Resources

A Prayer in a Time of Famine: A Source Sheet

rabbsuperuser — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:07:08 +0000

A Prayer in a Time of Famine: A Source Sheet rabbsuperuser Mon, 08/08/2011 - 17:07

This source sheet is based on a Prayer in a Time of Famine, which was written in response to the drought and famine in East Africa.

Download the Source Sheet

1. Recited as a part of the Amidah during the season in which rain is needed
God who causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall

משיב הרוח ומוריד הגשם

2. Talmud Bavli Ta’anit 23b
Hanan ha-Nehba was the son of the daughter of Honi the Circle-Drawer. When the world was in need of rain the Rabbis would send to him school children and they would take hold of the hem of his garment and say to him, Father, Father, give us rain. Thereupon he would plead with the Holy One, Blessed be He, [thus], Master of the Universe, do it for the sake of these who are unable to distinguish between the Father who gives rain and the father who does not.

תלמוד בבלי מסכת תענית דף כג
חנן הנחבא בר ברתיה דחוני המעגל הוה כי מצטריך עלמא למיטרא הוו משדרי רבנן ינוקי דבי רב לגביה ונקטי ליה בשיפולי גלימיה ואמרו ליה אבא אבא הב לן מיטרא אמר לפני הקב"ה רבש"ע עשה בשביל אלו שאין מכירין בין אבא דיהיב מיטרא לאבא דלא יהיב מיטרא

3. Mishna Ta’anit 3:8
It once happened that Honi the circle drawer was asked to pray for rain. He said “go bring in the Passover ovens so they will not be drenched. He prayed, and the rain did not fall. He drew a circle and stood in it and said, “Master of the world, your children put their faith in me that I am like a member of your household. I swear in your great name that I will not move from this spot until you have mercy on your children.
The rain began to drip. He said: This is not what I asked for, I asked for rain to fill the cisterns, wells, and caves. It came down torrentially. He said: This is not what I have asked for rather rains of good will, blessing and generosity. It rained as requested, until the people went up from Israel to Jerusalem to the temple mount from too much rain. They said: Just as you repayed for the rain to fall, so too, pray for them to go. He said: Go out and see if it touches the stone of claims. Shimon ben Shetah sent to him and said, you should be punished, but what can I do to you, as you sin before God as a son who sins before his father and gets your way. About you the verse is written: Let your father and mother be happy and be glad that you were born. (Proverbs 23:25)

משנה מסכת תענית פרק ג משנה ח
מעשה שאמרו לו לחוני המעגל, התפלל שיירדו גשמים. אמר להם, צאו והכניסו תנורי פסחים, בשביל שלא יימוקו. התפלל, ולא ירדו גשמים. עג עוגה, ועמד בתוכה ואמר, רבונו של עולם, בניך שמו פניהם עליי, שאני כבן בית לפניך; נשבע אני בשמך הגדול שאיני זז מכאן, עד שתרחם על בניך. התחילו הגשמים מנטפים; אמר, לא כך שאלתי, אלא גשמי בורות שיחין ומערות. ירדו בזעף; אמר, לא כך שאלתי, אלא גשמי רצון, ברכה ונדבה. ירדו כתקנן, עד שעלו ישראל מירושלים להר הבית מרוב הגשמים. אמרו לו, כשם שהתפללת עליהן שיירדו, כך התפלל עליהן שילכו להן. אמר להם, צאו וראו אם נמחת אבן הטועים. שלח לו שמעון בן שטח ואמר לו, צריך אתה לינדות; אבל מה אעשה לך, שאתה מתחטא לפני המקום כבן שמתחטא לפני אביו, והוא עושה לו רצונו. עליך הכתוב אומר, "ישמח אביך, ואימך; ותגל, יולדתך (משלי כג,כה)י

4. From Geshem—the prayer for rain
Remember Abraham, his heart poured out to You like water. You blessed him, as a tree planted near water; You saved him when he went through fire and water. For his sake, do not withhold water.

תפילת גשם
זכור אב נמשך אחריך כמים
ברכתו כעץ שתול על פלגי מים
דרשתו בצרעו על כל מים
בעבורו על תמנע מים

5. Psalms 145:16
The eyes of all look hopefully to You,
and You provide their food in due time.
You open Your hand;
Your favor sustains all the living.
Adonai is just in all His ways,
loving in all His deeds.
Adonai is near to all who call,
to all who call to God with integrity.
God fulfills the desire of those who are faithful;
God hears their cry and delivers them.

