630 results for browsing: Unknown
A Prayer Resource for the Gulf Region Affected by the Oil Disaster
A Prayer Resource for the Gulf Region Affected by the Oil Disaster
Learn more at http://rac.org/advocacy/issues/issueenv/issuecc/action/.
The Land Ethic by Aldo Leopold
This resource's content is attached.
Midrash on Noah and the Preservation of Species
This resource's content is attached.
Sustaining the Light: A Social Justice Program Guide for Chanukah
Summary: In this holiday guide, you will find programs, projects, rituals and study topics that will connect Chanukah with the work of tikkun olam for families, social action committees, youth groups and other synagogue groups. As we increase the lights of Chanukah, adding a candle each night, so too might we, by our actions, bring new light to the world: light to those living in poverty, light for our fragile ecosystems, light for all of our children and the light of religious liberty.
Learn more at http://rac.org/pubs/holidayguides/chanukah/.
Tu BiShevat: Celebrate the Social Justice Way
Tu BiShevat: Celebrate the Social Justice Way
Summary: The goal of this guide is to give individuals and congregations a resource that helps them integrate and incorporate social action programming related to the environment within their Tu B’Shevat holiday practices. Three distinct aspects of the environment are examined: natural resources, health issues and endangered species. For each theme, there are suggested activities for individuals and families, as well as program ideas for congregations, youth groups and religious schools.
Learn more at http://rac.org/pubs/holidayguides/tubshvat/.
Environmental Program Bank
The following are a sampling of programs from the Religious Action Center's Environmental Program Bank. View the full program bank at http://resources.rj.org/rac/enviro/.
Community Garden, Temple Israel
Creation of a community garden to harvest and donate produce to area food banks.
Eco-Friendly Sukkot: Greening the Harvest Festival
Suggestions on making Sukkot celebrations environmentally friendly.
Eight Sites of Chanukah
Visit a different social action website each night of Chanukah. Use these sites as a springboard for volunteer work and charitable giving.
Environmental ...
Environmental Worship Resources
Environment
Excerpt:
Ecological Kavannah
For the sake of the earth, for the sake of generations to come, and for the sake of all the waters and creatures and plants,
For the sake of all who are hungry, for the sake of thankfulness, and for the sake of our own souls,
May we have the wisdom and courage to protect and restore, and not diminish, the integrity of creation.
May we always open our hearts and our hands to share the bounty of the Earth with all who are in need.
-Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL)
Consider the work of God: for who can make straight that which has been made ...
Sukkot: A Season of Gathering and Giving
Summary: The celebration of Sukkot leads us to focus on the importance of shelter and housing, our mandate to welcome others into our homes, the environment and exigencies of nature, and how we use the food we gather from the land to feed ourselves and others. Families, social action chairs, educators, youth group leaders, and other synagogue leaders will find many programs and projects that join together these themes of Sukkot with social action concerns within the following pages.
Learn more at http://urj.org/holidays/sukkot/?syspage=document&item_id=11473.
Food Policymaking Guide for Synagogues
Excerpt: This brief guide sets out a five-step process for a committee considering new food policies to learn about traditions of Jewish dietary law, examine the Reform Movement's perspective on these issues over time, and create a meaningful synagogue food policy that promotes healthy, sustainable, ethical eating. With special thanks to Rabbi Jeff Brown.
Learn more at http://urj.org/life/food/?syspage=document&item_id=27463.
Youth Group Food Program
Youth Group Food Program
Excerpt:
Engaging young people – who are ready to think critically and Jewishly about their food decisions – in our discussions on ethical eating is a critical piece of [The Green Table, Just Table] initiative. To help facilitate this discussion, we've created a short template program for youth groups or religious school students to visit a local farm, learn about Jewish values around eating and food systems, and engage in social action projects by 'gleaning' from local farms for those in need.
Learn more at http://urj.org/life/food/?syspage=document&item_id=27141.
