The Bridging Connections Podcast Bridges 613

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 vision
We 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.
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Thank 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 Animals
Featuring: Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard, Executive Director and Melissa Hoffman, Director of Programs

The 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 system
Climate 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 show
Thank 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 Krone
Adrienne 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 show
Thank 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’Nichum
Featuring: Sarit Wishnevski, Executive Director
Their 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 show
Thank 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.com
Featuring: Eileen Levinson, Founder and Executive Director
Haggadot.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/values
Haggadot.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 show
Thank 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... YOU
If 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. 
Mission
Secular 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 Statement
Secular 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. 
Values
Secular 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 show
Thank 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.