The Bridging Connections Podcast

Jewish Farmers Network (JFN)Featuring: Shani Minsk, Co-Founder and Executive Director Jewish Farmer Network mobilizes Jewish agricultural wisdom to build a more just and regenerative food system for all. We connect Jewish farmers to each other and to the surprisingly relevant technologies, rhythms, and ethics of Jewish agriculture. We believe that a vibrant future for people, plants, and planet will be shaped by farmers, gardeners, and growers of all kinds. We are the AND that connects your story to the story of the Jewish people.  Their Mission : Jewish Farmer Network supports the economic, social, and cultural vibrancy of Jewish agriculture by connecting Jewish farmers to resources and community around the world. We mobilize Jewish wisdom to build a more just and regenerative food system for all. Their visionWe are building a world in which Jewish farmers are not regarded as an oxymoron or a curiosity, but rather, as valued community members with a unique connection to Judaism's ancient technologies for building a more just and regenerative food system for all. We envision a world in which all Jewish individuals and communities have access to farms and gardens that connect them to both the agricultural roots of Judaism and the timeless food justice principles contained therein. We envision a world in which any Jewish individual with the desire to both live a land-based life and be a part of Jewish community life has the technical, economic, social, and cultural resources to do so. We envision a world of social and ecological justice, where life in all forms is honored. We envision a world in which Jewish Farmers are a collaborative force for the collective liberation of all land and all peoples.Support the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

JIFA: Jewish Initiative for AnimalsFeaturing: Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard, Executive Director and Melissa Hoffman, Director of ProgramsThe Jewish Initiative for Animals supports innovative programs to turn the Jewish value of compassion for animals into action while building ethical and sustainable Jewish American communities in the process.Jewish tradition urges us to keep a healthy skepticism about the sourcing of our goods and strive for ethical consumption. JIFA is ready to work with your community to help you establish your own values-based food practices.We support Jewish community education for all ages through curriculum development, direct teaching, and partnerships with organizations that disseminate materials and promote learning about Jewish values and our food system.JIFA’s Values:Promoting compassion and preventing suffering to animals — in Jewish tradition, a core value called tza’ar ba’alei chayim (literally: the suffering of living creatures) — is central to our work to build a better food systemClimate and the environment - Bal tashchit and sh’mirat ha’adamah — the prohibition against destruction/waste and the imperative to protect our Earth — are cornerstones of JIFA’s work to end factory farming.Food justice- We find our most ancient model for food justice in the laws of shmita, which Jewish communities have revived with renewed significance in recent yearsRacial justice - We know that the structures that perpetuate factory farming are inextricably linked with those that perpetuate racist oppression and violence. To create meaningful change in our food system we must also help to build an anti-racist animal protection movement.Inclusivity- Reflecting broadly held values — and serving food that everyone can eat — promotes inclusivity in gatherings and strengthens our Jewish communityKosher- Kosher is a quintessentially Jewish concept to describe what is “fit,” including the food we eatSupport the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

What is Jewish Farming?Featuring: Dr. Adrienne KroneAdrienne Krone is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and past Director of Jewish Life at Allegheny College.Her research focuses on communal Jewish farms and the sustainable Jewish farming movement in the United States. Her expertise ranges from the history of religion in the U.S., to modern Judaism, to religion and food. Krone holds a Ph.D. in American Religion from Duke University, and her extensive experience in Jewish communal service includes working with youth and young adult groups, teaching and directing a religious school program for Jewish teens, liturgical leadership, and staffing a Birthright trip.Adrienne researches religious food justice movements and teaches courses in Jewish studies, food studies, environmental studies, and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies. Her current project is an ethnographic and historical study of the Jewish Community Farming movement in North America.In this episode Adrienne and I define categories of Jewish farming. We touch on a bit of the history of Jewish Farming in North America. And we discuss Jewish biblical laws about farming, the three pilgrimage festivals (Sukkot, Passover and Shavuot). Finally Adrienne shares how varies Jewish farms around the country are creating and innovating food for long term sustainability.Read more about Adrienne’s work and research here. Support the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

