The Torah portion כי תצא (Ki Tetzé – When you go out)1 addresses a variety of laws and moral instructions, highlighting the importance of inclusion, social justice, and respect for nature. It provides guidelines for living in harmony with others and putting the ethical principles of Judaism into practice in daily life.
Verse 24:19 emphasizes the significance of kindness, solidarity, and love towards those in need, in alignment with the principles of Judaism:
כִּי תִקְצֹר קְצִירְךָ בְשָׂדֶךָ וְשָׁכַחְתָּ עֹמֶר בַּשָּׂדֶה, לֹא תָשׁוּב לְקַחְתּוֹ–לַגֵּר לַיָּתוֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָה, יִהְיֶה
When you reap the harvest of your field and forget a sheaf in the field, do not turn back to retrieve it; it shall be for the stranger, the orphan, and the widow.
The organization Urban Adamah embodies these values by intertwining agricultural practice, Jewish tradition, and Torah teachings. It promotes sustainable agricultural methods while fostering individual growth, social justice, and solidarity within the community. Located in West Berkeley, this faith-based community farm welcomes participants for a three-month program. They receive agricultural training and engage in Jewish spiritual practice rooted in the values of “חסד” (Hessed – kindness), “צדקה” (Tzedakah – justice), and “אהבה” (Ahavah – love).
1 Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19