Hazon and the Emerging Field of JOFEE

Against the backdrop of substantial changes—and many challenges—for American Jewish life, one of the areas of significant growth in the last dozen years has been the JOFEE field – Jewish Outdoor, Food & Environmental Education. Organizations such as Hazon, Pearlstone Center, Urban Adamah and Wilderness Torah have pioneered a wide range of programs that are enabling a growing number of people to connect Jewish life and tradition, on one side, with food, the outdoors and the environment, on the other.

Last year’s report “Seeds of Opportunity: A National Study of Immersive Jewish Outdoor, Food, and Environmental Education,” made clear that JOFEE programs have had a significant impact both on leadership and on Jewish identity.  And the report offered a look at the potential of the field to grow, mature, and to deepen the Jewish learning JOFEE offers. Leaders in the field recognize this opportunity and continue to learn and experiment with new strategies and initiatives to create the most effective Jewish learning experiences.

The last 15 months have seen exciting developments in JOFEE.  Hazon completed a merger with the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center. The start of the shmita year – in September 2014 – saw a flurry of new programing both in the US and in Israel, and the publication of a new edition of Rav Kook’s Shabbat Ha’Aretz.  The Davidson Foundation has provided support for the launch of Hazon Detroit. And, most recently, the Leichtag Foundation convened a significant gathering of Jewish farmers at their ranch in Encinitas.  As one JOFEE professional put it, “It’s only been 15 years since [JOFEE] has come into being. If you look at the field as a whole, we’re really just leaving childhood, and it’s stunning how rapidly the field has grown.”

And the field is poised for more growth in the future. In March 2015 the Foundation awarded a matching grant of $7.5 million over four years to Hazon, Pearlstone Center, Urban Adamah and Wilderness Torah. The matching grant for business planning and capacity support is designed to spur more investment into the field to support its growth. With the funding, Hazon also will launch a JOFEE Educator Fellowship, as all four organizations work to offer even more immersive JOFEE experiences.

“This is a significant moment not only for the JOFEE field but for the American Jewish community as a whole. If we can strengthen these three doorways – through food, the environment and the outdoors – we can have an immense and positive impact on American Jewish life in the next two or three decades – touching people’s lives, strengthening Jewish institution, and creating a better world for all.”

– Hazon’s Nigel Savage

At this important stage in the field’s development, Hazon and others are committed to engaging even more individuals in meaningful JOFEE experiences—imbued with rich Jewish learning opportunities and fostering deep connections to Jewish life.