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Question of the Week #3 – Jakir Manela
Jakir Manela of Kayam Farm asks Jewcology's Question of the Week.
The Language of Sustainability as Second Nature
As I continue to write about my experience in teaching a formal Judaism and the Environment course at a Jewish high school, I aim to share with you some of my personal and professional lessons along the way.
This week I am wrapping up the first semester of my 11th grade Judaism and the Environment course. Each semester I have a new crop of students and I try to experiment with new ways of teaching the texts and contemporary examples to highlight the major concepts. For the sake of context, I covered three units this semester: Land Use, Water and Food. In ...
Just what IS a Jewish Environmentalist?
I asked myself this question because of the Jewcology Collaborative Video Script.
The script starts off:
My name is (your name).
(Pause)
I live in (your city and state, or city/country if not in US).
(Pause)
So that's straightforward enough. Then...
I am a Jewish environmentalist.
(Pause)
Well, I'm Jewish. But am I an environmentalist? So, off to the Search Engines. I google "define: environmentalist" and come across this link:
Definitions of environmentalist on the Web
Here's a sample from that webpage...
Our Leaders Today – Interview with Rabbi Alyson Solomon (CBB, Santa Babara, CA)
Jewcology’s “Our Leaders Today,” is a monthly colum interviewing environmental leaders and activists in Jewish communities near and far. Through personal stories, the columnm, like Jewcology.com, serves not only to generate exposure for important initiatives, but in helping you and I reflect, re-invest, and connect our own efforts, values and goals among our communities.
"Awe Was My First Religion" - Rabbi Alyson Solomon
Q: How did you come to see the ...
New Press about Jewcology!
Check out two great new articles about Jewcology!
A Very Jewish Environment (Washington Jewish Week): http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=13971&TM=41253.8
Jewcology.com - New Online Home for Jewish Environmentalists (J of Northern California): http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/60216/jewcology.org-new-online-home-for-jewish-environmentalists/
From the Gan: Creating Sacred Space (in Chicago)
The Gan Project: Chicago Jewish Environmental Network (CJEN): theBlog
I am a product of the Jewish camping phenomenon with a combined nine years as camper and staff at Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute in Oconomowoc, WI. spanning the years 1993-2004. As my friends can tell you I am a wellspring of stories that begin with the now infamous opening line "this one time at camp..." I have had countless conversations with other alumni from camps all over the country all of whom can attest to their Jewish identity being what it was today because of their summers ...
Action Alert: Protect our Land and Water
BACKGROUND:
The LWCF was established in 1965 to protect America’s Great Outdoors, using royalties paid by oil companies to the government to fund the conservation of natural resources. Yet, since its inception, the Fund has never received sufficient appropriations. Even though there's been more than enough oil revenue for the LWCF at no cost to the American taxpayer, Congress has failed to use that money for its intended purpose (its recent low in appropriated funding was just $138 million, less than one-sixth of what it could be). Over the years the ...
Suburban Goats
Article in Washington Jewish Week about raising goats in the city.
Click here to read article
Dear Great-Great Grandma and Grandpa
I sometimes wonder what my ancestors would think of my organic leanings. I can't go back in time and talk with them about my raising goats and trying to make most of the food I eat from basic ingredients I buy or produce. But I imagine their reaction might be something like, "What other way is there?" And then I would explain about pesticides and mass production and processed and packaged food transported from afar. And if I could somehow bring along some of this "fast" food and give them a taste, I suspect they would find its taste unappealin...
Honey from the Rock – Introduction
I first became aware of the living earth by hiking, running, and mountain biking in the forest that surrounded my childhood home in Melville, New York.
Over the years, parts of the forest and surrounding farmlands were developed into ”McMansion” housing projects and looking back on it, I think this was part of what inspired me to join my school’s environmental organization in 7th grade. Raising environmental awareness and the importance of working on behalf of environmental preservation seemed liked a logical thing to do. How could it be that so ...
Jewcology Question of the Week #2
Diane and Noah, Topsy Turvy Bus educators of the Teva Learning Center, ask Jewcology's second question of the week.
After the fire: It’s time to help — and heal
An Israeli firefighter walks past the remains of a house in Yemin Orde.
(AP, via Newsday)
By David Krantz
NEW YORK (Dec. 6, 2010) —
42 people dead.
250 homes ravaged.
12,300 acres razed.
5 million trees burned.
In the aftermath of the worst natural disaster in Israeli history, we are left wondering how we can help Israel recover after the fire. Fortunately, many organizations are taking quick action, and there are many ways that you can help. Donations to any of these organizations will help ...
