Protect the Endangered Species Act
The House of Representatives' 2004 Defense Department authorization bill (HR 1588) contains provisions that would exempt the Department of Defense from key wildlife protection laws, including the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In fact, HR 1588 would weaken these essential protections on all federal lands by enabling the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce, the agencies responsible for the enforcement of the Endangered Species Act, to bypass Federal environmental regulations. The Senate bill (S 1050) offers stronger protections for our nation's wildlife. The House and Senate will now meet in conference to work out the differences, and this is the time for you to make your voice heard. Call, fax or email your Senators and Representatives and ask them to support the Senate version of the bill.

Torah does not permit a killing that would uproot a species, even if it permitted the killing [of individuals] in that species. Nachmanides (Ramban), Commentary on Deuteronomy 22:6.

Celebrate Shavuot: First Fruits, Flowers and Green Plants
Shavuot, which will be celebrated this year from sundown on June 5th until after sundown on June 7th, is a multifaceted holiday celebrating the giving of the Torah and the pilgrimage to the Temple to offer the first fruits of harvest. Both aspects of this holiday can be celebrated in ways which highlight Judaism's deep connection to the land and to the cycles of the natural year, from decorating your home and synagogue with flowers and green plants to partaking of the "seven species" of the Land of Israel. Click here for more information.

Shavuot: The Bringing of the First Fruits and the Giving of the Torah
Shavuot, occurring on the sixth and seventh of Sivan, is the second of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals (the other two are Pesach and Sukkot). Like the other Pilgrimage Festivals, it has two themes: it commemorates a historical event in Jewish history and it has an agricultural or creation allusion, indicating a stage in the harvest in the Land of Israel. The bringing of the first fruits was, according to the Mishnah, a major event during the days of the Temple. What was the purpose of this ceremony? According to Bible scholar Jeffrey Tigay, it was a way of "...acknowledging God as the source of the land's fertility and the true owner of its produce." (JPS Commentary to Deuteronomy, p. 237) Maimonides says that the first fruit laws are ways of inducing in us the moral qualities of generosity and humility. (Guide for the Perplexed, III:39).
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Plastic's not so fantastic
They've become ubiquitous in our daily lives - petroleum-based plastic products. Plastic packages practically everything - from our food to our waste. But is it the best product to utilize for all of these purposes? Is it wise to use scarce fossil-derived petroleum to create plastics, which are difficult to recycle and end up as non-biodegradable landfill waste? There are also concerns about the health effects of packaging and cooking our food in plastics. But there are simple ways to minimize our use of it. Try using waxed paper or cellulose bags for storing food and packing lunches. Glass mason jars are great for leftovers. When you microwave food, cover with a paper towel to stop the splatter. For garbage disposal, reuse your paper grocery bags - just make sure they're in a sealed garbage container when you bring them to the curb. Remember, small changes can make a difference!

Environmental Justice: A Jewish Call to Action
Jewish activists from across North America (28 states and Canada), Israel, and England gathered in Utica, Mississippi this May to explore the Jewish connection to environmental justice and sustainability at COEJL's 7th annual Mark & Sharon Bloome Jewish Environmental Leadership Institute. Conference participants learned about environmental challenges in the South, as well as ways to involve synagogues, schools, Hillels, camps, JCCs, and other Jewish institutions, as well as unaffiliated Jews, in addressing environmental problems in their communities. The Institute also included a joyous celebration of a unique eco-Shabbat with prayer, study, song, dance, and nature walks. Thank you to everyone who participated, and we look forward to seeing you all at next year's Institute, February 20-24, 2004 in Boston, MA!