Chocolate and Jewish Values to Mix at Tikvat Israel's Fall Festival, Nov. 1-3
Tikvat Israel this fall will host a weekend-long festival, “Chocolate and Jewish Values: A Fair Trade Festival,” that is sure to appeal to all the senses.
The program, which will promote overseas fair trade in the context of Jewish values, will take place Nov 1-3 at the synagogue.
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The multicultural program will draw on various Central and South American countries where coffee and cacao (chocolate) are major crops and where the Jewish community has had both Sephardic and Ashkenazi influence.
“We will explore Jewish values that explain why we should promote and sell fair trade products as well as those made by non-Jews in need,” said Shirley Waxman, principal organizer.
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The weekend schedule will include a Friday evening Shabbat service followed by dinner and a speaker, Ilana Schatz, director of Fair Trade Judaica, http://fairtradejudaica.org/. She will discuss
Jewish values in fair trade practices.
The Shabbat morning service will also have a speaker, Brenda Rosenbaum, who will talk about growing up in Guatemala city as a member of the Jewish community and her launching of an organization known as Mayan Hands, http://www.mayanhands.org/. The service will be followed by a chocolate Kiddush.
On Saturday evening following Havdalah, there will be the showing of a film, “The Dark Side of Chocolate," along with a moderated discussion, coffee and chocolate desserts.
The Sunday program will include a bazaar with a wide variety of wearable fair trade products for sale, including crafts from Guatemala, plus children's programs. A “chocolate sing-along” will be just one of the offerings for young children.
Food will also be available for purchase at the Sunday event, which will include a dance performance with audience participation.
A final schedule for the weekend, along with registration for the evening events, will be available in the next few weeks.
For more information contact event organizer Shirley Waxman (shirleywaxman@verizon.net)
The weekend schedule has been announced:
Friday, Nov. 1
6.30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat service with Cantor Helzner using Spanish melodies. Shabbat dinner follows. Menu includes foods made from chocolate from Central America. Speaker: Ilana Schatz, director, Fair Trade Judaica, on “Jewish Values and Fair Trade.”
Saturday, Nov. 2
9:30 a.m. Shabbat morning services. Speaker: Brenda Rosenbaum, director, Mayan Hands, on “Growing Up Jewish in Guatemala: Starting Mayan Hands.” A chocolate kiddush follows.
8 p.m. Film, “The Dark Side of Chocolate” followed by a discussion led by Ilana Schatz. A cafe will serve hot chocolate, tea, coffee and goodies.
Sunday, Nov. 3
Noon-6 p.m. Festival in social hall featuring exhibits and performances. Lectures in the sanctuary. children’s programs in Flax Library. Food will be sold. Some vendors, serving Divine chocolate and Mayorga coffee, will have tastings and products for sale.
1 p.m. Speaker: April Linton presents a fair trade overview. Her book, Fair Trade from the Ground Up: New Markets for Social Justice, will be available for purchase. Also, a chocolate sing-along with Charley Montroll.
2 p.m. Hands-on crafts for children, including Roz Houseknecht’s weaving project. Also, Gale Pressman and others on creating a mural.
2:15 p.m. Barbara Bernstein’s Latin dance company, followed by a teaching session.
3:15 p.m. Speaker: Sheilah Kaufman on Jews and chocolate. Her cookbooks will be available for sale.
4:30 p.m. Speaker: Ilana Schatz on the conversion history of Adat Israel, a reform congregation in Guatemala.
