Community Contact Information:
Temple Sinai of Roslyn
Roslyn Heights, NY
www.mysinai.org

Goals:

• Bring together multiple generations of congregants
• Celebrate Sukkot and the concept of Harvest in a meaningful way.
• Collect and deliver produce to local people in need

Overview:
Nearly 1,800 pounds of produce were collected and donated through Temple Sinai of Roslyn’s gleaning project. Partnering with the Garden of Eve Farm, which supports local farmers and assists those in need, congregants come together each year to collect food to give to charitable agencies in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Preparation:
Members of the congregation joined a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, in which individuals “subscribe,” in essence, to a local farm. For their membership, congregants receive fresh locally grown produce on a weekly or monthly basis. The farm invited synagogues that were members of their CSA program to participate in a gleaning. The farm owners suggested building a Sukkah as part of the program.

In order to get the word out and entice more families, the congregation circulated flyers and mailings through the religious school and the congregational bulletin during the summer months. They were also in touch with the charitable organizations, who provided a truck and driver to pick up the gleanings.

Project Implementation:
Families met at the synagogue for a light breakfast and discussion about the meaning and process of gleaning. The rabbi discussed the concept of harvest and how it relates to the early Jewish farmers and the holiday of Sukkot. Families carpooled to the Farm where they met up with families from the 3 other synagogues. The farmers led a discussion of gleaning and farm practices. Adults and children of all ages picked vegetables and carried them to the truck. Afterwards, all the families gathered together to build a sukkah.

Results:
Families from the synagogue met families from other congregations, all working together to feed the hungry.
The farmers educated congregants about healthy eating, farming and its connection to Judaism. Congregants collected 1,800 pounds of produce for local charities.

This program received a Fain Award in 2009.