With support from Brown/RISD Hillel, I had the fabulous opportunity to attend this conference.  I'm not the first Brunonian to go either.  Although, I can't say I'm surprised--when I got there to check in, who was the first person I saw?  Jeff Yoskovitz '07, former student leader in Hillel, pickler extraordinaire, and now, conference planner!


The event itself is a ton of fun--lot's of singing and dancing, sharing and connection.  And, I was surprised to find, there were lot's of young people, thanks to ample scholarship money.  A range of Jewish, Food issues were represented--there were workshops on Food Justice, many on the connection between Jewish life and sustainable food systems, do-it-yourself stuff, text meditations and more.  There were some things lacking, such as a critical introspection on issues of class and privilege within "the new Jewish food movement" as well as more discussion of Israel / Palestine, particularly though a lens sustainable agriculture and food justice.


As for me, I went as a representative of The Real Food Challenge--a national campaign to direct $1 billion of college food purchases to sustainable and fair food.  I held a workshop in partnership with a staff person from Hazon (the conference organizing organization) as well as a follow-up gathering and plenty of informal networking.  There were a lot of fabulous young jewish activists there and we made some good plans to follow-up and continue to move jewish food action forward on our respective campuses.  I also connected with folks from the Jewish Farm School, Adamah, and the Isabella Freidman Center--we'll continue to dialogue about ways to connect my work with the Real Food Challenge to their work with Jewish students, particularly around the potential connections to Hillel National.


Go go go if you're thinking about it.  Lot's of beautiful young (single) Jewish people.  Lot's of community building.  Plenty of learning to be had.  5 stars.

- David Schwartz