Kavod v’NichumFeaturing: Sarit Wishnevski, Executive DirectorTheir Mission: Kavod v’Nichum provides the Jewish community resources, education, and training about the end of life, from serious illness through dying, death, bereavement, and mourning.Their Vision is to  transform the final life transition for every Jewish person so that it is understood, cared for, and respected.About:  Kavod v’Nichum, כבוד וניחום, is Hebrew for “honor and comfort”. Founded in 2000, Kavod v’Nichum is a Jewish nonprofit dedicated to providing end-of-life education, support and training in the Jewish tradition. They embrace the mitzvot of kavod hamet, honoring the body which held the neshama, soul, of a person who died; and nichum aveilim, comforting the mourners and the community of the living after a death.Kavod v’Nichum values: KAVOD: HONOR: They lead with honor and respect for people, tradition, and infuse kavod in every aspect of our workNECHAMAH: COMFORT & SUPPORT: The end-of-life space is difficult for many; They welcome community with care and support.B’TZELEM ELOHIM: IN GOD’S IMAGE: We are holy people created in the image of the divine; all are welcome and wanted. HIDDUR MITZVAH: BEAUTIFICATION OF THE MITZVAH: They elevate the beauty of Jewish end-of-life traditions through learning, adaptation to our modern world, and making accessible what is often hidden.KEHILLAH: COMMUNITY: Community support is foundational in Jewish end-of-life rituals and practices; they are expansive in our understanding of community and encourage all to consider themselves a part of ours.Kavod V’Nichum serves any individual or organization seeking to learn and engage around Jewish end-of-life rituals and practices.Contact Kavod V’Nichum for more information.Support the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

Haggadot.comFeaturing: Eileen Levinson, Founder and Executive DirectorHaggadot.com is part of Custom & Craft, a nonprofit design lab using technology, art and new media to imagine new formats for engaging with ancient traditions. Founded in 2011, our online platforms Haggadot.com and Custom and Craft make home-based Jewish ritual accessible, meaningful, and diverse – giving individuals of all faith backgrounds the tools to create for themselves and to discover the other creators in their community. Judaism can be beautiful and welcoming. Haggadot.com believes Judaism can look and feel that way too. They envision a world in which every Jew, and the Jew-curious, regardless of background, can find a place for themselves in Jewish life through thoughtfully-designed products and media.They believe that Passover is primarily an exercise in empathy. At the seder, we tell the story of Exodus as though we personally exited Mitzrayim, or “the narrow place.” Haggadot.com’s core values emphasize how a deep personal connection with the Passover story drives empathy. Read more here: https://www.haggadot.com/valuesHaggadot.com is a design lab for the Jewish community, experimenting with technology, media and user experience to imagine new formats for engaging in ancient traditions. Their platforms, Haggadot.com and Custom and Craft enable over 500,000 users annually to make their own haggadahs and other DIY materials for Jewish ritual. They facilitate new product development through collaborations with leading Jewish organizations and thinkers across a diverse spectrum of perspectives.Support the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

Secular Synagogue Featuring: Rabbi Denise Handlarski, Founder What is Secular Synagogue?Secular Synagogue is a digital Judaism, online community, engaged and meaningful learning and practice. Their goal is two-directional: explore how Judaism can be an enriching force in your life and, in turn, make you a more kind, just, and effective force for good in the world. Who is Secular Synagogue for?Jewish, Jew-ish, Intermarried, In-married, Unmarried, Secular, Cultural, Atheist, Agnostic, Seeker, Spiritual... YOUIf you are a cultural/secular Jew, someone who is becoming a Jew, partnered with a Jew, or otherwise Jewishly engaged,  and want to connect to Jewish wisdom, ideas and community, this is the place for you! Every day you will join people just like you in Jewish-inspired challenges and learning. This is an accessible, affordable, engaged, inclusive, meaningful, and contemporary approach to Jewish learning, practice, and community. Create and foster a deep and rich Jewish life — in 5 - 10 minutes a day. They are committed to meaningful inclusivity for Queer/Trans folks, BIPOC and other racialized members, and anyone who has felt excluded in Jewish spaces. Secular Synagogue is intersectional, intergenerational, and international. MissionSecular Synagogue  aspires to  create meaningful, valuable, beautiful Jewish learning, experiences, and  community for secular/cultural Jews.  A Judaism that fosters  two-directional goodness: making your life richer/better and, in  turn, it will making you better so that more goodness can be created in the  world.Vision StatementSecular Synagogue’s vision is a Connected Community across distance, enabled virtually, that  provides those looking for meaningful cultural Jewish learning,  experiences, and community a space where they feel true belonging. ValuesSecular Synagogue serve anyone who wishes to be part of their group including: Jews who are secular/cultural/humanist/atheist/agnostic/questioning/skepticalThose connected to Jews via family, relationship, or ancestryThose exploring becoming Jewish, Jews-by-choice, new Jews, those on their own path/journey to JudaismThey do not believe in "bad Jews" or "bad Jew guilt"They are pro-intermarriage/intercultural partnerships. There will never be  any questioning or guilt about "authenticity" for anyone at any time.Social justice is part of our Jewish practice and expression.They are kind, and foster goodness. Secular Synagogue turns the internet into a place of communal support and mutual love and respect. They are fun and funny. Sure, they tackle serious issues. But try not to take themselves too seriously.Support the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