תהלים פרק קמה פסוק טז
טו עֵינֵי-כֹל אֵלֶיךָ יְשַׂבֵּרוּ וְאַתָּה נוֹתֵן-לָהֶם אֶת-אָכְלָם בְּעִתּוֹ.
טז פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת-יָדֶךָ וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכָל-חַי רָצוֹן.
יז צַדִּיק יְהוָה בְּכָל-דְּרָכָיו וְחָסִיד בְּכָל-מַעֲשָׂיו.
יח קָרוֹב יְהוָה לְכָל-קֹרְאָיו לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאֻהוּ בֶאֱמֶת.
יט רְצוֹן-יְרֵאָיו יַעֲשֶׂה וְאֶת-שַׁוְעָתָם יִשְׁמַע וְיוֹשִׁיעֵם.

6. Proverbs 10:3
do not allow the righteous to go hungry

משלי פרק י פסוק ג
לא ירעיב ה' נפש צדיק והות רשעים יהדף

7. Genesis (Various verses)
remember the cries of those who descended into Egypt to escape famine
Genesis 12:10
And there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there, for the famine in the land was very heavy.
Genesis 26:1
And there was a famine in the land, aside from the first famine that was in the days of Abraham, and Isaac went to Avimelech the king of the Philistines, toward Gerar.
Genesis 41:46-42:2
And the famine was over the whole land. And Joseph opened all that he had (stored) and supplied Egypt. And the famine strengthened in the land of Egypt. And all the land came to Egypt for supplies- to Joseph, for the famine was very strong in all the Land. And Jacob saw that there were supplies in Egypt and said to his sons, why are you afraid? He said: I have heard that there are supplies in Egypt, go down there and supply us from there and we will live and not die.

בראשית פרק יב פסוק י
וַיְהִי רָעָב, בָּאָרֶץ; וַיֵּרֶד אַבְרָם מִצְרַיְמָה לָגוּר שָׁם, כִּי-כָבֵד הָרָעָב בָּאָרֶץ.
בראשית פרק כו:א
וַיְהִי רָעָב, בָּאָרֶץ, מִלְּבַד הָרָעָב הָרִאשׁוֹן, אֲשֶׁר הָיָה בִּימֵי אַבְרָהָם; וַיֵּלֶךְ יִצְחָק אֶל-אֲבִימֶלֶךְ מֶלֶךְ-פְּלִשְׁתִּים, גְּרָרָה.
בראשית פרק מא נו- מב:ב
נו וְהָרָעָב הָיָה, עַל כָּל-פְּנֵי הָאָרֶץ; וַיִּפְתַּח יוֹסֵף אֶת-כָּל-אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם, וַיִּשְׁבֹּר לְמִצְרַיִם, וַיֶּחֱזַק הָרָעָב, בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם. נז וְכָל-הָאָרֶץ בָּאוּ מִצְרַיְמָה, לִשְׁבֹּר אֶל-יוֹסֵף: כִּי-חָזַק הָרָעָב, בְּכָל-הָאָרֶץ.
א וַיַּרְא יַעֲקֹב, כִּי יֶשׁ-שֶׁבֶר בְּמִצְרָיִם; וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב לְבָנָיו, לָמָּה תִּתְרָאוּ. ב וַיֹּאמֶר--הִנֵּה שָׁמַעְתִּי, כִּי יֶשׁ-שֶׁבֶר בְּמִצְרָיִם; רְדוּ-שָׁמָּה וְשִׁבְרוּ-לָנוּ מִשָּׁם, וְנִחְיֶה וְלֹא נָמוּת.

8. From the daily Maariv service
Help us, Adonai, to lie down in peace, and awaken us again, our Sovereign, to life. Spread over us Your shelter of peace; guide us with Your good counsel. Save us because of Your mercy.
Shield us from enemies and pestilence, from starvation, sword, and sorrow.
Remove the evil forces that surround us.
Shelter us in the shadow of Your wings, O God, who watches over us and delivers us, our gracious and merciful Ruler.
Guard our coming and our going; grant us life and peace, now and always.
Spread over us the shelter of Your peace.
Praised are You Adonai, who spreads the shelter of peace over us, over all His people Israel, and over Jerusalem.

