AJWS Global Hunger Shabbat

This Shabbat, we are starting a whole new book, Vayikra. We are also starting to see a change in the seasons. Here in New York, from winter to spring. From what I hear from my friends and family in Israel, from winter to summer! :) This past week (actually yesterday), we moved on to a new month, Nissan. There a lot of changes that are happening, and more which are about to be happen, including a certain upcoming holiday, which will present a challenge to certain bloggers....

During this time of natural transitions, it is also a time to think about how we can help to bring about positive change for others. AJWS has organized a Global Hunger Solidarity Shabbat this coming Shabbat, which you can check out on their website.

One of their suggestions for how to commemorate global hunger shabbat is to consider having an empty plate at your Shabbat table to symbolize the empty tables around the world. I would encourage those of you who would like to embrace this custom to consider also featuring an empty glass. This custom would also work if you do not want to buy more ingredients that are not kosher for Pesach....

I read a number of personal stories mentioned on their website, including this one about Amy Diop:

http://ajws.org/hunger/ghs/global-hunger-shabbat_solidarityplate-readings.pdf

Amy Diop, a participant in GREEN Senegal’s farming program, says:

“I was born in this village and have a responsibility to contribute to its development by bringing in income and helping to break the exodus of the young people to the cities. GREEN Senegal has helped me to get some money through the sale of my products. I can now give my family at least three different foods a day.”

We stand in solidarity with communities experiencing hunger in Colombia The Sinu River in Northern Colombia has supported the lives of indigenous peoples for generations. But the construction of a huge megaproject—the Urra Dam—shattered this fragile ecosystem. The dam was built in 2000 by a consortium of foreign companies and supported by wealthy landowners. The project flooded over 7,400 hectares of indigenous-occupied land, engulfing crops, homes and sacred sites, and displacing over 2,800 people. The impact was devastating. The

local fish population, unable to swim up river to spawn, died out, eliminating the primary source of local protein. Severe flooding and drought caused by the river’s new course impeded traditional farming methods. As a result, tens of thousands of people were at risk of starvation.

In honour of this inspiring story of the work that is being done in Colombia, I thought that the Colombia cocktail would be appropriate to drink this week, unless you are going to take on the empty glass custom. This drink is supposed to resemble the Colombian flag, so try to prepare the drink according to the directions.

Ingredients:

• 2 parts vodka
• 1 part blue Curaçao
• 1 part grenadine
• 1 part lemon juice
• 6 parts orange juice

Preparation:

Shake the vodka and citrus juices in a mixer, then strain into the glass. Slide the grenadine down one side of the glass, where it will sink to the bottom. Slide the curacao down the other side, to lie between the vodka and grenadine, and serve before the layers have a chance to mix.