Fat Torah Featuring: Rabbi Minna Bromberg, Founder and PresidentFat Torah’s GoalsSmashing the idolatry of fatphobia and leading ourselves from Narrowness to Freedom1. ending weight stigma in Jewish communal life and training Jewish professionals, lay leaders, and community members to confront fatphobia wherever they encounter it (including in themselves).2. equipping people who already work in fat activism, Health at Every Size, eating disorders recovery, and related weight neutral and body positive fields to recognize and attend to spiritual and religious needs in themselves and those they serve.3. propagating a methodology of connecting with sacred text, tradition, and spirituality that fosters body liberation for people of all sizes.Fat Torah offers:Teaching, consulting and mentoring.Fat Torah's BlogContact Fat Torah for more information.Follow Fat Torah on  Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram.“It’s really important to me that we understand that our human worth is not actually measured by our health. And that there are many many things that go into health. And many many things that go into illness. Many of them are private and not things that we should be asked to sort of trot out in order to prove our worth. ”— Rabbi Minna BrombergSupport the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

The Yeladim ProjectFeaturing: Sagit Sol Epstein and David EpsteinIncluding a special interview with Yarden, Eli and LilahSagit Sol Epstein, an Israeli living in in the United States saw an opportunity to help bridge the culture gap between American Jew and Israelis. She with the help of her husband, David created The Yeladim Project. It’s a complete family collaboration. Sagit translates and produces, the children sing and dance and David promotes the songs and videos of popular Israeli songs. The upbeat songs are primarily holiday related. Be sure to listen to the entire podcast to hear my short interview with Yarden and Eli’s and one of their Hanukkah songs. You don’t want to miss this moment of extreme cuteness. From Yeladem Project’s website:There is a rich and varied collection of songs and stories for Shabbat and holidays in Israel, many part of school and kindergarten curricula. We wanted to bring these songs and stories to a wider audience worldwide to be a cultural bridge between the Jews in Israel and those in English speaking countries. We believe this can help unite our people and strengthen the connection with Israel.About:Having grown up in Israel, was surprised that children here do not sing the same holiday and Shabbat songs. Translating them to English makes them more accessible here, and easier to learn.In Israel, Sagit had a children’s theatre where she wrote, produced, and performed shows for children throughout Israel. Many were adaptations of well known stories, (Jungle Book, Peter Pan, Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Puss in Boots) as well as original and Israeli folk tales.Contact The Yeladim Project at info@yeladimproject.comSupport the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

Project Zug, founded by Benjamin Ross and Hagit Bartuv. Benjamin and Hagit connected in 2012 in Jerusalem, and developed a shared goal of using Jewish learning to connect Jews in Israel and America. Their vision became a reality, leading to more than 2,000 participants in Project Zug!Project Zug’s mission is to empower Jews to take ownership over their learning through one-on-one havruta learning. They believe that havruta can change your life. When two Jews connect through our shared tradition, the relationship has the power to cultivate meaning, joy, and belonging. We envision a world in which havruta learning is accessible and available to every Jew in every community.  Why Learn with Zug? Project Zug is powered by Hadar, and gives direct access to curated high quality Torah resources, and a guided learning framework that enables Jews to build deep connections to each other and to our tradition.Their unique combination of facilitation and flexibility allows Jews to learn on their own schedule with an accessible structure and guidance.Project Zug seeks to foster meaning, joy, and belonging...Torah + Community ⇨ Meaning. We are each on a never-ending search for deeper meaning in our daily lives. Project Zug offers inspiring Jewish learning while simultaneously connecting people to each other and a broader communities of learners. Putting a text between two people is the fastest way to get them to a deeper, more meaningful conversation. Asking the other person ‘what does this text mean to you?’ begins a journey toward understanding their values and life experience. We connect those searching for meaning with one another so together they can explore Jewish texts and connect them to their full selves. Setting Aside Time for Meaning + Friendship ⇨ Joy. In today’s fast-paced world, we are pulled in so many directions. Project Zug’s structured facilitation helps people set aside time for deep meaningful Jewish engagement on a weekly basis. When people make space in their busy schedule to bring meaning into their lives in connection with someone else, their Jewish life is infused with joy, which is at the core of our vision.Connection to Tradition + Connection to a Partner ⇨ Connection to the Jewish people (Belonging). Jewish texts have the power to connect us to those who came before us, and to Jewish people throughout the world today. When we take ownership of our tradition in relationship with another Jew, we experience deep belonging with the broader Jewish people.Support the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