הַשְׁכִּיבֵֽנוּ יהוה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ לְשָׁלוֹם, וְהַעֲמִידֵֽנוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ לְחַיִּים,
וּפְרוֹשׂ עָלֵֽינוּ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶֽךָ, וְתַקְּֿנֵֽנוּ בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּֿפָנֶֽיךָ,
וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ לְמַֽעַן שְׁמֶֽךָ. וְהָגֵן בַּעֲדֵֽנוּ,
וְהָסֵר מֵעָלֵֽינוּ אוֹיֵב, דֶּֽבֶר, וְחֶֽרֶב, וְרָָעָב, וְיָגוֹן,
וְהָסֵר שָׂטָן מִלְּֿפָנֵֽינוּ וּמֵאַחֲרֵֽינוּ, וּבְצֵל כִּנָפֶֽיךָ תַּסְתִּירֵֽנוּ,
כִּי אֶל שׁוֹמְֿרֵֽנוּ וּמַצִּילֵֽינוּ אָֽתַה, כִּי אֶל מֶֽלֶךְ חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם אָֽתָּה.
וּשְׁמוֹר צֵאתֵֽנוּ וּבוֹאֵֽנוּ, לְחָיִּים וּלשָׁלוֹם מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלַָם.
וּפְרוֹשׂ עָלֵֽינוּ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶֽךָ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה,
הפּוֹרֵשׂ סֻכַּת שָׁלוֹם, עָלֵֽינוּ וְעַל כָּל עמוֹ יִשְׂרָאֶל וְעַל יִרוּשָׁלָֽים.

9. From the insertion to the Amidah on fast days
Answer us, Adonai; answer us on our fast day, for we are in great distress. Overlook our faults; turn not away from us. Be mindful of our plea and be receptive to our supplication. Your love is our comfort; answer us before we call. This is the promise uttered by Your prophet: “I shall answer before they call, I shall respond while they yet deliberate”(Isaiah 65:24). God who hears prayers, answer this plea, for your children are in great distress. (Repetition: Praised are You, Lord who answers the afflicted.)

עננו ה' עננו, ביום צום תעניתנו, כי בצרה גדולה אנחנו. אל תפן אל רשענו, ואל תסתר פניך ממנו ואל תתעלם מתחנתנו. היה נא קרוב לשועתנו, יהי נא חסדך לנחמנו. טרם נקרא אליך עננו, כדבר שנאמר: והיה טרם יקראו ואני אענה, עוד הם מדברים ואני אשמע. כי אתה ה' העונה בעת צרה, פודה ומציל בכל עת צרה וצוקה. (בחזרת הש"ץ מוסיפים: ברוך אתה ה' העונה בעת צרה).

Translations in bold are from “A Prayer in a Time of Famine,” AJWS.
All other translations are from Siddur Sim Shalom and RA staff.

Resources on Food and Hunger

rabbsuperuser — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:39:12 +0000

Resources on Food and Hunger rabbsuperuser Mon, 10/31/2011 - 14:39

Here are some resources from various organizations on food and hunger.

JCPA's Food Stamp Challenge, taken on by Executive VP Julie Schonfeld
Hazon's Food Guide, including a Food Audit Toolkit
"Mindfulness and Appetite," a moving excerpt from Jonathan Slater's book, Mindful Jewish Living.

Heading North to New Jersey with Social Justice Issues in Mind

rabbsuperuser — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 20:37:46 +0000

Heading North to New Jersey with Social Justice Issues in Mind rabbsuperuser Wed, 08/06/2014 - 16:37

By Jesse Olitzky, Congregation Beth El, South Orange, NJ

Rabbi Jesse Olitzky has left Florida where he has served as rabbi at the Jacksonville Jewish Center to become senior rabbi at Congregation Beth El in South Orange, New Jersey with indelible memories of “an eye opening experience” with the tomato workers of Immokalee, a town in the southwest Florida, just a 3 ½ hour drive away from his former home and shul. Tomatoes are the “golden crop of Florida”: most of our winter tomatoes come from there as well as 50% of all fresh tomatoes sold in the U.S, particularly by national food chains and restaurants such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Walmart. While Jesse found it hard to believe what was going on “in our own back yard”, the U.S. Attorney General calls Southwest Florida “ground zero” for human trafficking since migrant workers are exempted from the legal guarantee of collective bargaining under the National Labor Relations Act. This means that workers such as those who harvest tomatoes are often victims of a pernicious labor practice frequently called “modern slavery”: since employers control their visas they can exploit workers with low wages and deplorable work conditions and threaten to send them back to their home countries if they attempt to take collective action.

