Hazon
{{Short description|American nonprofit organization}}
{{For|the place|Hazon, Israel}}
{{Infobox non-profit
| name = Hazon
| formation = {{start date and age|2000}}
| native_name = חָזוֹן
| native_name_lang = he
| logo = Hazon logo.svg
| type = Non-profit
| founded_date =
| founder = Nigel Savage
| location =
| focus = Sustainability
| headquarters = New York City, United States
| website = {{official url}}
| homepage =
}}
Hazon ({{langx|he|חָזוֹן}} {{IPAc-he|kh|a|ˈ|z|o|n}}) is an American nonprofit organization based in New York City that seeks to "create new vision" in the Jewish community through outdoor and environmental education. It was founded in 2000 by its British-born CEO Nigel Savage.{{Cite web|last=Liphshiz|first=Cnaan|title=Jewish 'Communities' in Western Europe operate like expensive members-only clubs|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-communities-in-western-europe-operate-like-expensive-members-only-clubs/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=www.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Forward 50, 2008|url=https://forward.com/forward-50-2008/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=The Forward|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-04-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406064913/https://forward.com/forward-50-2008/|url-status=dead}} The organization claims to be America's "largest faith-based environmental organization".{{Cite web|date=2020-07-03|title=New organization Dayenu seeks to mobilize US Jews for climate action|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/earthbeat/new-organization-dayenu-seeks-mobilize-us-jews-climate-action|access-date=2020-08-19|website=National Catholic Reporter|language=en}} Hazon's advisory board of directors is chaired by Ruth Messinger.{{Cite web|title=Advisory Boards|url=http://hazon.org/about/contact/advisory-boards/|access-date=2020-08-20|website=Hazon|language=en-US}}
Name and aims
In Hebrew, hazon means "vision".
In March 2019, Hazon issued a cease and desist order to stop an Israeli right-wing organization that is against same-sex marriages and promotes a Jewish religious agenda from using its trademarked name. Savage has stated that the messages from the Israeli organization "radically stand against all that we have done, and all that we have tried to do, since our founding in 2000".{{Cite news|title=U.S. environmental organization Hazon wants Israeli right-wing group to stop using its name|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/u-s-environmental-org-hazon-wants-israeli-right-wing-group-to-stop-using-its-name-1.7002460|access-date=2020-08-19|newspaper=Haaretz|language=en}}
Hazon promotes what it calls "immersive JOFEE experiences". JOFEE stands for Jewish, Outdoor, Food, Farming & Environmental Education.{{Cite web|title=Mission & Vision|url=https://hazon.org/about/mission-vision/|access-date=2020-08-20|website=Hazon|language=en-US}}
Events
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 benefitting both Hazon and the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. Hazon's first program was a six-week cross-USA bike ride, from Washington state to Washington, D.C. 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.{{Cite web|title=200 Jewish cyclists kick off 16th annual 'Israel Ride'|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/200-jewish-cyclists-kick-off-16th-annual-israel-ride-607007|access-date=2020-08-19|website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com}}
Hazon also promotes programs on issues related to food. It convenes the annual Hazon Food Conference every December.{{Cite web|last=Palevsky|first=Stacey|date=2009-01-02|title=Hazon conference draws hundreds hungry for Jewish food movement|url=https://www.jweekly.com/2009/01/02/hazon-conference-draws-hundreds-hungry-for-jewish-food-movement/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=J.|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Harris|first=Ben|title=As Jewish farming programs yield more alumni, a growing community takes root|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-jewish-farming-programs-yield-more-alumni-a-growing-community-takes-root/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=www.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US}} Its Tuv Ha'aretz program sponsors Jewish communities (including synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, and schools) to build community supported agriculture programs (i.e., farm shares), and to engage in study of Jewish sources and traditions as they relate to healthy eating.{{Cite web|date=2012-01-23|title=Hazon, a local Jewish group, runs farm, sustainability programs|url=https://www.dailycamera.com/ci_19800321/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Boulder Daily Camera|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2015-09-04|title=September 4, 2015 ~ Jewish Environmentalism {{!}} September 4, 2015 {{!}} Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly {{!}} PBS|url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/09/04/september-4-2015-jewish-environmentalism/26943/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-07-25|title=How Different Religious Groups Are Promoting Food Security|url=https://foodtank.com/news/2019/07/24-faith-based-organizations-promoting-food-security/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Food Tank|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Selasky|first=Susan|date=|title=Chef demos planned for Sunday's Jewish Food Festival at Eastern Market|url=https://www.freep.com/story/life/food/2018/08/22/jewish-food-festival-sunday-eastern-market/1042206002/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Detroit Free Press|language=en-US}} Tuv Ha'aretz is a Hebrew phrase that suggests both "best of the land" and "good for the land".{{Cite web|date=2008-12-30|title=Jewish food movement comes of age|url=https://www.jta.org/2008/12/30/lifestyle/jewish-food-movement-comes-of-age|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US}}
The organization has created an initiative called the Seal of Sustainability aimed at promoting "sustainable lifestyles and environmental consciousness".{{Cite web|date=2019-12-23|title=West Marin Jews call for environmental vigilance|url=https://www.marinij.com/2019/12/22/west-marin-jews-call-for-environmental-vigilance/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Marin Independent Journal|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=About Seal of Sustainability|url=http://hazon.org/seal/about/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Hazon|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2019-09-25|title=Hazon Calls for 'Environmental Teshuvah' in the New Year 5780|url=https://jewishjournal.com/community/304900/hazon-calls-for-environmental-teshuvah-in-the-new-year-5780/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Jewish Journal|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Hillel Commits to Sustainability Initiatives|url=https://www.chicagomaroon.com/article/2018/2/7/hillel-commits-sustainability-initiatives/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=www.chicagomaroon.com|language=en}}
COVID-19 pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hazon promoted the growing of produce in gardens which have been likened to the war time Victory gardens.{{Cite web|last=Daday|first=Eileen O.|date=2020-06-16|title=Lombard Jewish congregants plant victory gardens during pandemic|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/entlife/20200616/lombard-jewish-congregants-plant-victory-gardens-during-pandemic|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Daily Herald|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Clarke|first=Sandra Ali, Kayla|date=2020-06-02|title=Communities growing fruits, vegetables for people struggling during COVID-19 pandemic|url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2020/06/02/communities-growing-fruits-vegetables-for-people-struggling-during-covid-19-pandemic/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-19|website=WDIV|language=en}}
In July 2020, the organization announced the layoffs of 35 percent of its staff following the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization claimed a loss of $2.5 million due to canceled events.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2020-07-17|title=Jewish environmental organization Hazon lays off 35% of staff amid a year of canceled retreats|url=https://www.jta.org/2020/07/17/united-states/jewish-environmental-organization-lays-off-35-of-staff|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-19|agency=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US}}
References
External links
- {{Official website}}
{{American Jewish environmental organizations}}
Category:Environmental organizations based in New York City
Category:Judaism and environmentalism
Category:Jewish organizations based in New York City