Strength to StrengthFeaturing: Sarri Singer, FounderThe Bridging Connections Podcast deals in a variety of topics. There are light-hearted topics, educational topics and very serious topics. This podcast is the most serious and possibly triggering topic explored so far. This conversation caused both crying and laughter in under an hour. In a perfect world, there would be no sadness or acts of terrorism. Unfortunately, the world and the people in it are not perfect. Gratefully organizations like Strength to Strength exists to heal the deep wounds caused by terrorism. During this podcast Sarri Singer, founder of Strength to Strength, shares her horrific story. Sarri recalls her experience on September 11, 2001 to set the stage for the day she would become a victim of terror. Sarri’s personal story allows for understanding that beauty can arise out of something tragic. The passion Sarri shows in recounting her story and that of other terrorist victims is a reminder that there is light and love after horror. Strength to Strength’s mission is to support victims of terrorism around the world with long-term psychological needs through peer to peer support, regular meetings, provision of information and advice, and raising awareness of the unmet needs of victims and their families. Strength to Strength enables victims of terrorism to share experiences and empowers them to live life to their best potential. We remain committed to each victim through our global network.Support the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

BaMidbar Featuring: Jory Hanselman Mayschak, Founder and CEOThrough a variety of modalities, BaMidbar supports mental health and wellness and envisions a Jewish community that actively supports its members in building the resilience to thrive.BaMidbar  has a 6-14 week summer residential therapeutic program that focuses on using the environment to support skill building and self exploration while bringing in Jewish tradition and storytelling to explore meaning, values and purpose. They employ a multidisciplinary approach which integrates experiential education, Jewish learning, and mental health frameworks. Bamidbar focuses on four core outcomes:Improve mental healthBoost resilienceStrengthen circle of support (family, peers, mental health professionals)Increase understanding of how Judaism supports mental well beingAdditionally, BaMidbar offers mental health and wellness retreats, fellowships and internships and partners with a variety of organizations to offer prevention programs, and create custom programs. Their programs are based on prevention, education and treatment.BaMidbar’s mission is to ensure that Jewish youth and young adults have the confidence, skills, and community support to navigate life’s challenges and thrive in the face of adversity.BaMidbar envisions a Jewish community that actively supports its members in cultivating mental health and wellness.They achieve the mission and vision through community education and by providing wilderness-based journeys of self-discovery, hope, and healing. Their programs support and provide: Jewish young adults struggling with mental health challenges through immersive, wilderness-based, Therapeutic Expeditions.All Jewish teens and young adults, regardless of their mental health history, through Wellness Programs focused on building resilience through increased self-confidence, skill-building, and healthy relationships.Professional Development for Jewish community professionals looking to expand their mental health literacy and explore facilitation through the lens of social and emotional growth.Support the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

