From May to mid-November, every Sunday, volunteers from the Congregation Olam Tikvah head to the West End Farmers Market to collect surplus produce. Once at the farmers market, the team diligently gathers and sorts up to thousands of pounds of fruits and vegetables from local vendors. Once they conclude their gathering process, the group transports the produce and delivers it directly to the Food for Others pantry. 

For this team, gleaning activity is not only a volunteer activity, but a way of life. 

Assistant Rabbi Bem Sigal from Olam Tikvah explains, “The O.T. Gleaners bring Jewish values to life by turning the biblical mitzvah of gleaning into meaningful action in our community. Week after week, they remind us that caring for those in need is not simply an ideal we teach, but a responsibility we live, helping ensure that good food reaches the people who need it most.” 

Following the ancient Jewish practice of gathering harvest leftovers for those in need, the Olam Tikvah group carries its congregation’s broader commitment to tikkun olam, or “repairing the world” through community service. Instead of watching perfectly edible food go to waste, this team took their practices into action to make a change in their community. 

Since beginning their gleaning involvement in 2014, the team has gathered a larger group of supporters within the congregation and created a bond over fighting food insecurity in our neighborhoods. Gleaning volunteer Sylvia Ambaruch describes one of the first times she got involved in donating to Food for Others through the congregation. “Several years ago, an all-hands request was sent to all members of OT that Food for Others was low on food. I went to a grocery store immediately and saw several Congregation Olam Tikvah members making purchases,” Sylvia recalls. “When I got to Food for Others, I could see a number of people lined up to collect food as soon as it was delivered. I know just how important this food is for those who have this as their only resource for food for them and for their families.” 

With their continuous motivation to help those facing hard times, the support doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. 

“When I am with the O.T. gleaning team, we are caring for those families, the vulnerable in our community,” Sylvia says. 

This team’s support extends far beyond a weekend activity, serving as a lasting reminder of the power of community and the impact of showing up for others. As one of the original volunteer members, Annie Schwartz, puts it: “Sometimes, repairing the world begins with simply showing up.” 

Thank you, team Olam Tikvah, for showing us what community is all about.

Photos courtesy of congregant Steve Heller.