211 results for author: Susan Levine

Climate Change and the Jewish Question

by Rabbi Dr. Dov Maimon Despite everything they have in common, the Israeli Jewish experience differs greatly from the Diaspora Jewish experience. The two communities don't always have the same interests or find the same issues compelling, and they disagree on quite a few matters, both those relating to values and those relating to modes of action. Climate change, however,  is an opportunity for collaboration between Israeli and Diaspora Jews. Climate change is a burning issue for young people across the Western world. The challenge does not differentiate between Israeli citizens and citizens of other places; all available creative forces ...

The Climate on Capitol Hill: A Roadmap for Jewish Climate Advocacy

Webinar on Tuesday, January 12, 5pm PT, 8 pm ET. The first 100 days of the new Administration and the 117th Congress can be a breakthrough moment for action to put us on a sustainable and just path.   Learn what Jews can do from Rep. Mike Levin(CA49), Rebecca Leber, climate reporter for Mother Jones and Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin, co-founder of the Maryland Campaign for Environmental Human Rights.  Register here: https://bit.ly/3rl9vM4 Please come and help us spread the word about this exciting event.  Publicity materials are available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IImwdOPx8daLbctL...

Reduce Our Carbon Footprint

Last fall, Rabbi Rain Zohav, Director of Jews of the Earth, led an intergenerational program at the Mishkan Torah Synagogue in Greenbelt, MD. Rabbi Rain served as the Education Director on how to reduce our carbon footprint. The format of the day was organized like this: - Meeting with both adults and students. - Begin with the chant Ma Gadlu (How Wonderous Are Your Works) by Shefa Gold—see the sample here—it is the first song on the list: https://www.oysongs.com/products/songs.cfm?artist_id=200&EzPage=3 - Present some key environmental Jewish texts. (see “Texts for the Earth”) - Open up an intergeneration discussion about ...

Jews of the Earth at Ohalah

A Conference for Rabbis and Cantors Dedicated to Renewing Judaism Jews of the Earth, also known as J.O.T.E., had a very visible presence at the Ohalah Conference which was held in January 2020. Before the planning for the conference started, the members advocated for the theme to be about the climate crisis and it was: Lizkor et Ha Brit - To Remember the Covenant: Inspiring Hope and Vision."  “I will remember my covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature (Genesis 9:15).” “And Elohim heard their cry and remembered the covenant with Avraham, Yitzhak and Ya’akov (Exodus 2:24).”  Just as the cries of ...

Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah, and Veganism

~by Richard Schwartz Vegans and vegetarians eat plant-based diets. Vegetarians eat no animal flesh, while vegans also avoid dairy products and eggs, and many do not wear leather, fur, or silk. Many vegans and vegetarians avoid involvement in any activity that involves the mistreatment of an animal.  Some people may prefer to start as vegetarians before progressing to veganism.      There are many connections that can be made between vegetarianism, and even more so veganism,  and the joyous Jewish festivals of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret (the Eighth Day of Solemn Assembly), and Simchat Torah: 1. Sukkot commemor...

Earth Etude for Elul 29: Elul Unmasked

~by Judith Felsen, Ph.D. In rendezvous with You dare I reveal,  express the self behind the mask, the one not dressed in Yom Tov finery, but quarantined instead in tattered garb, clutching remnants of protection combat refugee within and out, who journeyed through the year  bracing challenge, tasks You offered? ~ Might I share my truth, not wishful fantasy, my doubt, uncertainty and fear, brokenness and grief, contained in fragile self  sustained by You,  deprived externals nourished by Your hidden sparks embedded in each tear? ~ Might I share in darkness  ...

Shanah Tovah — May You Have a Good Year

by Rabbi Katy Z. Allen The world is on fire,     laying waste to forest and city. G!d is my life-force and my wholeness: whom would I fear? (Ps. 27:1)** May we remain ready and willing to engage with the world. The ice sheets are collapsing,      and the waters are rising. G!d is my fortress of strength for my life, whom would I dread? (Ps.27:1)**   May we always keep our feet firmly planted on the ground. The injustice is overwhelming,     killing too, too many black and brown, indigenous and Asian peoples. When ... attitudes of fear and separation rise up ...