Challah Back GirlsFeaturing: CoFounders Sara Loffman and Marni LoffmanIt’s amazing what beautiful things can come out of uncertainty and isolation. The four Loffman Siblings, Elana, Hannah, Marni and Sara, found themselves all back at home together at the beginning of the pandemic. This togetherness brought them to baking challah. Although the challah was initially for family and friends it soon turned into making food and challah for the hard working health care teams in the emergency rooms. They quickly realized that they had a marketable skill although they didn’t feel right to start a business at such an ominous time. The siblings saw the need to help change the landscape of our country and work toward a more equitable world. They felt called to do their part in the struggle for racial justice; to stand up for diversity, equity and inclusion. Hence, Challah Back Girls was formed. Challah Back Girls has become a symbol of ritual and togetherness. “Each strand of challah makes up a different layers of who each of us are, all the strands of challah come together as one., explains Sara. Now challah is shared weekly across the states in an effort to support those working toward social equality and racial justice. The Challah Back Girls work to amplify the voices of organizations that are advancing word and therefore living the value of tikkun olam.The Loffmans were raised on values of community and shared food combined with Jewish observance and Jewish connectedness. Their family life was based on sharing meaningful moments around Jewish holidays and traditions. This makes for a seamless transition to creating this  platform of education, awareness raising and advocacy through challah.The MissionChallah Back Girls fundraises for, supports, and uplifts organizations leading racial equity work by connecting people to the Jewish ritual of challah—a traditionally braided bread. Through sharing this Jewish tradition, we provide an educational opportunity for healing and transforming social and racial injustice. The VisionOur dream is to create collaboration and mutual support across minority communities through the power of food and ritual. We hope to use Challah as a thread that weaves together people from diverse backgrounds, so we can share histories and stories, to support and amplify each other’s work for social change. Enjoy 20% off  delicious challah between now and Oct 31st with the code CHALLAHBRIDGES.Support the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

Living Tree AllianceFeaturing: Co-Founders Koehenet Sephira Oshkello and Melanie KesslerMeaningful Earth-Based LivingLiving Tree is a modern kibbutz-inspired community designed for joyful, adventurous earth-based living in Vermont’s great outdoors. They are a cohousing curator, event producer, and education center dedicated to connecting participants to self, community, earth and spirit through homesteading, camping, celebrations, festivals and enrichment programs. They welcome residents, guests, students, families, and groups of all ages and backgrounds.Their mission is to create, evolve, and manage a thriving earth-based intentional community with universal Jewish values for individuals and families of all backgrounds seeking greater connection, meaning and purpose in life.The Seven Pillars of Living Tree Alliance: Decisions and actions in all circles of their organization are grounded in these principles. 1. Regenerative ResiliencyWe prioritize our ecological community in our thinking, acting and reflecting.2. ServiceWe practice tzedakah (charity) and gemilut chassidim (acts of loving kindness) in work, hospitality, and economy.3. Social JusticeWe are informed by Jewish ethics and are committed to education, civic engagement and nonviolent communication.4. Inner WorkWe bring mindfulness, compassion & understanding to the cultivation of emotional, mental, physical, & spiritual well being.5. Joy, Gratitude, and CelebrationWe keep time to appreciate life each day, refrain from work on Shabbat and celebrate life cycle events with joy.Support the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

Jewish Free Loan ChicagoFeaturing: Leah Greenblum, Founder and Executive DirectorIn the Middle Ages Moises Maimonides (1), great philosopher, physician and rabbi, outlined eight levels of tzedakah (charitable giving). He describe the highest form of giving is to give a gift, loan, or partnership that will result in the recipient becoming self-sufficient instead of living upon others. Jewish Free Loan Chicago is embodying this level of giving in an effort to engage people to help those in need. Jewish Free Loan Chicago’s mission is to help Chicagoans discover small personal loans with zero-interest, in an effort to cut out the need for predatory lending, often in the form of risky payday loans and car title loans.At Jewish Free Loan Chicago, people of all backgrounds can discover personal loans that are fast, easy, and accessible to anyone in the Chicagoland area. What is a Jewish Free Loan?An age-old tradition recrafted for the 21st century, a Jewish free loan is a small personal loan that is interest-free and can be paid back on a timeline that meets each borrower’s individual needs.Where do interest-free loans come from?Rooted in teachings from the Torah and sages, Jewish free loans are a time-honored tradition in the U.S. and beyond. In fact, most U.S. cities play host to at least one Jewish or Hebrew Free Loan agency. Unlike JFLC, some Jewish loan societies cater only to the needs of the Jewish community and do not have income caps. JFLC serves low- to moderate-income people of all backgrounds who need access to capital.Loan Possibilities JFLC borrowers’ financial status can be wide-ranging, and their potential financial needs can also run the gamut, including:General expenses: transportation, technology, and debt consolidationEmployment: job-search, initial costs (transportation/relocation), job trainingHealthcare: medical, mental, and dentalWomen & children: childcare, education, fertility, adoptionLegal fees: divorce, immigration, discriminationEducation: tuition, suppliesJewish Free Loan Chicago is part of the International Association of Jewish Free Loans, a large network of 50 related organizations.https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/moses-maimonides-rambamSupport the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

