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How many Jewish students does it take to screw in a light bulb?
By Leora Frankel

Jewish youth–particularly college students- have been one of the most prominent groups of activists in modern American history. They were involved in the Peace movement of the Sixties, marched and rallied for the freedom of Soviet Jewry, and have raised their voices on behalf of countless other causes–religious and universal alike. The current crisis of Global Warming and consequent issue of energy conservation is both. In addition to our obvious concerns as citizens of the planet Earth, we are also responsible as Jews to protect and preserve God's creation. Hanukkah campaigns on college campuses are a great way to increase environmental education and advocacy across the country. Below are a number of suggestions for campus activities dedicated to energy efficiency this Hanukkah:

Latkes & Lightbulbs:
Arrange an evening with your school's Hillel or other Jewish and environmental groups to bring in a speaker on the issue of Global Warming and Energy Efficiency. (See COEJL's Guide to Speakers on Judaism and Ecology for suggestions.) Invite the whole campus to join you for the talk and then conclude with a festive dinner of potato latkes- by candlelight! Make sure everyone leaves with a checklist of energy efficient actions they can do in their dorm and classrooms. Extra credit: Give away a Compact Fluorescent Bulb to every student who comes as a thank-you gift. (CFL bulbs can be purchased at your local hardware store or by visiting Energy Star.)

Let There Be Darkness:
Organize a campus-wide voluntary blackout for a particular hour during Hanukkah, much like the one that happened nationwide last June. The idea is that for a particular hour everyone on campus shuts off their lights, computers, etc. in their dorm rooms. (They can all go to the student activity center instead, where electricity would be on anyway.) You may even want to organize a program for everyone to attend during the blackout. This simultaneous action is representative of a community commitment to raising awareness about energy issues and working towards change.

It's important to start spreading the word in advance and getting people excited about the idea of a campus-wide, simultaneous action. Advertise with posters, flyers, ads & articles in your college newspaper, and team up with other groups on campus to ensure a successful participation rate.

Campus Checklist for an Environmentally-Friendly Dorm Room.

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