Eco-Kashrut on the Kehilat Hadar Shavuot Retreat
Shavuot is an agricultural festival known as Hag Ha-Katzir, festival of reaping, and Hag
Ha-Bikkurim, festival of the first fruits, during which farmers would bring their first fruits to the Temple. In celebration of the environmental aspects of the Holiday, we are excited that this year fair trade coffee, chocolate and organic snacks will be provided. We invite you to join Hadar in the greater practice of sustainable, organic, fair trade kashrut, embracing the following values of Eco-Kashrut:
בעל תשכת / Baal Taschit / - not ruining or needlessly destroying
שמירת הגוף / Shmirat Ha-guf / - the protection of one’s own body
צדקה / Tzedakah / - sharing of food with the poor
עושק / Osek / - not oppressing workers
ברכה קדושה / Bracha Kedusha / - consciously affirming a sense of holiness and blessing
when we eat
Please see the back of this card for selected Jewish texts related to each value listed above.
Hekhsher Tzedek
Hekhsher Tzedek is a shared effort between the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism to display a seal on already designated kosher foods that reflects production benchmarks consistent with Jewish ethical standards, including how companies treat their employees. Hekhsher Tzedek will serve as a supplement to – and not a replacement for – traditional certification of kosher products. The creation of the accompanying seal will ensure that not only are kosher products rooted in the proper Jewish methods of inspecting and slaughtering animals, but that the food is produced in a way that demonstrates concern for those human beings who are involved in its production. For more information, go to <hekhshertzedek.org>.
Hekhsher Tzedek focuses on:
1) Health, Safety and Training
2) Wages & Benefits
3) Environmental Impact
4) Corporate Transparency
5) Product Developm
צער בעל חיים / Respect of animals / You shall not see your brother's ass or ox fallen down by the way, and hide yourself from them; your will surely help him to lift them up again. (Deuteronomy 22:4)Whether a cow or a ewe, it and its young, you shall not kill both in one day. (Leviticus 22:28)
Should you come upon a bird nest, in a tree or on the ground, with chicks or eggs and the mother sitting on the young, you will not take the mother bird with the young. You will surely let the mother go and after you may take the young ( Deut. 22:6-7)
בעל תשכת / Not ruining or needlessly destroying / Whoever breaks vessels, or tears garments, or destroys a building, or clogs a well, or does away with food in a destructive manner violates the negative mitzvah of bal tashchit. (Kiddushin 32a)
Talmudic rulings on bal tashchit also prohibit the killing of animals for convenience (Hullin 7b), wasting fuel (Shabbat 67b), and a minority opinion classifies the eating of extravagant foods when one can eat simpler ones as a violation of this precept (Shabbat 140b).
שמירת הגוף / Protection of one’s own body / Take care of yourself, and guard your soul diligently.
(Deuteronomy 4:9)
Every person must take great care of his[her] physical body.
(Likutey Moharan I,22:5)
צדקה / Sharing of food with the poor / When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger. (Leviticus 23:22)
עושק / Not oppressing workers / You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow countryman or a stranger. (Deuteronomy 24:14)
It is our pride and our glory that we are kind to those who work for us.
(Sefer HaChinukh 482)
ברכה קדושה / Consciously affirming a sense of holiness and blessing when we eat / You shall eat and be satisfied and bless God for the good land that God has given you. (Deuteronomy 8:10)
Rabi Ba the son of Rabi Hiyya son of Abba teaches: if he ate while walking, he must stand and bless. If he ate standing, he must sit and bless. I he ate sitting, he must recline [formally] and bless. If he ate reclining, he must enwrap himself and bless. And if he did this, he is like the angels who serve God. Talmud Yerushalmi, Berakhot 7:5)
Over…
Printed on recycled paper