Redefining trash and moving away from the curb.  That has been the theme at my house as the years have passed and we put less trash and recycling out for collection. Why? The amount of waste humans produce is astonishing and not sustainable. Many communities, my own included, have been aghast at the recent reduction in…

This week we sent another $1,014 to Uganda, raised by Beth El. I asked Rabbi Sizomu whether our publicity has led to help from other groups. His answer was very promising! Thank you so much Cliff, I have seen a deposit of $1014. We will continue to distribute food. Yes, we got $20,000 last week…

Since late June, Beth El and the South Hills Jewish community have stepped up for our friends in Africa who are suffering from famine. The work done by our community has been publicized across the country, and on three continents!  I hope that you read the article last week in the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, or…

Got a free minute to help stamp out hunger? (Well, actually maybe 60 of them?) Our Food for Thought initiative continues as 412 Food Rescue is looking for partners to help expand their mission in the South Hills. It’s a simple concept – food that will otherwise go to waste is rescued and delivered to…

Would you ever jump in a pool without knowing how to swim?  My knee-jerk response is no.  But when tempered with “if it could save a life,” then yes. According to South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM), over 2,300 of our South Hills neighbors are food-insecure.  Many of them survive only with the assistance of local food…

“Tikkun Olam” (“world repair”) in Judaism has come to connote social action.  The phrase is found in the Mishnah, a body of classical rabbinic teachings.   This concept is defined by acts of kindness performed to perfect or repair the world.  Bshul is partnering with Beth El’s “Food for Thought” social action committee.  This group is working…

Fail: I bought lunch in the cafeteria yesterday. Monday was to be the first day of my participating in the SNAP Challenge and trying to eat on $4/day. Fate intervened–my mom broke her hip and I spent the day in the hospital. And I am here again today–I can do this without worry since I…

Well, Day 1 of the SNAP challenge is behind me.  It’s not easy. I definitely felt hunger throughout the day and even went to bed hungry.  I went to a luncheon yesterday and didn’t eat (choosing to eat a bowl of soup at my desk upon returning to work).  I went to the Beth El…

Well, I’m ready to begin the SNAP (food stamp) challenge tomorrow, and I’ve already seen how difficult it can be to stretch your dollars. I spent most of the morning looking for high protein, healthy recipes for this week that had a per serving price of $1.25 or less. I plan to make chickpea and…

Religious School Zayin and Chavarim students are teaming up to prepare and serve dinner to Family Promise of Southwestern Pennsylvania (FPSWPA).  FPSWA brings the community together in a local partnership to help families experiencing homelessness.  Families receive evening meals and overnight accommodations from local churches and spend daytime hours in Day Centers as they work…