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! As you prepare for Shabbat this week, take the extra step of taking some quick, effective climate action - you’ll even get an extra hour post-Shabbat to rest up for the week ahead!
A couple of weeks ago, we contacted the NYS Public Service Commission with concerns about Governor Hochul’s attempts to narrow the scope of environmental reviews related to the temporary moratorium on data centers she issued earlier this year. The deadline for comments to the PSC has been extended, so this week we’ll be contacting them again, demanding that they expand the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement for data centers to protect our communities, especially frontline communities, from their harmful effects. Click here to submit your comment now!
Extra credit: if you’re feeling anxious about next week’s elections, DO something (besides voting, of course)! Try a phone banking shift with Environmental Voter Project (more info here); challenge yourself to do even 15 minutes of calling, and you might find that you like it more than you thought you would (or at least dislike it less)!
Idea to Ponder:
This week’s Torah portion centers on Abraham. This primary ancestor of the Jewish people is a complex character for sure but one of the famous stories we read this week in Vayeira shows a unique side of him that we can all learn from: the quality of speaking out for justice… even to God.
When God informs Abraham that Sodom and Gomorrah will be destroyed for their wickedness, Abraham, feeling that this collective punishment is unjust, argues on behalf of the people in a stunning display of assumed agency to impact God’s will. As we know, in this instance his “vote” does not prevail but his effort is exemplary.
In our country, where we find our democracy feeling wobbly and our climate even more wobbly, the act of voting is our most precious vehicle for articulating our core values and standing up for justice.
Since you’re reading this missive and hopefully taking the recommended climate action, you care about how our state and our country address the unfolding impacts of the climate crisis. We can see how whoever holds office (legislators, jurists, and county officials) matters greatly in how we collectively respond to that crisis. And yet, a surprising number of people who indicate their deep concern for the climate don’t vote: it’s mind boggling but true.
We’re using this space in this week’s message to strongly implore you to NOT be one of those people. Please take your agency like Abraham and make and execute a plan about where and when you’ll cast your vote in the midterm election. Take a firm stand for climate justice.
Of course, offering a petitionary prayer for the optimal outcome is also a good idea.