Shomer CollectiveFeaturing: Rabbi Melanie Levav,  Executive DirectorInspiring End-of-Life Conversations and Experiences, Guided by Jewish ValuesWho am I? What’s the meaning of life? What’s my legacy? What do I have left in the next portion in my life? These are all age old questions. Quite possible you have contemplated some of these in during your lifetime. These are questions that our sages have questioning for years. There is deep Jewish wisdom that we can find from the sages that will help us decipher some of these questions for ourselves. This helps us realize that we are not alone. Shomer Collective’s mission is to improve end-of-life experiences for individuals and their families— inspired by Jewish wisdom, values, and practices—by curating content and resources and building a diverse network of organizational partners.Shomer Collective envisions a world where end-of-life matters are spoken about openly, thoughtfully and frequently creating more opportunities for folks to engage with Jewish wisdom values and practices. Having these conversations and experiences can be transformational not only for the individual but also the whole family. In the Jewish tradition we say to mourners “May you be comforted among the other mourners.” This reminds us that you are not sitting shiva alone, you’re part of the interconnected community that goes beyond the shiva house.They do this through 4 roles: concierge, curator, convenor and change agent. Through the roles they hope to: Empower individuals as they plan for and/or confront death for themselves and loved ones. Make Jewish wisdom and expertise in end-of-life matters more accessible through referrals, teaching, counseling, and curation of learning experiences.Spark innovation and culture change inside and beyond Jewish institutions, so that organizations will recognize that end of life is a lifecycle moment that can meaningfully engage people Jewishly.The word Shomer means guardian; in Jewish tradition, a shomer guards over the body of the deceased from the time of death until the time of burial, accompanying the soul on the beginning of its journey in separating from the body. Shomer Collective seeks to accompany individuals and families as they confront and plan for end of life by curating partners and resources that lift up Jewish wisdom, values, and practices. Shomer Collective offers concierge services to help you navigate all things end of life, Jewishly. We curate the most accessible resources to help you find what you need when you need it, whether it’s a Jewish how-to video about end-of-life rituals or a link to a Jewish funeral home in your area.Support the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

Nazun (formerly Challah for Hunger)Featuring: Rebecca Bar, Executive Director and Rabbi Lily Solochek, Director of Programs and EducationFood insecurity is prevalent throughout the United States. According to the USDA over 10% of American families were food insecure in 2019 and it is estimated that this has doubled since the onset of Covid. This is also a problem on our nation’s college campuses. According to the Hope Survey from fall 2020, 38 percent of students in two-year colleges and 29 percent of students at four-year colleges reported experiencing food insecurity. These statistics are disturbing.  Nazun is doing the important work to help end campus food insecurity and educate leaders in social justice advocacy. Episode 54 of the podcast is a conversation with with Nazun’s leadership. It is eye-opening and at the same time, it gives hope. About Nazon (from their website)Mission + VisionNazun develops leaders and builds communities of people eager to take action to end campus hunger, and to work collectively to solve other urgent social challenges.One in three college students experiences food insecurity; they don’t know where their next meal might come from and don’t have the resources, time or money to afford access to nutritious food. We are on a mission to ensure that no student ever has to choose between eating or an education. We work to destigmatize — and empower people to act against — the highly prevalent problem of food insecurity on college campuses.Our work reduces the likelihood that college students will have to choose between eating or their education, and it also builds the next generation of confident leaders capable of contributing to solving the world’s most urgent social challenges.The three pillars of Nazun are infused into all our projects: Advocacy, Community, and Philanthropy. Their Programs:1. Campus Chapters: The Focus: Campus Hunger- Through Nazun’s program, our student leaders address the issue of campus food insecurity on a campus, state, and national level through our three pillars of philanthropy, advocacy, and community building. Our Cohort, a select group of student leaders, annually creates and implements campaigns and interventions on their campuses to address the issue of campus food insecurity.2. Advocacy - The #FUELHigherEd program is advocating for fundamental, universal, equitable, long-term state and federal solutions to campus hunger and #FUELHigherEd by working towardFundamental Change Universal Access Equal OpportunityLong Term Solution 3. This program is the next step in building our movement by galvanizing our network of 100+ local and national organizations behind this campaign.4. Community Programs 5. Through a Nazun Community Program, you and your community can gather to build connections through baking challah, learn about and advocate against hunger in your local area and on college campuses, and engage in philanthropy to support the work of Nazun and local anti-hunger nonprofits in your neighborhood.Support the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

