Students bake challah bread to raise awareness of Darfur
On college campuses across the United States students are gathering to help stop rape, murder, genocide and social injustice.
Not by raising their fists, but by sharing their time, talents and taste for bread -- challah, that is.
Students are making, baking and selling this traditional Jewish bread to raise money for and awareness for Darfur, a region in western Sudan where <NO1>such <NO>atrocities take place daily.
The organization, Challah for Hunger, is now in its fifth year and has sent more than $65,000 to nonprofit relief organizations working in Darfur. Challah for Hunger is on 15 college and university campuses, including Pomona, Scripps, UCLA, Emory and Vassar and Pittsburgh.
It was founded by Eli Winkelman, a Scripps College alum who began the project when she was a freshman.
Winkelman was well-traveled by the time she settled into her freshman dorm room. She had already lived in Washington, D.C., and Israel, but was having trouble acclimating to her new surroundings.
"I couldn't find my place right away," Winkelman said. "I was looking for something familiar."
Winkelman, who belonged to Hillel, a Jewish organization on campus, had always found solace in baking challah and decided to start making it for the club's Sabbath supper.
It didn't take long before the word spread about the delectable edible, and people started making requests.
"There was a demand," she said. "We decided to sell it -- as long as it was a good cause."
Melinda Koster, who baked bread with Winkelman, knew about the torture and wickedness in Darfur and shared the information with Winkelman. The duo, with students Claire Knezevic and Allie Schulman, researched and decided their project's proceeds would be donated to Darfur through American Jewish World Service, an international humanitarian organization<NO1>which is also the national organization.
Each chapter is required to donate half its earnings to the national cause and the other half to an organization of its choosing.
Challah for Hunger received recognition from former President Bill Clinton, who mentioned the organization in his 2007 book, "Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World," and made a personal phone call to Winkelman.
"It was an intense conversation ... He wanted to know how Challah for Hunger works and how people give," she said. "Then when the book came out, he'd written a page and a half. I couldn't believe it."
As Winkelman continues her national campaign, students are carrying the torch back at her alma mater.
Each Thursday evening at Scripps, about 20 volunteers meet in the basement of the school's cafeteria to mix the ingredients, prepare the dough, then shape and bake.
They make about 150 loafs in three, sometimes four flavors: plain, cinnamon sugar, Mexican chocolate and a mystery flavor. One week they offered jalapeno cheese. The cinnamon and sugar is vegan, meaning that it contains no eggs.
Friday mornings at 11 a.m. volunteers set up in the school's Seal Court and sell the bread. It's usually gone by noon.
Buyers can save $1 if they write a letter of support at the time of purchase. At the selling tables there's a list of officials and a template letter to follow. Once finished, give it to a cashier who will stamp and mail the letter.
"That raises the awareness right there," said Alissa Petriyes, who is Challah for Hunger's co-director with Casey Near. "If you write something, you're more likely to remember it and pass it on."
Petriyes has been moved by what happening in Darfur and is committed to social justice for all. Each week she feels Challah for Hunger is reaching out to the community and beyond, not only providing something healthy for the body, but also for the soul.
"I wanted to be part of an organization that makes a difference," Petriyes said. "It's not something you can forget about just because it doesn't affect you."
diana.sholley@inlandnewspapers.com
Challah for Hunger
Where: Scripps College, Seal Court
When: 11 a.m. Fridays
Cost: $4 or $5 per loaf; a $1 discount for a letter of support to a political official
Information: challahforhunger.org
Winkelman was well-traveled by the time she settled into her freshman dorm room. She had already lived in Washington, D.C., and Israel, but was having trouble acclimating to her new surroundings.
"I couldn't find my place right away," Winkelman said. "I was looking for something familiar."
Winkelman, who belonged to Hillel, a Jewish organization on campus, had always found solace in baking challah and decided to start making it for the club's Sabbath supper.
It didn't take long before the word spread about the delectable edible, and people started making requests.
"There was a demand," she said. "We decided to sell it -- as long as it was a good cause."
Melinda Koster, who baked bread with Winkelman, knew about the torture and wickedness in Darfur and shared the information with Winkelman. The duo, with students Claire Knezevic and Allie Schulman, researched and decided their project's proceeds would be donated to Darfur through American Jewish World Service, an international humanitarian organization<NO1>which is also the national organization.
Each chapter is required to donate half its earnings to the national cause and the other half to an organization of its choosing.
Challah for Hunger received recognition from former President Bill Clinton, who mentioned the organization in his 2007 book, "Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World," and made a personal phone call to Winkelman.
"It was an intense conversation ... He wanted to know how Challah for Hunger works and how people give," she said. "Then when the book came out, he'd written a page and a half. I couldn't believe it."
As Winkelman continues her national campaign, students are carrying the torch back at her alma mater.
Each Thursday evening at Scripps, about 20 volunteers meet in the basement of the school's cafeteria to mix the ingredients, prepare the dough, then shape and bake.
They make about 150 loafs in three, sometimes four flavors: plain, cinnamon sugar, Mexican chocolate and a mystery flavor. One week they offered jalapeno cheese. The cinnamon and sugar is vegan, meaning that it contains no eggs.
Friday mornings at 11 a.m. volunteers set up in the school's Seal Court and sell the bread. It's usually gone by noon.
Buyers can save $1 if they write a letter of support at the time of purchase. At the selling tables there's a list of officials and a template letter to follow. Once finished, give it to a cashier who will stamp and mail the letter.
"That raises the awareness right there," said Alissa Petriyes, who is Challah for Hunger's co-director with Casey Near. "If you write something, you're more likely to remember it and pass it on."
Petriyes has been moved by what happening in Darfur and is committed to social justice for all. Each week she feels Challah for Hunger is reaching out to the community and beyond, not only providing something healthy for the body, but also for the soul.
"I wanted to be part of an organization that makes a difference," Petriyes said. "It's not something you can forget about just because it doesn't affect you."
diana.sholley@inlandnewspapers.com
Challah for Hunger
Where: Scripps College, Seal Court
When: 11 a.m. Fridays
Cost: $4 or $5 per loaf; a $1 discount for a letter of support to a political official
Information: challahforhunger.org
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