Organic, Communal, Dirt-cheap, and JEWISH!

I just found out that a synagogue here in Atlanta is starting a CSA!  Which has me superexcited.  Not just because fresh fruits and veggies are awesome, but because the CSA is starting at the same synagogue I've been talking about joining… and this will be a cheap and easy (low-risk) way for me to start getting involved with the community!  I can go and help garden, and join in for pot-lucks, and meanwhile case the joint, sniff out the scene…

Which is my Faithhacker tip for today!  Try to find an appealing backdoor to any synagogue you're thinking of joining.  A CSA if there is one… but if not, consider something like a film festival or book club.  They're often open to people outside the synagogue membership, but give you a chance to hang out and meet the regulars.  It will cost little, and give you a great sense for whether you'd be happy attending services on a regular basis.

But beyond my tip… the idea of a Jewish CSA just kicks ass.

I found myself wondering if this is unusual, a Jewish CSA.  I sat down today, googled "Jewish CSA" and discovered it's not unheard of.  There are even theories on the matter, about what makes a CSA Jewish:

What we eat is simultaneously a Jewish issue, an environmental issue and a health issue. As such, it's a great way to foster new vision in the Jewish community – a vision that's Jewishly-rooted, engaged in the world around us, and committed to healthy living in the broadest sense. Two years ago, Hazon hosted a 12-week learning community addressing the question How and What Should a Jew Eat? The question addresses kashrut in a traditional sense, but also the complexities of how food is grown, where it comes from, and how it is packaged, amongst other issues.

Pretty cool.   I'm in!