GatherDCFeaturing: Alexandra Tureau, Managing DirectorGatherDC’s Mission and VisionGatherDC helps Jewish 20s/30s connect to Jewish life and to each other.GatherDC is a Jewish nonprofit that serves as the one-stop-shop for everything 20s and 30s need to live their best Jewish life. Whether you’re looking for Jewish events, people, synagogues, housing, jobs, rabbis, kosher food, or anything in between – we connect you.We are here to make it easy for you to find your people and place in DC and NOVA Jewish life. Whether you’re looking for Jewish events, people, housing, jobs, rabbis, kosher food – we’ll connect you!We envision a future where every Jewish 20- and 30-something finds a lasting, compelling connection to Judaism.HOW DO WE GATHER? - We form personal relationships with thousands of 20s/30s and introduce them to a vast network of DC-area young adults.We create curated experiences to reach uninvolved young adults across Jewish DC/NoVA.We lead thought-provoking Jewish learning experiences that inspire a relevant, active, and meaningful connection to Judaism.We provide a comprehensive online list of local events, jobs, kosher food, housing, rabbis and more that make it easy for young adults to find their fit in the Jewish community.We meet young Jewish adults where they are, regardless of their future plans for marriage, children, or synagogue.We serve as the pulse of the community, connecting 20s/30s to the Jewish life that is right for them.**from GatherDc’s webpageSupport the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

The Eden CenterFeaturing: Dr. Naomi Marmon Grumet, Founder & Executive DirectorJewish identity is based on three foundations, according to Dr. Naomi Marmon Grumet, the Sabbath, the laws of kashrut and mikvah, ritual bath. In fact, our sages tell us that it is incumbent on a community to build a mikvah before building any other communal structure including a synagogue. They say that it is so important a community should sell a Torah scroll to acquire the funds for the construction of a mikvah. (Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin, Meshiv Dabar, 1:45 and  Rabbi Shneur Zalman Lesches. "understanding Mikvah"). This helps us to understand the importance our rabbis placed on the rituals and laws surrounding ritual immersion. If mikvah is of such importance, it must serve a sacred role to protect women both emotionally and physically. During her university studies, Naomi was interested in women’s connections to Judaism. She recognized that Shabbat lighting candles, baking challah and going to the mikvah are the three major mitzvot that are specifically incumbent on women.  Of those three, she know the least about the laws regarding mikvah and choose to study this mitzvah deeply. From her intense studies and numerous conversation, The Eden Center was born.Their MissionThe Eden Center focuses on enabling all women to have a personally meaningful and welcoming experience in the mikveh, providing support and resources for crisis and lifecycle moments and transforming the mikveh into a vehicle to promote women’s emotional and physical health, intimacy and well-being.Their Story For millennia, the mikveh was the pivotal institution for Jewish women, and considered central to Jewish family continuity. It provided women with a sense of connection and time for introspection and spiritual intimacy. Today, however, mikveh has lost meaning for many women and has even become a source of discomfort and alienation. Even among traditional and religiously committed women, research shows that increasing numbers stop immersing after negative experiences.  The disrepair of many mikvaot in Israel sends the implicit message that Jewish women are not valued. Moreover, many non-religious women, who encounter the mikveh as a state-ordained marriage requirement, become hostile toward Judaism and religious authority as a result of their experience. This makes Eden’s mission to make mikveh welcoming and relevant for modern women all the more imperative. The Eden Center imagines the mikveh as a focal point for addressing a variety of dynamics related to the Jewish woman and family, including but not limited to: Promoting tolerance and inclusiveness;Promoting women’s mental and physical health;Using the mikveh as a tool that connects women to sources of support within the communityEmpowering women and enabling meaningful religious, spiritual and personal experiences;Increasing public awareness of issues of women’s health and women’s well-being, including encouraging the intimate female voice in the context of marital relationships;Allowing all womeSupport the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