Environment and Social Justice Text Studies
Text Studies
The following two text studies link specific passages from the Torah to contemporary environmental issues with sample discussion questions following each text. Both texts focus on "Ecology, Judaism and Tikkun Olam."
Excerpt:
Environment and Social Justice: Caring for the Land
Participant's Materials
...Shabbat and the sabbatical year afford the land the ecologically sound practice of taking a rest. Now we turn to the idea of the jubilee as a time of release of all debts.
In ancient Israel, at each jubilee year, land was re-distributed, so that anyone who had accumulated large parcels of land ...
Tu Bshvat Living Talmud
A “Living Talmud” is a study document that links Biblical texts with modern commentary and perspectives on pressing environmental issues. These tools can be used in formal and informal study.
Tu Bi'Shevat
Learn more at http://urj.org/green/judaism/education/livingtalmud/.
Environment Living Talmud
A “Living Talmud” is a study document that links Biblical texts with modern commentary and perspectives on pressing environmental issues. These tools can be used in formal and informal study.
Environment
What does Judaism teach us about the environment?
Learn more at http://urj.org/green/judaism/education/livingtalmud/.
Clean Water & Jewish Values
Clean Water & Jewish Values
Exceprt: Water has played a role in virtually every major story in the bible. Isaac’s wife was chosen for him at a well. The baby Moses was saved after floating down a river. The Israelites were freed when the red sea parted. Miriam will forever be remembering by her gift of water to the Jewish people in the desert. The history of the Jewish people is the history of our relationship with water.
Learn more at http://rac.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=2035&pge_prg_id=8862&pge_id=3003.
Endangered Species and Jewish Values
Endangered Species and Jewish Values
Excerpt: Specific concern about the destruction of a species was expressed centuries ago, as Nachmanides interpreted the following passage:
Do not take the mother bird with her young. (Deuteronomy 22:6)
Scripture forbids a destructive act that will cause the extinction of a species even though it has permitted the ritual slaughtering of that species.
Learn more at http://rac.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1856&pge_prg_id=8610&pge_id=2405.
Environmental Health and Jewish Values
Environmental Health and Jewish Values
Exceprt: We are commanded to preserve the earth and all its varied life for our own sake and for generations yet unborn...In our time, it is our obligation to preserve human life by educating ourselves about the dangers of environmental health risks, and working to prevent them for all humanity.
Learn more at http://rac.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=2326&pge_prg_id=12598&pge_id=2400.
Climate Change and Jewish Values
Jewish Values
Excerpt: Jewish tradition emphasizes many values that speak to our nation’s need for energy policies that are environmentally responsible and that pay due attention to the public health and safety of both present and future generations. Humankind has a solemn obligation to improve the world for future generations.
...The countries most responsible for climate change should be those most responsible for finding a solution to the problem. Judaism also underscores the moral imperative of protecting the poor and vulnerable...
Learn more at http://rac.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1800&pge_prg_id=8131&pge_id=292...
Forest Issues and Jewish Values
Forest Issues and Jewish Values
Exceprt: Similarly, Jewish tradition teaches us that human domain over nature does not include a license to abuse the environment. The Talmudic concept bal tashchit, “do not destroy,” was developed by the rabbis into a universal doctrine that dramatically asserted God’s ownership of the land. This concept came about in a commandment to preserve the foliage of city even during a war, "When in your war against a city you have to besiege it a long time in order to capture it, you must not destroy its trees, wielding the ax against them. You may eat of them, but you must not cut them down. ...
Brit Adamah for Tu Bishvat–Family
We commit to this Brit Adamah in honor of Tu B’Shvat, the holiday of the trees. Use this blank Brit Adamah for families, as they commit to saving trees, conserving resources, and protecting the land, in honor of Tu B'Shvat.
Jewish-Environmental Quotes for Shabbat
Use this collection of thought-provoking quotes to spark discussion about the wisdom of Shabbat, our ultimate Jewish environmental holiday!