon.org/pages/hungernomore2.html. Project Bread assembled the resource booklet Faith in Action as a reference tool for communities of all faiths to use in their work to fight hunger. It includes ideas for activities, curricula to raise awareness and facilitate action against hunger. For more information, contact Project Bread's Community Organizer at 617-239-2539, or order the booklet directly at http://www.projectbread.org/mchi/faithorder.html. Curricula The Children’s Hunger Sabbath Resource Booklet was published by Project Bread to mobilize religious congregations to contribute to the fight against child hunger in Massachusetts. The booklet describes specific time-sensitive advocacy opportunities as well as information on how religious communities can fight hunger in general. It also includes different activities and lesson plans appropriate for all ages. To order the booklet, call 617-723-5000 or e-mail MCHIinfo@projectbread.org. Project Bread is http://www.projectbread.org/. Judaism and Urban Poverty Curriculum: An Exploration of Urban Poverty in the Light of Jewish Tradition aims to raise awareness about the experience of living in poverty. In the activity, students discuss difficult choices and learn how to affect the system and eliminate the causes of poverty. Simultaneously, students discuss traditional Jewish responses to poverty from Maimonides and other sources. A recommended field trip exposes students to poverty in their area and provides a means for direct action. This curriculum is produced by the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and can be ordered by calling 312-663-0960. The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs website can be found at http://www.jcua.org/. An outline of the curriculum can be found on the website under “our work”/ advocacy. The Tzedakah Fellowship Curriculum: Giving and Organizing for Positive Social Change teaches middle school students about the causes and effects of poverty, Jewish responses throughout history, and mandates of Jewish texts. The topics of the six lesson plans include community organizing and the structural roots of poverty. Study questions, work sheets and a teachers’ guide are also included. This curriculum is produced by the Jewish Fund for Justice and can be ordered by calling 212- 213-2113 or by e-mailing jfjustice@jfjustice.org. The Jewish Fund for Justice website can be found at http://www.jfjustice.org/. What Do Jewish Sources Say about Caring for Poor and Hungry People? This sheet of Jewish text excerpts on hunger would be a useful learning tool for a short lesson. Alternatively, a group leader could select a few of these quotations as a springboard into discussion. This resource is produced by Mazon and can be ordered by calling 310-442-0020. Mazon’s website can be found at http://www.mazon.org/. Texts The Dynamics of Tzedakah: From Dependence to Dignity is a curriculum for adults or advanced high school students. Discusses how to give tzedakah without promoting dependency or injuring the pride of the recipient, and addresses the questions that arise when giving tzedakah. Produced by the Shalom Hartman Institute, it can be ordered by calling 212-772-9711. Jewish Attitudes Toward the Hungry from With and Without Their Community is a 29-page essay written by Avi Weinstein discussing “Jewish ethical responses to hunger and their practical applications.” Specifically, it deals with the question of Jewish responsibility for the non-Jewish poor. For a copy, please contact JCRC at tzedekresources@jcrcboston.org or 617-457-8600. A Jewish Response to Hunger is an 8-page guided description of Jewish texts about hunger and social justice. It can be used in settings when there is not enough time to conduct a full lesson plan. Part of a collection written by Richard Schwartz on “Judaism, Vegetarianism and Animal Rights. ” It is available at http://www.jewishveg.com/schwartz/response-hunger.html.