Rosh Hashanah Message: Is God’s ‘Very Good’ World Approaching an Unprecedented Catastrophe?

by Richard Schwartz Rosh Hashanah commemorates God's creation of the world. The "Ten Days of Repentance" from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur is a period to evaluate our deeds and to do teshuvah (repentance) for cases where we have missed the mark. Sukkot is a holiday in which we leave our fine houses and live in temporary shelters (sukkahs) to commemorate our ancestors' journey in the wilderness. Hence, the upcoming weeks provide an excellent time to consider the state of the planet's environment and what we might do to make sure that the world is on a sustainable path.      When God created the world, He was able to ...

Earth Etude for Elul 28: Dying. Birthing.

by Rabbi Robin Damsky ~ Burning. I am consumed by the burning. I lived in Santa Barbara and other parts of California for about 20 years. I remember the Painted Cave Fire in 1991 that started on “The Pass” – the way we Santa Barbarans referred to the San Marcos Pass that led up into Los Padres National Forest. Santa Barbara is typically a dry, high chaparral, but in the last three plus decades it has faced many years-long running droughts. Lack of water led to restrictions in watering lawns, bathing and flushing toilets. “If it’s yellow, leave it mellow, if it’s brown, flush it down,” was a slogan in many a restroom. Drought of ...

Earth Etude for Elul 27: Speaking Through Underground Networks

by Rosie Rosenzweig At my land’s end, the Burning Bush began an early blush this past July when its bright green leaves were to be made bold by summer.It, like me, is aging quickly towards some end not yet in sight.Now, only the hydrangea tree blooms. Gone are the fulsome stalks of my ever-blooming ones, fading into brown from their new-born white lace. I sweltered at the end of August when, weeding my yard to give my plants more life,I sought to do the same with the lingering debris hidden in me. When will that arise? In the middle-of-the-night when seasonal dreams are sent to examine my life? Will a sudden memory infiltrate...

Earth Etude for Elul 26: Why is this Elul Different from All Other Eluls?

by Joan Rachlin During the Passover Seder we ask “Why is this night different from all other nights?” and we then spend the evening answering the four – and more – questions. Reciting the plagues, remembering enslavement, identifying with the “other,” and rising up against abuse of power are four pillars of Passover. The four questions and search for answers provide a relevant framework for this year's Elul reflection. As I engage in teshuvah, the ritual of stock-taking in advance of the high holidays, I ask myself many questions as I seek to find and return to my best self. The questions are uncannily similar to those of the ...

Earth Etude for Elul 25: “If the world is created for my sake…”

by Rabbi David Seidenberg According to tradition this day (the 25th of Elul) is when the Creation of the world began - six days before Rosh Hashanah. According to the Mishnah, every person should believe, "the world was created for my sake". (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5) But what does this mean? That we can do whatever we want with the world because it is ours, or that I can do whatever I want because the world is *mine*? On the contrary, says Rebbe Nachman. He explains, "Since the world is created for my sake, I need to see and look in every moment into repairing the world (tikkun ha’olam), and to replenish what the world lacks, and to pray on ...

Earth Etude for Elul 24: Adamah v’shamayim (Earth and Heaven)

by Rabbi Louis Polisson I sit and look out over the green grass The grove of trees just in front of me, to the left I sing Adamah ve-shamayim [earth and sky] Ḥom ha-eish [heat of fire] Tz’lil ha-mayyim [sound of water] Ani margish zot [I feel this] Be-gufi [in my body] Be-ruhi [in my spirit] Uve-nishmati [and in my soul] But do I feel The pain The suffering Of my fellow human beings, children of Eve Children of Eden Children of Earth Teshuvah, returning, then Is back to Eden, yes But also back to Gehinnom Where bodies were sacrificed To false ...

