Sun, Sand, and MHWOW
How to make your summer programs stand out!
I don’t know about everyone else, but I am READY for summer. Winter was never-ending in Chicago this year, so I am excited to spend the long days on the lakefront path and restaurant patios. Summer travel might make it hard to see friends, but your MHWOW programs don’t need to slow down. Summer 2017 saw almost 800 MHWOW programs, so check out how you can take your quintessential summer MHWOW programs to the next level.
Farmers Market Shabbat
TGIF takes on a new meaning with summer Fridays and summer Shabbatot. Your summer Shabbat meal gives you a chance to use seasonal ingredients that can be found at your local farmers markets.
Did you know that food travels an average of 1,500 miles to get to your plate? Shopping at a farmers market reduces your environmental footprint by eliminating the large amounts of fossil fuels used to transport food, contributions to pollution, and trash due to extra packaging. You can find the nearest farmers market to you from Local Harvest!
Most of us are lucky to have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. However, according to the United States Department of Agriculture’s 2016 survey, “41.2 million people lived in food-insecure households.” Use your Farmers Market Shabbat as an opportunity to discuss why so many people are still living in hunger. Check out A Plateful of Grateful discussion guide to untangle the impact of food waste and hunger or Addressing Hunger Together to discuss root causes and strategies to address food insecurity.
Want to spice up your cooking? This Blueberry Challah Babka or Challah with Blackberry Filling looks delicious! The Nosher also has 23 No-Cook Recipes to avoid turning on the oven on an already toasty day.
You might think you can’t use MHWOW funding at farmers markets, but you can! Most farmers market stands can email you a receipt or you can create a handwritten invoice with all the needed parts. Reach out to your MHWOW staff member if you have any questions before shopping!
BBQ/Picnics
Have you ever thought about including information about kashrut laws at your BBQ? Jewish Food Hero and My Jewish Learning explain the logistics behind kosher laws. I learned that the word “kosher” is Hebrew for “fit” or “appropriate.” If you don’t find meaning in traditional kosher laws, what would your own personal kosher laws be? This could be an interesting conversation around the grill!
Check out these 44 Kosher Summer BBQ Recipes on Pinterest. Grilled salmon kebabs? YES PLEASE.
Don’t forget about the activities! Offering lawn games can be a great way to have your peers interact with one another. You can invest in giant JENGA, corn hole, bocce ball, or even a simple Frisbee.
Hiking/Camping
Spending time in nature is synonymous with sweet summertime, and there are plenty of Jewish organizations advocating to protect the environment. Organizations like Hazon, the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, Teva Learning Alliance, Urban Adamah (a MHWOW partner organization!), and Wilderness Torah all work towards protecting the environment through a Jewish lens.
Rabbi Lawrence Troster, Director, Fellowship Program and Rabbinic Scholar-in-Residence for Green Faith, compiled 10 Jewish Teachings on Judaism and the Environment. You can bring the PDF with you to chat about while on a hike or around the campfire.
4th of July
The holiday might fall on a Wednesday this year, but that won’t stop celebrations! Include civic engagement at your MHWOW event and encourage all your participants to register to vote and learn about upcoming elections using Rock the Vote. You can also access voter registration information from USA.gov.
Independence Day also gives us the opportunity to reflect on what freedom means, and most importantly, give back to our community and country. Websites like Volunteer Match make finding local volunteer opportunities accessible and easy!
Need help taking your program to the next level? Want to tell us about your programs? Don’t hesitate to reach out to withoutwalls@moishehouse.org!
