Pre-shabbat action
Make climate action a regular habit, and connect that action to your Jewish values and practices.
Pre-shabbat action of the week
Shabbat Shalom! It feels as though we’re starting to slide into summer rituals; schools are out (or almost out), and the weather is encouraging a slightly lazier pace. Let’s try to keep up the habit we’ve built of slipping in a bit of climate activism before we head into Shabbat - you won’t even break a sweat!
We’re switching our focus to NYC this week! We’re less than a month away from the city budget deadline, and we’ll be writing to our City Council members to urge them to advocate for funding for Green Healthy Schools in the budget. Many of New York’s public schools are over 75 years old and badly in need of infrastructure repairs to fix poor ventilation, leaks, mold, and more; not only are these buildings energy inefficient, they are damaging to our children’s health. The Green Healthy Schools initiative would fund investments such as solar panels on school roofs, upgraded ventilation systems for cleaner indoor air, and fully electric renewable energy upgrades. Our kids - and our climate - deserve it! Click here to send a message to your City Council member now!
Idea to Ponder:
This week’s parsha is one of the most intriguing in the Torah – so much so that it appears again in Deuteronomy slightly amended. In short, as the Israelites draw closer to “The Promised Land” with the intention of inhabiting it, 12 heads of the tribes are sent to evaluate the resident population and the land itself. Ten out of 12 come back with a report about the land swallowing its inhabitants, who they say are giants - formidable. In contrast two claim that the land is safe and the inhabitants conquerable, with God’s help. The masses pelt the latter spies with stones, fomenting an insurrection. Moses intercedes with God, who out of frustration wants to annihilate the group.
The parallel to our current climate situation is breathtaking. Yet, I believe that there are likely more than 10 who see the truth. In fact, although polls reveal that the majority of Americans think global warming is affecting extreme weather events, their beliefs lag behind scientific assessments, and climate is not a priority for them when it comes to voting. What is hopeful is that two out of 10 of us are stepping up and shriying (shouting). Are you one of the ten or one of the two? If you identify with the 10, please switch lanes and join the two to make us three. There is strength in numbers!