Food Security
Addressing poverty and hunger by strengthening the federal safety net, rooted in the Jewish imperative that “there shall be no needy among you.”
“You Must Open Your Hand”
In the United States, 47.9 million Americans (nearly 14% of the population), including 14.1 million children, live in food insecure households.
The Torah repeatedly commands us to care for those who do not have enough—from leaving the corners of our fields for the poor and the stranger (Leviticus 19:9–10) to the command, patoah tiftah, “you must open your hand,” to those in need (Deuteronomy 15:7–8).
This responsibility has long shaped the Conservative/Masorti Movement, including through Operation Isaiah, our longstanding High Holiday food drive inspired by the prophet Isaiah’s call to “share your bread with the hungry” (Isaiah 58:7). But charity alone cannot end hunger. In the United States, 95% food assistance comes through federal nutrition programs, which have historically drawn support across party lines.
We believe ensuring that people have enough to eat is both a mitzvah and our civic responsibility.
Get Involved
