The board of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger and a group of rabbis from around the country were on Capitol Hill Wednesday lobbying against the House farm bill on the grounds that the nutrition title will make some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants lose benefits while not helping needy military families get food they need.

For several years, MAZON has pointed out that counting a service member’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) as income when determining eligibility for federal nutrition assistance keeps needy families from qualifying for SNAP and said that excluding the BAH would help thousands of low-income military families put food on the table.

The House farm bill contains a provision that excludes the first $500 of a service member’s BAH from counting as income for SNAP eligibility determination, but MAZON maintains that amount is too low to make much of a difference.

In February 2018, Adath Jeshurun will observe the 10th Annual Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM.) The Inclusion Committee, in cooperation with the Jewish Family and Children Services, sponsors activities to raise awareness and encourage action to include people with disabilities in all aspects of synagogue life. The Adath Inclusion Committee is dedicated to making the synagogue accessible to all people, especially those who experience special needs and challenges. This year, on Shabbat Terumah, our presenter will be Albert Walla, who will speak and enlighten us on "Being Jewish and Deaf—My Experiences". This should be a very interesting presentation as Mr. Walla speaks through a voice ASL Interpreter.

Life can get busy around our house with four kids between the ages of 6-13. In addition to school, our afternoons and weekends consist of my husband and I playing the role of Uber drivers for our kids’ sports, religious schools, play-dates and extra curricular activities. We LOVE the chaos and the busy life that comes with having four children. That said, there are times when I wish we could slow down just a bit, take a step back and a deep breath to appreciate it all, and do more to understand how other people outside our little bubble live.

Just before Rosh Hashanah Adath Jeshurun Congregation received a beautiful note from faith leaders in Minnetonka. 

It began, " As you prepare to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, we offer our love and prayers to your community of faith." 

Read the full text HERE

D'var Torah by Joyce Orbuch
on September 23, 2017

So, is 83 the new 13?? I don’t think so… but Judaism does give us the opportunity to turn 13 twice.
 
The custom for having a bat or Bar Mitzvah at 83 comes from the verse in Psalm 90 which says, the days of our years are 70, or if by reason of special strength, 80 years.  At 70, one can start counting again.  Add 13 years and you get 83. Our age.

Many of us just experienced MAZON, A Jewish Response to Hunger's traveling exhibit. The This is Hunger truck, an interactive experience on wheels was parked in the Adath parking lot at the end of June. Stepping inside was an illuminating and gut-wrenching experience. The exhibit shed light on the profound prevalence of hunger in America. Did you know 1 in 8 Americans struggle with hunger? Nearly 6 million of our seniors are food insecure. Over 13 million children live with hunger every day.

​The High Holy Days is a time to renew our commitment and raise our voices on behalf of the 42.2 million Americans who struggle with hunger every day.

By Dudley Deshommes-Kohls 

​My name is Dudley L. Deshommes-Kohls. My husband, Andrew Deshommes-Kohls, and I are gift members at Adath. During this trial period we’ve been exploring various ways to become more involved within the community and to get to know our fellow Adath members. Participating with Hesed has been a great way to start building community, while at the same time fulfilling a mitzvah through performing  tzedakah.

When you donate a minimum of $36 or three hours of volunteer time at either STEP, ICA or PRISM food shelves you will become part of Hesed's Giving Circle. You can also gift a membership. Danielle Berkow, a Makomnik, received a Giving Circle membership at Hannukah. Here is her story:

By Danielle Berkow
One of my favorite gifts I received this year during Hanukah was not something you could shop for at a store or online; I became a member of Adath’s Giving Circle. I didn’t specifically ask for the membership, but I had outlined on the wish list that I prefer not to receive material gifts. As a twentysomething, I have more than my fair share of material things. In fact, I’m tired of things. I want fewer things, and I seek to replace them with meaningful experiences and contributions to society. 
​

by Natalie Zamansky
Playdates are not easy to squeeze into our busy schedule and they're even harder to prioritize when I don't know the child’s parents. But, for the past several weeks, our daughter, Mia (age 6), has been asking for a playdate with her friend Nahla from school. I don't know Nahla well, and I don’t know her mother at all, which has been part of the barrier for making plans.

By Ronen Pink
​
​You might say I’m big into Pling--plastic bling--as a boy who wears a lot of bracelets. It’s not that I’m a big fan of jewelry, but each one represents an important experience or value in my life.  One says, “Zachor” to keep me consciously reminded of the Holocaust, and MY role in ensuring that the memories of those who perished and those who suffered will never be forgotten.