Adamah and Sustainable Foodways

Introduction

Adamah, previously known as Hazon, was founded in 2000 in New York City (Form 990 Hazon, 2020). A central aspect of their programming is food. In my paper, I provide context by examining the development of the Jewish environmental movement and a short history of Adamah, before addressing their agricultural and dietary initiatives. I argue that Adamah expresses an essential relationship in which humanity depends on the Earth for sustenance, which is also engrained in a Jewish worldview in which food is central to identity and ritual.

Inspiration For Jewish Environmentalism

Based on the interpretations of Rabbi Yonatan Neril and Rabbi Leo Dee, the Bible has motivated the Jewish environmental movement by establishing a sacred trust for humanity to steward creation (Neril, 2022). Genesis 2:8 reads, “God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it” (Scott, 2022). Psalm 24:1 elaborates that the Earth belongs only to God, with humans being meant to care for it, when it states, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” (Sacks, 2022, pg. 4). 

Samson Raphael Hirsch and Abraham Joshua Heschel expanded on notions of stewardship and inspired the Jewish environmental movement. Born in 1808, Hirsch “revolutionized Jewish thinking about the relationship between Torah and nature” (Tirosh-Samuelson, p. 214, 2002). Hirsch envisioned nature, humanity, and Torah as three complementary books and believed the created order expresses a natural morality with an ecological principle of reciprocity. He described all of God’s creatures as working together to achieve peace and serve God, with humans particularly being meant to preserve creation. Heschel, born in 1907, was the most well-known Jewish environmentalist and held that God called humanity to repair the world. Heschel believed that Jews should revere the Earth, which he saw as an allusion to God himself, and thought God held a great love for the world (Tirosh-Samuelson, 2002).

Background Information On Adamah

In 2000, Nigel Savage founded Hazon, which would later be renamed Adamah, in New York City (History, 2021; Manela, 2023). The early years of the organization focused on advocating for sustainable transportation through bicycle rides, though food soon became emphasized (History, 2021). One of Adamah’s primary activities has been organizing retreats, which have often incorporated sustainable food. Their retreats are designed to help Jews reconnect with nature and rejuvenate, asserting that Jewish life should be lived in connection with the Earth. Adamah retreats involve Torah readings and nature immersion. Lodging, seders, lectures, and group activities for all Jewish backgrounds are provided. Retreat attendees learn about nature both through formalized teaching and through hands-on outdoor activities (About Adamah, 2025, p. 1-7).

Adamah And Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture has long been important to Adamah, an organization which asserts growing food is part of climate action (About Adamah, 2025, p. 2). Adamah has run a variety of programs which engage agriculture and diet, including advocating for policies to further sustainable food systems (Advocacy, 2022, p. 1-7). 

Since 2004, Adamah has collaborated with the Garden of Eve Farm to run a community supported agriculture program. In 2008, the Kaplan Family Farm was donated, allowing Adamah to expand its organic agriculture initiatives. By 2010, Adamah had expanded to running 40 community supported agriculture centers (History, 2021, p. 1-10). 

Through their Farm And Forest School, youth aged 6 through 16 connect with nature through hands-on farm work. The school involves outdoor education in forests, meadows, and a working farm in which children learn about stewardship and ecological interdependence through organic agriculture. This program teaches children to appreciate other forms of life through learning to identify wild plants and bird calls, how to farm organically, and teamwork through group activities. Nature-focused curriculum helps students learn about ecosystems and responsible stewardship (Farm, 2024, p. 1-7).

In addition to hands-on programs, Adamah’s agricultural initiatives have also included educational projects, such as the the Jewish Outdoor, Food, Farming and Environmental Education Study (History, 2021). Another educational resource is their Shmita Sourcebook, which explores shmita as letting fields lie fallow for increased soil fertility every seventh year (Adamah Educational, 2025, p. 1-3). 

Adamah And Diet

Sustainable eating has been important to Adamah since its early years. In 2005, Adamah launched The Jew & the Carrot and published Food for Thought, both of which explored Jewish food ethics (History, 2021). Adamah also offers other guides to promote sustainable diets. The Climate Action Shabbat Guide offers conversation starters and tips for making shabbat more sustainable. Some of their other resources include the guides Eating Animals and Rosh Hashanah Seder (Adamah Educational, 2025, p. 1-3).

Adamah’s first Hazon Food Conference was held at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in 2006. The food conference has since been held in different cities, both on the east and west coast. Adamah has additional held a Jewish Food Festival since 2012. Locations have included Colorado, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Adamah began hosting their Jewish Intentional Communities Conference at the Pearlstone Jewish Retreat Center in 2013 (History, 2021). 

Some of Adamah’s other dietary programs have included their first Israel Sustainable Food Tour (History, 2021). Their 2025 Pesach retreat also advertised offering farm-to-table meals with ethically-sourced kosher food and vegan options available (Advocacy, 2022, p. 1-7).

Conclusion

            Adamah has developed many programs to help environmentally-minded Jewish Americans learn about sustainable food and offered opportunities to help act. Adamah has published the Jewish Outdoor, Food, Farming And Environmental Education Study and the Shmita Sourcebook, while promoting local and organic agriculture through their dozens of community-supported agriculture centers and Farm And Forest School. Adamah has published guides on making Shabbat and Seder more sustainable, in addition to promoting vegan, local, and organic diets at their retreats and in their lobbying campaigns. Adamah expresses an essential relationship in which humanity depends on the Earth for sustenance, which is also engrained in a Jewish worldview in which food is central to identity and ritual.