Jewish community takes ‘bite out of hunger’

A fun song about sandwiches seemed appropriate as the metroarea Jewish faith community joined forces to combat hunger in Oklahoma. About 300 people gathered for the “Take a Bite Out of Hunger” on Nov. 18 at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, 3355 S Purdue. Michael Pollack, the event’s founder, served with Anita Barlow as co-coordinators of the 2018 event. He was pleased that people from all three Jewish congregations, Temple B’nai Israel, Chabad Community Center for Jewish Life and Learning and Emanuel Synagogue, took part in the ninth annual gathering. They worked in different groups to fill backpacks with food for the food bank’s Kids Backpack Program. They also filled boxes with food destined for older adults across the state and the food bank’s emergency food pantry partners. One of the participants of the recent event was Tessa Ashoff, the food bank’s manager of grants and foundations. She said the event shows that the local Jewish community is vibrant, and she was particularly thankful to be part of it this year. Ashoff said she was born and raised in Pittsburgh and had been a member of one of the congregations that held services in the Tree of Life synagogue, site of a deadly shooting in October. Ashoff said she knew two of the 11 people who were killed when a gunman opened fire at the house of worship. The initiative to fight hunger reminded her of the values she holds dear, she said. “It’s a reminder of our Jewish values. We believe as Jews that we all have a responsibility to make the world a better place.” ONLINE: Go to https://newsok.com/ blogs/religion-and-values to learn about Rabbi Ovadia Goldman’s Hanukkah commitment to “shine light in darkness” at the Dec. 2 Bricktown menorah lighting.