Shuls encouraged to host a ‘green Shabbat’ for London Climate Action Week
Shuls can get help to conduct an eco-audit, which signposts actions to make the synagogue more sustainable and be more environmentally friendly
Synagogues are being asked to host a “green Shabbat” this weekend to tie in with the London Climate Action Week.
Participants can register with Eco Synagogue to spend Shabbat learning about climate change, cutting waste with a Green Kiddush, eliminating single-use plastics and reducing their carbon footprint.
Several shuls are inviting speakers, hosting conversations or arranging screenings of Sir David Attenborough’s ‘Climate Change – The Facts’, available on BBC iPlayer.
In the hour-long documentary, the veteran wildlife presenter interviews the world’s leading climate scientists about recent extreme weather conditions and what climate change will mean for both the human population and the natural world.
Shuls can get help to conduct an eco-audit, which signposts actions to make the synagogue more sustainable, such as by sourcing local seasonal food or switching energy supplier.
Nikki Glantz of Kol Nefesh Masorti Synagogue said the shul “started with the kiddush” by hitting the local supermarket and only buying British.
“We had great Isle of Wight tomatoes, a form of kale that was easy to use in a salad and Jerusalem artchokes, plus other seasonal foods,” said Glantz.
“We made some amazing salads and served it with houmous and rice cakes, as they are free of palm oil rather than the usual Osem crackers. The kids were really happy with these along with crudités and vegan ice lollies.”
Yonatan Galon, chief executive of JNF UK, said: “Green Shabbat is the perfect opportunity to think about the impact we can all have to protect the planet. At JNF-UK we are highlighting the importance of our afforestation work in Israel, planting urban forests that are helping to reduce our global carbon footprint.”
What’s your community doing for Green Shabbat next weekend? Sign up here to get involved with @EcoSynagogue: https://t.co/6usfQXTY9z pic.twitter.com/Yu1QaVyaoY
— Board of Deputies of British Jews (@BoardofDeputies) June 30, 2019
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