Fair Food Program

Jesse – like a dozen other RA members - was persuaded by our colleagues Jill Jacobs and Rachel-Kahn Troster of Truah to visit the Immokalee workers who have successfully organized as the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW). Having improved their own working conditions, the CIW now campaigns to get national food chains and restaurants to sign on to the Fair Food Program and agree to pay one cent more per pound for the tomatoes they buy so that tomato workers can make a minimum wage and human resource workers can have a presence at the farms in order to certify that workers get breaks, water and shaded areas; can deal with reported threats or charges of sexual assaults; and are granted the right to leave their jobs if they wish. The Fair Food Program has gone a long way to reduce exploitation in the fields and the CIW recently undertook a “Now is the Time” tour – a 10 city in 10 days campaign to encourage national food chains to sign on to the Fair Food Program and buy tomatoes only from growers who pay workers a fair wage.

Enter Jesse’s former students from Jacksonville’s Martin J. Gottlieb Day School. These middle school students were involved in the December 2013 Truah Human Rights Shabbat, participating in an action at Wendy’s - the local restaurant of the only major fast food chain that hasn’t yet joined the Fair Food Program. Accompanied by parents and teachers, students held up posters and signs and engaged in conversation with drivers who were stopped at traffic lights and also had a Skype session with representatives from the CIW. The students had written letters about the Fair Food Program, to retailers, restaurants, markets and caterers encouraging them to sign up to ensure that tomatoes and other produce do not come from exploited workers.

Exploitation and the Purim Story

When the Immokalee workers stopped in Jacksonville on their Now is the Time tour, students hosted them for breakfast on the Friday before Purim and talked about the relationship between Purim and the Fair Food workers. Esther, they pointed out, could have stayed as the Queen she’d always wanted to be but realized that she was the only voice of her people so she spoke up and risked her life in order to save them. As Jesse notes, middle school kids and teens talk “figuratively”: the Exodus experience, for example, has meaning in theory and in terms of forming Jewish identity but it has no real concrete meaning for contemporary teens. But coming to know these farm workers, learning of their experiences and courage, engaging in their issues gives concrete meaning to what our tradition teaches. We are commanded not to “stand idly by”, we are called “b’nei horim”; as God’s “or l’goyim” we are obliged to look out for all humanity and to act. And when questioned as to why it mattered for Jews to participate in picketing non-kosher restaurants, it was a supremely teachable moment for this rabbi to talk about what it means when we say that this food – food harvested by those who are victimized – is not kosher.

Bringing the Message North

While Jesse has become the rabbi of Congregation Beth El of South Orange, he carries with him the awareness of this experience in the tomato fields of Immokalee and with the kids in Jacksonville. While he encourages every rabbi in Florida to spend 48 hours in the “troubling, heartbreaking, and yet encouraging and inspiring” tomato fields, he will be taking up these issues in South Orange since his new congregation’s commitment to social justice was one of the reasons he’s heading north to this particular New Jersey town. Jesse’s commitment to social justice and the ongoing struggle for farmworkers’ rights, is a reminder that our rabbinic work is the living result of Rabbi Tarfon’s teaching: we may not ever fully complete the task, but we cannot avoid or neglect it either.

Please Note: You can read Jesse’s blog about his experience with the Immokalee workers at:

http://rabbiolitzky.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/slavery-in-our-own-backyard and view a video on the Truah website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe7QTTk9XY4. If you go to the Florida Times Union website and search for Rabbi Jesse Olitzky you’ll find his column for March 26, 2013 which, he later learned, was a seder topic for many of his congregants!

And if you would like to join the Fall delegation to Immokalee sponsored by T’ruah the information can be found here: http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5149/signup_page/floridatripapplication

Resources

A Prayer in a Time of Famine: A Source Sheet

Resources on Food and Hunger

Heading North to New Jersey with Social Justice Issues in Mind

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