Greening Passover

Throughout the year, COEJL encourages the Jewish community to find new ways to engage in the holidays as a natural way to teach about the moral and ethical obligation of environmental stewardship. And, as our Jewish tradition instructs, to use this knowledge as a source of renewal and inspiration to take action.

Ten Acts Prohibited by Jewish Law and Ten Plagues of the Modern World

1. Needless destruction
2. Non-sustainable energy use
3. Air pollution
4. Water pollution
5. Noise pollution
6. Destruction of species and habitat
7. Release of dangerous (or toxic) substances
8. Disregard for stewardship of the Earth
9. Failure to speak or prevent environmental degradation
10. Disregard for future generations

ECO TIP: Remove chametz from your home to make your life more sustainable.

Refraining from chametz during Pesach, reminds us of the simple life our ancestors led in the desert. We too can simplify our environmental impact by following the Jewish law of bal tashchit—not wasting or using more than we need in our everyday lives.

Pesach is a perfect time to take an "environmental inventory" of the chemicals in your home and synagogue as you clean out chametz and determine how these toxins should be removed and disposed of in the proper manner and replaced with products that do not threaten the health of you or your family. Click here for information to help you make the switch to non-toxic cleaning supplies. Click here for a list of non-toxic cleaning links. In keeping with removing all the chametz from our lives, it’s also a good time to clean out your closets and remove clothes and other items you no longer use and donate them to others in need.

COEJL’s Greening Passover Resources:

Green Cleaning for Pesach

A Green Cleaning of Chametz

Overcoming Real Slavery

Non-toxic cleaning links

The Earth Day/ Passover Connection

Celebrate Passover with this green Hagaddah [pdf] [doc]

Recycling Passover Customs

Freedom, Pharaoh, and the Plagues of Tomorrow

How To Really Feast on Freedom: Some Thoughts on Passover and Oppression

Dipping Parsley into Waters of Tears: The Earth Cries Out to Us

For activities to help you celebrate Earth Week, visit SEEDS: the Source for Environmental Education, Discourse, and Study -- COEJL's Interactive Program Bank. Here are some "seedlings":

Preparing for Passover: Readings for the Seder Table

Spring into Passover

The Greening of Pesach

Go on a Paper Hunt! (in addition to your Chametz/bread hunt)