Tag: Teachers / Educators

Alon Tal Zoom Event: Has the Climate Changed on Climate Change?

Join us on Sunday, June 12 at 1:00 p.m. EDT / 10 a.m. PDT / 8 p.m. Israel: Has the Climate Changed on Climate Change? Get more information, additional meeting topics, schedules and RSVP here: https://aytzim.org/rsvp Please note: RSVPS are accepted until two hours before the session start; links will

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Alon Tal Zoom Event: Ukraine and the Environmental Impact of War

Join us on Sunday, July 24 at 1 p.m. EDT / 10 a.m. PDT / 8 p.m. Israel: “Ukraine and the Environmental Impact of War” Get more information, additional meeting topics, schedules and RSVP here: https://aytzim.org/rsvp Please note: RSVPs accepted until two hours before the session start; links will be

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Alon Tal Zoom Event: Western Wall Compromise

Join us on Sunday, December 18 at 1 p.m. EDT / 10 a.m. PDT / 8 p.m. Israel: “Western Wall Compromise” (rescheduled from June) Get more information, additional meeting topics, schedules and RSVP here: https://aytzim.org/rsvp Please note: RSVPs accepted until two hours before the session start; links will be sent

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Can We Avert a Climate Catastrophe?

by Richard Schwartz The most critical issue facing the world today is the possibility of a climate catastrophe that threatens all life on our planet. This article discusses the seriousness of the threats; why they are likely to become far more severe in the future; and what needs to be

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Ten Ways to Create a More Vegan World

There is increasing evidence that animal-based diets are causing an epidemic of life-threatening diseases, contributing to climate change and other environmental threats to humanity, and having other negative effects. Despite the increasing need for a shift toward veganism to counteract these problems, progress has been relatively slow. It is time

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An Open Letter To Rabbis

Shalom dear Rabbis,      Because of your collective wisdom, dedication to Jewish values, and valuable contacts, you are in a position to help shift our imperiled planet onto a sustainable path. This would help leave a decent, habitable, environmentally sustainable world for future generations. To paraphrase Mordechai’s plea to

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A Vegan View of the Biblical Animal Sacrifices

“Now we come to the great embarrassment.” Those were the opening words of a sermon delivered years ago by an assistant rabbi at the Young Israel of Staten Island, referring to the biblical animal sacrifices discussed in Parshat Vayikra (Leviticus).      In his book, Jewish Law as Rebellion: A

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Compassion in the Jewish Tradition

    Compassion is one of Judaism’s highest values. God is referred to in synagogue services as Ha–rachaman (the compassionate one) and as Av harachamim (Father of compassion). Since Judaism teaches that human beings, uniquely created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), are to emulate God’s positive attributes, we should also

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Why Jews Should Be Vegans

This article was originally published in the February 18, 2022 Jerusalem Post There is a widely accepted aspect of modern life that contradicts many Jewish teachings and harms people, communities, and the planet — the mass production of meat and other animal products and their widespread consumption. Animal-based diets conflict

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Powerful sermon sent to me by NJ rabbi, Shammai Engelmayer

Shammai’s Shabbat Sermon for Mishpatim I’m going to begin with a word of caution. Some of what I have to say may be difficult to listen to. You’ll understand why soon enough. Today’s parashah unveils the Sefer Ha-B’rit, the Book of the Covenant—the foundation document for God’s mamlechet kohanim v’goi

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Is Eating Meat a Mitzvah that Comes from an Aveirah (Sin)?

  Judaism is all about performing mitzvot, carrying out God’s commandments. However, a mitzvah haba’ah b’aveirah – a mitzvah abetted by an aveirah (sin or “illegitimate means”) – is forbidden and is not considered a mitzvah. For example, if one uses a stolen lulav and esrog on Sukkot, it is

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