| |
 |
Message from the National Executive Director
 Our tradition reminds us that at our annual festive Passover meal retelling the story of our journey to freedom, we should declare an explicit invitation to those who suffer from hunger. Through your support of MAZON Canada, this is one way of realizing this invitation. The need to alleviate hunger is a growing challenge. Within the past year, it is estimated that 1.8 million Canadians made use of a food bank. One in eight Canadian families struggle to put food on the table.
As the Canadian Jewish national response to hunger, we work on your behalf. Currently we provide funds to 108 agencies in seven provinces. Our grantees are mostly small, volunteer-driven front line organizations. You can read a profile of one such grantee, Our Place Community of Hope, below. So far, since September, MAZON Canada helped feed 13,716 children, helped serve 53,673 meals, taught 435 people in cooking classes, and helped over 65,000 Canadians. This could not have been done without your financial support. As we see at the seder, our values and tradition expect us to act to alleviate hunger. This is also the sabbatical or shmita year, where we are enjoined to let our land rest. But we cannot rest from our social justice obligations. Indeed, we are commanded (Ex 23:11), "the seventh year you shall let [the land] rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat..." Through your support of Mazon Canada, you can help make this real. The seder begins with the traditional welcome inviting "All who our hungry...." We have prepared a resource to share at the seder: commentaries by four Rabbis from across Canada on this text. Click here to view this resource and print it or save it to your computer. Feel free to share this link with others as well. We hope you find it of value. Going forward, guided by our new strategic plan, we are committed to making changes that will increase our impact. But we can't do it without you. So please, respond generously in the spirit of this season to help the hungry, both in the Jewish community and the rest of Canada. With Gratitude and best wishes for a Chag Sameach. |
|
Your Donations in the Community: Our Place Community of Hope
"Our Place Community of Hope is a special sanctuary" says David Collins, the Executive Director of the Toronto organization that takes an integrated approach to help adults with the consequences of serious mental illness. At their drop-in centre, games of pool provide physical activity aimed at relieving depression; a round of karaoke helps people build self-confidence. "All elements of the program are designed to help our participants overcome the hurdles they face because of their mental illness," Collins says. MAZON Canada contributes to their food program, which includes a full and balanced meal three nights a week and a weekly cooking class. At their community kitchen, participants learn how to cook with vegetarian, locally-grown ingredients to prepare nutritious meals. "We did a survey and discovered almost none of them ever cook at home," Collins said. The program aims to change that, and to empower people who live on the fringes of our communities. "Sharing a meal or cooking with friends, builds community and trust, increases skills and confidence" Collins points out, "and plain and simple, feeds people. "Mazon's generous support of Our Place, helped to support all elements of our food programs for the past few years. We are very grateful for your ongoing support."
|
ECHOage Parties: Help Out At Home!
With a desire to simplify the birthday party process and emphasize the importance of charitable giving to children, two moms, Debbie Zinman (past MAZON volunteer) and Alison Smith, created
ECHOage.
The ECHOage concept: Children choose the birthday gift they want and also choose a charity to support. Instead of bringing gifts to the child's birthday party, guests are invited and asked to contribute funds through a page on the ECHOage website. The funds are distributed evenly between the gift for the child and the charity. The system makes it more rewarding for kids and less work for parents. Guests win too because they receive a tax receipt for donations above $15.
MAZON and ECHOage encourage children to learn the value of giving to those in need. In enabling children to choose a charity they feel connected to, an atmosphere of excitement and generosity is created around the child's birthday; the gift-giving process becomes truly meaningful. When a child chooses MAZON Canada through ECHOage, they support the important work of feeding hungry families.
Click here to learn more or to book your party.
|
|
Rich and Flourless Chocolate Brownies
by Estee Kafra
T
he title of this treat for Passover says it all. Dark, rich and chocolaty, not only are they delicious,
they are super simple...all in one bowl! No mixer necessary!
Yield 14-16
2/3 cup oil
10.5 oz baking chocolate
1 3/4 cups sugar
5 large eggs
6 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup potato starch.
1/2 cup chocolate chips for sprinkling (optional)
1/2 cup walnuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 F
In a medium size bowl set over a double boiler, place the chocolate and oil and let melt. Stir to combine. Remove from the flame and quickly add the sugar and whisked into the mixture. Moving quickly add one egg at a time and whisk vigorously until combined.
Add the cocoa, salt and potato starch and mix until everything is combined. Pour into a lined 9 x 13 pan.
Sprinkle with chocolate chips if using or stir some walnuts into the batter.
Bake for 35 minutes for a softer center and 40 minutes for a brownie baked through. Let cool and slice into squares. Enjoy!
|
| Chef Spotlight: Estee Kafra
Food writer Estee Kafra, editor of
Kosherscoop, is a celebrated kosher cookbook author and creator of all things recipe related. Her sophisticated yet fun visual aesthetic translates into vibrant, healthful, delicious recipes made with many fresh and natural ingredients. Beloved recipe contributor to the kosher food pages of
Mishpacha Magazine,
Canadian Jewish News and
Jewish Action Magazine, Estee revamps classic Jewish recipes and traditional kosher food into delightful, fresh, modern dishes that please any palate.
"Food is one of our most primal needs, and for most of us, cooking is a basic, everyday chore. But food represents much more than the way in which we satisfy our cravings and keep ourselves alive. It is the way we nurture both ourselves and the people around us. I believe we can take this everyday act and elevate it into an experience of creativity, mindfulness, and meaning. In order to make the most of the world we live in, we need to open our hearts and minds to the inspiration all around us, to the myriad experiences and items that can shape our everyday lives. That's Cooking Inspired."
She sends along one of her yummy recipes with warmest wishes to Mazon donors for a Happy and meaningful Passover with family and friends!
|
|
|
Memories of
La Soiree and Kosherlicious!
|
|
| |
|
|
|
CHAG SAMEACH!
Happy Passover!
|
Your feedback is important to us. We want to hear from you so let us know if you have any ideas, suggestions or questions by emailing us at
[email protected]
.
|
|
|