Earth Etude for Elul 23: Day of Atonement

by Carol Reiman The river sings to you, the voice of clear water, of ripples, of force over stones. Listen further, to sounds of children splashing in the great heat, where the flow is sullied from the waste of carelessness and greed. The gasping of those weakened by asthma in the droplet laden pandemic air. How, how did it come to this? Who did not see, who looked away? Stand by the tree, its massive trunk reaching into the sky, underground its community of roots. See the developers who come to remove the living growth, uproot its foundation, separate its life from its kinfolk. Who did not offer another plan, not delay the construction, not ...

Earth Etude for Elul 22: Ani L’dodi V’dodi Li

by Daniel Kieval The Hebrew letters of "Elul" are said to spell out ani l'dodi v'dodi li -- I am for my beloved and my beloved is for me.I invite you to listen to this song as a message of love being sung uniquely to you -- perhaps from the Divine, perhaps from the Earth, perhaps from your own Inner Beloved. You might try listening with each of these lenses and seeing what happens.Whoever the singer is, they are continually and faithfully offering their love and the possibility of relationship. Will you reciprocate? "I will be for you; will you be for me?" Ani l'dodi v'dodi liI will be for youWill you be for me?Hoping for you I ...

Earth Etude for Elul 21: Of Fences, Barriers, and Trees

by Rabbi Katy Z. Allen לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ יְה ׀ אוֹרִ֣י וְ֭יִשְׁעִי מִמִּ֣י אִירָ֑א יְה מָֽעוֹז־חַ֝יַּ֗י מִמִּ֥י אֶפְחָֽד׃ Of David. Adonai is my light and my help; whom should I fear? Adonai is the stronghold of my life, whom should I dread? (v.1) Of David, God is my life-force and my wholeness: whom would I fear? God is my fortress of strength for my life, whom would I dread?  (per Rabbi Ora Weiss) In Elul, we begin reading Psalm 27, and continue through Yom Kippur and to Shmini Atzeret. During Elul, I am thinking about fences and trees. Fences being ...

Earth Etude for Elul 20: Elul 2020

by Judith Felsen, Ph.D. Is this You?  Your eyes behind the mask search lights beaming,  bridging gaps of social distance, gazes merge in glances  momentary soul connection  Is this You?  Body wracked breath ventilated clinging to existence space suited team in rescue heroism humbly shared   facing of death Is this You?  Twisted pain contorted reason human armed, weapons fired in hate murder of resentment revenge, retaliation mind and deed in separated state Is this You? Marching, bannered, shouting, chanting, claiming, presence, voices heard c...

Earth Etude for Elul 19: A Tomato, A Single Tomato

by Rabbi Margaret Frisch Klein Six months Inside, a cocoon Finding my authentic self Learning and relearning new skills Baking challah Chanting Torah Painting seascapes Planting Herbs for more flavor Cucumbers for pickles And tomatoes I’ve never done well at gardening But this year  This year Success! There, right there It is right there. A tomato A single tomato Ripe Ready for harvesting Juicy, Dew glistening on its fire engine red skin One perfect tomato Not like from the store Not like a winter tomato devoid of flavor This one. This very one. Cocooned ...

Earth Etude for Elul 18: Nature Meditation

by Rabbi Susan Elkodsi At a retreat two years ago, I was inspired by Rabbi Katy Allen's "walking in nature" Shacharit meditation. I believe there's power in being in nature, as Rabbi Nachman said, but it has been difficult for many during this pandemic. These photos were all taken by me and bring me comfort when I look at them. Rabbi Susan Elkodsi is the spiritual leader of the Malverne Jewish Center in Malverne, NY. She received ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion in Yonkers, NY in May of 2015, and prior to that served student pulpits in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. In 2019 she received a Rabbinic Certificate in ...

Earth Etude for Elul 17: The Mask as Force for Life-Sustaining Vision

by Chaplain Rabbi Dr Leslie Schotz On this journey of life our 2020 vision Forced us to look above our reflections And mask the face we present to the world. As walking treepeople of the earth we were called to acknowledge the microcosms of life and death and staring us into our focus upon breath. Beyond our collective comprehension of 2019 the year 2020 brought a vision which called us to see a larger picture of collective responsibility. The world of people were unified in fear and longing for life. Yet we isolated our bodies and nurtured our souls as we continue to heal and connect to the gift of life on earth as our ...