MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
Encyclopedia
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger is an American nonprofit agency dedicated to preventing and alleviating hunger
among people of all faiths and backgrounds. MAZON, which means “food” or “sustenance” in Hebrew, practices and promotes a multi-faceted approach to hunger relief, recognizing the importance of responding to hungry peoples’ immediate need for nutrition and sustenance while also working to advance long-term solutions. This approach symbolizes its desire to embody twin Jewish ideals: tzedakah
and tikkun olam
.
Since its founding in 1985, MAZON has awarded grants totaling more than $53 million to organizations representing the entire spectrum of the nation’s anti-hunger network: from food banks
, food pantries, home-delivered meal programs and kosher meal programs to advocacy
groups working at the local, state and national level to expand participation in federal nutrition
programs and champion responsible government policies that can prevent widespread hunger in the future.
MAZON's headquarters are located in Los Angeles, California
.
, who wanted to build a bridge between the Jewish community and millions of hungry people around the world.
According to Jewish tradition, rabbis did not allow celebrations to begin until the community’s poor and hungry people were seated and fed. Fein's notion was to incorporate this ancient tradition into modern day celebrations such as bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, anniversaries and other joyous occasions, to help feed those who are less fortunate. One way for people to symbolically follow this tradition is to donate at least 3 percent of the cost of the food at these events to MAZON, either directly or through MAZON's many partner synagogues.
In 1986, the first year of its grant making, MAZON distributed $20,000 in cash grants to four hunger-relief organizations. Over the last 25 years, MAZON has awarded grants totaling over $53 million.
In 2008, MAZON awarded grants to 381 grantees, including International Medical Corps
, Feeding America, Bread for the World
and the Lambi Fund of Haiti.
, as meets all 20 Better Business Bureau
standards for charity accountability.
Hunger
Hunger is the most commonly used term to describe the social condition of people who frequently experience the physical sensation of desiring food.-Malnutrition, famine, starvation:...
among people of all faiths and backgrounds. MAZON, which means “food” or “sustenance” in Hebrew, practices and promotes a multi-faceted approach to hunger relief, recognizing the importance of responding to hungry peoples’ immediate need for nutrition and sustenance while also working to advance long-term solutions. This approach symbolizes its desire to embody twin Jewish ideals: tzedakah
Tzedakah
Tzedakah or Ṣ'daqah in Classical Hebrew is a Hebrew word commonly translated as charity, though it is based on the Hebrew word meaning righteousness, fairness or justice...
and tikkun olam
Tikkun olam
Tikkun olam is a Hebrew phrase that means "repairing the world." In Judaism, the concept of tikkun olam originated in the early rabbinic period...
.
Since its founding in 1985, MAZON has awarded grants totaling more than $53 million to organizations representing the entire spectrum of the nation’s anti-hunger network: from food banks
Food bank
A food bank or foodbank is a non-profit, charitable organization that distributes mostly donated food to a wide variety of agencies that in turn feed the hungry. The largest sources of food are for-profit growers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers who in the normal course of business have...
, food pantries, home-delivered meal programs and kosher meal programs to advocacy
Advocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
groups working at the local, state and national level to expand participation in federal nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
programs and champion responsible government policies that can prevent widespread hunger in the future.
MAZON's headquarters are located in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Inspiration and establishment
The founding of MAZON was inspired by the horrors of the Ethiopian famine of 1985, and was conceived by former Moment Magazine publisher Leonard FeinLeonard Fein
Leonard Fein is a writer and teacher. He founded the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy, and was co-founder and for 12 years editor of Moment Magazine....
, who wanted to build a bridge between the Jewish community and millions of hungry people around the world.
According to Jewish tradition, rabbis did not allow celebrations to begin until the community’s poor and hungry people were seated and fed. Fein's notion was to incorporate this ancient tradition into modern day celebrations such as bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, anniversaries and other joyous occasions, to help feed those who are less fortunate. One way for people to symbolically follow this tradition is to donate at least 3 percent of the cost of the food at these events to MAZON, either directly or through MAZON's many partner synagogues.
MAZON's work
MAZON, which means “food” or “sustenance” in Hebrew, practices and promotes a multi-faceted approach to hunger relief: by awarding financial grants to hundreds of anti-hunger organizations in the United States, Israel and selected developing nations; by engaging in advocacy on behalf of hungry people; and by developing and implementing programs to advance the field, especially with regard to improving nutrition and healthy food availability for low income communities.In 1986, the first year of its grant making, MAZON distributed $20,000 in cash grants to four hunger-relief organizations. Over the last 25 years, MAZON has awarded grants totaling over $53 million.
In 2008, MAZON awarded grants to 381 grantees, including International Medical Corps
International Medical Corps
International Medical Corps is a global humanitarian nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs...
, Feeding America, Bread for the World
Bread for the World
Bread for the World is a non-partisan, Christian citizens' movement in the United States to end hunger. The organization describes itself as a collective Christian voice urging nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad...
and the Lambi Fund of Haiti.
Fiscal responsibility
Currently, $0.07 of every dollar raised covers administrative overhead, with $0.93 supporting the mission. MAZON has received an "A" from the American Institute of PhilanthropyAmerican Institute of Philanthropy
The American Institute of Philanthropy is a 501 nonprofit organization, created in the United States by Daniel Borochoff in 1992, to provide information about charities' financial efficiency, accountability, governance, and fundraising. Its official website is known as...
, as meets all 20 Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau , founded in 1912, is a corporation consisting of several private business franchises of local BBB organizations based in the United States and Canada, which work through their parent corporation, the Council of Better Business Bureaus .The Better Business Bureau, through...
standards for charity accountability.