Birthday Thoughts: On Being a Young Leader in the Jewish World
Today is my 34th birthday. My birthday coincides with a change in the Jewish prayer cycle related to rain, and so I’ve often organized “dew and rain” parties to remind people of the connection between Judaism and the natural environment. In past years I’ve also used the opportunity of “Causes” to raise money for important causes on my birthday. Last year I raised hundred of dollars on my birthday for my Jewish environmental organization, Canfei Nesharim. (To support my cause this year, visit http://wishes.causes.com/wishes/1182...
Come pray for Rain! ????? ????? ??? ??? ?????
Come Join (and bring) children from all religions to join in a prayer for rain at Ein Chiniya spring.
Monday, December 6th, there will be a musical gathering at Ein Chiniya (just past the checkpoint by Ein Yael, southwest Jerusalem) with musicians Ehud Banai, Shlomo Bar and Khalil al-Mustafi.
All are invited, perhaps Hashem will have compassion in the merit of the voices and prayers of our littlest humans, perhaps in the merit of the children Avraham being together,
The gathering will start at 11:00am, ,11:15 will be drums and prayers, and at ...
Todo mi Ser es Bitul Tora/HaShem. Renunciante/Postrado a HaShem.
BS"D
"Shalom es toda la Creación conmigo y yo con toda mi Creación. Esto es Ahavat HaShem."
Shabua tov Lekulam!:
I'm Breatharian Kabbalah Kadosh/Torá Gan Eden/Truth/Kedushá/Santidad/Shalom/Ahavat HaShem. My food and drink is Dvar Torá/Word/Holy Love of the Creator/100% Physics: Ruaj/Air/"Prana"/Shemesh/Sun/Energy and more...and finally the solid food=Raw Food: Matzá Kadosh and Water. I'm Bereshit/Genesis 1:29, I'm Etz Jaim/Arbol de Vida Leolam Vaed/ForEver. ...
Pray for rain!!! We need a miracle!!!
We could all notice that the weather is going crazy. I’m lighting Hanukkah candles in Israel and feel the same weather that I should feel lighting candles in Chile. Besides our hands being drier than ever, in Israel we are suffering a serious issue: the lack of rain. In the last weeks, rabbis have decreed two fasting days and a day of collective prayer at the Kotel, in order to ask Hashem for rain.
Jewish people have a special relationship with the rain. Unlike other countries where G-d created vast rivers and freshwater lakes, in Israel we depend on rain ...
Chanukah: The Holiday of Energy Conservation
NEW YORK (Dec. 2, 2010) — Chanukah isn’t just our Festival of Lights — it’s our Holiday of Energy Conservation. And the Maccabees are the answer to climate change. Think about it: They made one day’s worth of oil last for eight days! If we conserved energy like the Maccabees did, we could put OPEC out of business.
The Maccabees did it with a miracle; we can do it through small changes.
The Green Zionist Alliance is working to conserve Israel’s energy through transitioning buildings to energy-efficient lighting and agency ...
Hanukah 2010, A Re-Dedication to Social and Environmental Change
Hag Urim Sameach! Happy Holiday of Lights!
Hanukah is upon us once again, this wacky annual celebration that we don't exactly know how to celebrate. It's not biblical, so we don't have the traditional holiday structure, and it's up against Xmas, so there is lots of pressure to give gifts. So how can we make this Rabbinic holiday relevant to the world of today? Easy! Go back to the core of this holiday, make this Hanukah a celebration and a reflection on our relationship to light and energy, and a re-dedication to fighting for social and environmental ...
Jewish Urban Farming Fellowship Now Live in Berkeley, CA
Urban Adamah: The Jewish Sustainability Corps, is a three-month intensive residential leadership training program for young adults ages 20-29, that integrates urban organic farming, social justice work and progressive Jewish living and learning. Twelve Urban Adamah Fellows are selected each season to operate an organic farm and educational center, intern with community organizations addressing issues at the intersection of poverty, food security and environmental stewardship, and learn an approach to Jewish tradition that opens the heart and builds joyful community. ...
Why Genetically Modified Foods Should Not Be Considered Kosher.
New technological innovations have always created a need for the Jewish community to respond from a religious, ethical and cultural perspective. For instance, the discovery of electricity forced Jewish authorities (rabbis) of the past to assess its use on Shabbat. Hence, we have hot plates and crock pots running but no switches flicking. The time has come for Jews and Judaism to take a serious look at perhaps the most fundamental innovation of our time, the genetic manipulation of life. Genetic Engineering (GE), and the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO&rs...