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! At the end of a long week, go take a few breaths of fresh air outside, and then take some action to ensure that we can all breathe fresh air.  

It’s hard to keep up with the whirlwind of chaos coming out of Washington in recent months; it’s easy to become overwhelmed and feel helpless, which tends to lead to inaction (“I can’t possibly make a difference with ALL of this going on…”).  Focusing on local and state action, where we can still make a considerable difference, is one way of staying engaged and, however slowly, chipping away at our goals. Sometimes, though, our work faces a direct threat from federal actions, as in the case of the President’s recent executive order targeting state-level climate laws (like NY’s CLCPA and Climate Superfund law).  We as individuals may not have much power to stand up to the President - but our Governor does.  That’s why, this week, we’re going to call on Governor Hochul to use every tool at her disposal to oppose this executive order. Click here to send her a message now!

Idea to Ponder:

This week’s Torah portion, Tazria-Metzorah, is difficult for even the mildly squeamish to read due its graphic descriptions of skin disease - YUK! Nevertheless, it is prescient in its message for us today. As we know from our too recent Covid pandemic, and as we see at this very moment with measles, wise and experienced leaders are needed to determine the appropriate course of action so that disease does not spread. It is also up to each individual to be cautious and to follow scientific protocols to prevent further contamination. We are part of a intricately connected ecosystem in which each of us has a role to play in maintaining a clean and healthy environment for all. Even the Torah, compiled millennia ago knew that.