I had never heard the phrase, “food insecurity,” until a few months ago.
I realize, of course, the privilege embedded in a statement like that. Not having heard the phrase means not having to worry about food. I’ve never wondered where my next meal would come from. And I certainly have never had to decide between paying for food or paying my rent.
My hardest food decisions have been figuring out which restaurants served food that my children would eat.
The synagogue religious school where I teach ran family learning programs this year regarding food insecurity. Each grade participated in a learning activity about the role food plays in our lives and the ways that people’s food needs influence their decisions each day. Parents shared in the learning with their children and everyone received information about local residents struggling with food insecurity.
The activities culminated in a synagogue-wide event. Synagogue members, students and staff packed bags of Passover food and groceries for local residents struggling with food insecurity. Plus, as opposed to shipping the bags to a different location, the food was handed directly to the people in need who had come to wait outside the synagogue for their groceries. Continue reading “Helping Others Taste Freedom for Passover”