The Gender Equity in Hiring ProjectFeaturing: Sara Shapiro Plevan, Founder & Executive DirectorThe Gender Equity in Hiring Project started in 2018 to have deep conversations regarding respectful, equitable workplaces. They established a growing network of female partners and thought leaders across our community to listen and collect data. With the stories they heard, they began the work of advocacy launching thief first cohorts and workshops in 2019. The goal is to create systems that support fair and equitable advancement for people of all genders. GEiHP continues to help people become workplace advocates, and empowers them to negotiate better. They also provide plethora of resources and tools, consulting and coaching. About The Gender Equity in Hiring Project*We begin our work rooted in the belief that reformulating hiring and employment processes are key leverage points for Jewish organizations as they begin to address gender biases. In order for the change we seek to become embedded in our communal organizations and our individual actions, we must dig deeply into cultures of bias--and build capacity to recognize and correct these biases as we build support systems to align our employment practices with our Jewish values of equality and fairness.Building an ecosystem and network of support helps us to think collaboratively, creatively, and differently as we solve work this challenge. This is why we do this work together. We strive to bring multiple perspectives and networks to our effort. Our decades of experience working with Jewish organizations and communities enable us to weave networks of partners, challenge the status quo, pivot to greater inclusivity, and demonstrate how to do so while living by our Jewish values.  GEiHP is making changes…Across our community, we see powerful steps toward change. We see individuals stepping forth, noticing gender inequities and calling them out. We see organizations working internally and externally on their processes, policies and workplace culture. We see small steps forward–and big strides, too. The pipeline for advancement, the pipeline for leadership is being strengthened every day. We are here to support you and serve as catalysts as we together build our movement for change. CONSULTATIONSWe are here to support you and your organization as you amplify your goals, hopes and dreams. Let's partner to change the system, not to change women; to dismantle bias, seek equity, and to bring feminist principles and values to bear on your work. Organizations: As we approach our work through an organizational change frame, we begin with support of Jewish workplaces as the ideal place to begin change in employment processes. We look forward to speaking with you about concerns that may range from the specific to the holistic, and partnering with you to address and design specific solutions.Individuals: We are now able to offer a small number of individual consultations for employees and those seeking employment. While our work begins from an organizational change frame, we recognize that we may be able to offer support and guidance for individuals as they move through hiring processes or problem-solve around specific employment and workpSupport the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.

Sacred SpacesFeaturing: Shira Berkovits, President & CEOThe Torah charges us to be an or l’goyyim (light unto the nations). We can not fulfill this important charge without looking inward. Looking within ourselves, our communities and institutions to do what is necessary to create safe surroundings.  The need and desire for safe environments is universal. Everyone wants to work in a safe environment. Everyone wants to send their children to schools, camps and synagogues where they are protected.  Our institutions must be safe places were we flourish and shine out to others. Being an or l’goyyim means we have a moral obligation to set an example to the world. This work begins within. We set the example by our own actions. Shira Berkovits, created Sacred Spaces to do this holy work. Sacred Spaces provides the tools, resources and training to prevent and and end workplace and institutional abuses. About Sacred SpacesTheir Mission: Sacred Spaces builds healthy Jewish communities by partnering with Jewish institutions to prevent and respond to sexual abuse and other abuses of power.Their Guiding Principles: The following is a set of ethical principles that guide Sacred Spaces in their daily operations and in navigating complex situations. We share them as a way of committing publicly to operating ethically and transparently, and allowing the public to hold us accountable. It is also our way of modeling the standards we ask for from the organizations with which we work.We approach our task with a deep sense of responsibility toward our community, its institutions, and the members in its care. At the center of our actions is the biblical call in Exodus 25:8 to construct a sanctuary: “Let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.”. ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם When we create safe and sacred communal spaces, we invite God’s presence to reside in our midst.We, the staff and board, undertake to cultivate a sacred workspace among ourselves, where the standards we seek to disseminate will be practiced and modeled. We commit to treating our colleagues, both those within our own organization and our partners in other institutions, with the utmost dignity.Underlying BeliefsThe work of creating safe and respectful institutions is a Jewish imperative that goes to the core of what it means to live a life informed by Jewish values.Most leaders and institutions want to create safe and respectful institutions but lack the knowledge and resources to adequately protect their constituents from abuse.Being pro-organization and pro-victim are profoundly compatible. Institutions can act in their best interests and be supportive of victims; in fact, they are intrinsically connected.The work of creating safe and respectful institutions can help communities come together across divides; this is a fundamentally constructive endeavor.Abuse prevention and response must be informed by two realities: Any person can be mistreated or abused, and  certain individuals – particularly those who are socially marginalized – are more vulnerable to mistreatment and abuse than others.Follow Sacred Spaces on  FacebookSupport the showThank you for tuning in to The Bridging Connections podcast. Please partner with us to promote this important work. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our website at www.bridges613.org for exciting news about innovation in Jewish life. This work depends on your feedback and donations. Please consider leaving feedback and or making on donation. We are grateful for all your support.