Shofar for Change: Awakening the Jewish World to the Climate Crisis

As the shofar blasts pierce the air this Rosh Hashanah, they carry with them the ancient call for reflection, repentance, and renewal. But this year, a new sound will echo through the holiest site for our people – a call to action not just for the soul, but for the planet.

On September 29, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, a nonprofit called Jewish Vegan Life (JVL) will host an extraordinary event as part of their groundbreaking Shofar for Change initiative. At 6 PM Israel time (11 AM US Eastern time), the shofar will be sounded in honor of global climate awareness, and a series of talks will follow on how the Jewish community can take bold steps to combat the greatest existential threat we face today: climate change.

Why the Shofar?

The shofar has always been a powerful symbol in Jewish tradition, serving as a wake-up call to reconnect with our values and to strive for moral and spiritual improvement. Today, that call is louder than ever. As we face the escalating threat of climate catastrophe, we are reminded of our Jewish responsibility to protect the earth and all its inhabitants.

The symbolism of the shofar is twofold: it awakens the Jewish world to the urgency of the climate crisis while also reminding us of o                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ur capacity for renewal. Just as we are called to repent and repair during the High Holidays, we are also called to restore and protect the world Hashem entrusted to us.

A Climate Crisis Like No Other

The evidence is undeniable. The world is experiencing unprecedented changes in weather patterns, rising global temperatures, and increased frequency of extreme climate events like wildfires, droughts, and floods. Every decade since the 1970s has been hotter than the one before it, with 2023 setting record-breaking temperatures worldwide. The Mediterranean region, including Israel, is warming even faster than the global average, bringing with it significant risks for the Jewish state – from rising sea levels threatening our coastal cities to heightened instability and conflict fueled by resource scarcity.

For the Jewish people, the climate crisis poses not just a physical threat, but a moral challenge as well. Our tradition calls on us to be stewards of the earth, to pursue justice, and to safeguard the vulnerable. The Torah’s commandments to care for the land and all living beings resonate deeply in a world where the future is threatened by inaction.

The Role of Plant-Based Diets in Combatting Climate Change

What can we do to avert disaster? The most significant step we can take is to shift toward plant-based diets. The connection between animal agriculture and the climate crisis is clear: raising animals for food requires vast amounts of land, water, and energy, and it produces large quantities of greenhouse gases like methane, which is over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide, per unit weight, during the 10 – 15yeas it is in the atmosphere in trapping heat. In fact, over 40% of the world’s ice-free land is used for grazing and growing feed crops for farmed animals.

A shift to plant-based eating not only reduces the strain on the environment but also aligns with core Jewish values. Our tradition teaches us to avoid causing unnecessary harm to animals (tsa’ar ba’alei chayim), to preserve our health, and to use the earth’s resources responsibly. By reducing or eliminating our consumption of animal products, we can fulfill these mitzvot while taking meaningful action to protect the planet for future generations.

The Jewish Obligation to Act

The Shofar for Change initiative is not just a call to reflect on our personal lives; it’s a call to action for the entire Jewish world. Just as we gather together to pray for peace, health, and security during the High Holidays, we must now pray and act to ensure the survival of our planet.

Jewish Vegan Life is leading the charge by raising awareness about the environmental impact of our food choices and promoting plant-based diets as an essential solution to climate change. At the Shofar for Change event, speakers will highlight the urgency of the crisis and the power of the Jewish community to make a difference.

Join the Call for Change

This Rosh Hashanah, as the shofar blasts at the Western Wall, it will serve as both a spiritual awakening and a clarion call for environmental justice. It is a moment for the Jewish world to take stock of the blessings we have been given and to recognize the responsibility we bear in safeguarding them.

The climate crisis is real, but it is not inevitable. With collective action and a commitment to living aligned with Jewish values, we can create a sustainable future for ourselves, our children, and future generations.

Will you answer the call?

To learn more about the Shofar for Change initiative and how you can participate in this historic event, visitJewishVeganLife.org and consider joining the effort to protect the earth through compassion, action, and a return to plant-based living. Together, we can ensure that the shofar sounds are not a final warning, but the beginning of a new chapter in our fight for the future.

Because the issues are so critical, I have arranged to match donations to JVL up to $25,000. You can learn more about them and make a tax-deductible donation to them at JewishVega Life.org. 

---