Campaign Update - January 26

Hanukkah has come and gone, but the campaign is far from over!  Many synagogues and institutions had wonderfully successful events and some were even picked up by local media: Internet, newspaper, radio and TV.  Click here to look at the dozens of articles [pdf] that came out during Hanukkah 5767/2006.  All over the country, CFLs were bought and used to replace incandescent bulbs.  Still, communities continue to screen An Inconvenient Truth, encourage CFLs and pursue new environmental initiatives. 

Tu B’Shvat, the New Year of the Trees, is February 3. Click here for COEJL holiday materials and resources. If you would like to receive our bi-monthly e-bulletin (this edition will focus on Tu B’Shvat), email: info@coejl.org. Because Tu B’Shvat falls on Shabbat, we encourage you to make it an environmental Shabbat Weekend. Bring in an eco speaker, have a vegetarian Oneg, sell more CFLs. If you’re a football fan, here’s an idea from the Social Action Committee of Temple Beth Tikvah, Roswell, GA…have a SUPER BULB SUNDAY! They are selling CFL bulbs as a fund raiser. Profits will go to AJWS Sudan Relief and Advocacy Fund.  You may also choose to donate towards more greening in your synagogue.  

Bright Ideas

Though the campaign has truly taken on a life of its own in each of your communities, COEJL will continue to offer new initiatives and materials to help with environmental programming.  As a body of 500 communities all over the United States we have a strong statement to make, and we will make our actions known to those who can help make larger change - our political representatives.   The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) is hosting their annual P lenum filled with influential speakers and political action.  There will be a handful of environmentally focused workshops and speakers.  One workshop of interest will be on how to Green Your Community.  To learn more click on: www.coejl.org/bloome/2007.php. You will be hearing more about environmental advocacy with each update. 

Watt’s Happening in Your Community?

The youth group from Woodland s Community Temple in Westchester, NY went to Washington, D.C. to lobby their representatives.  Though the students raised many important issues, climate change was on the top of their list.  They informed their representatives that the Jewish community joined together, through the campaign, to respond to global warming.  They also gifted a CFL to each representative, making the clear point that their community was acting to protect the environment and needed them to do the same.

Recommended Reading

"Bills on Climate Move to Spotlight in New Congress"

"A Radical Step to Preserve a Species: Assisted Migration"

Campaign Conference Calls 
The last call was Tuesday, December 26.  The main issues discussed were 1) Moving to the next step of the campaign: advocacy 2) The various ways that the environment can, is and needs to stay front and center in the synagogue.  Click here for the minutes [pdf]. 

Be a Bearer of Light and Help Keep the Flame of COEJL Burning Bright

Please renew your support of COEJL with a tax-deductible donation. 1) Donate online 2) Mail your contribution to: COEJL, 116 E. 27th Street, 10 th Floor, New York, NY  10016 3) Call our New York office at 212-532-7436. If you wish, you can make a gift to COEJL in honor of, or in memory of, someone. We will gladly send an acknowledgement letter.  Thanks for your continued support.

Contributing to COEJL is a wonderful way to acknowledge a simcha or honor someone.

Haikus  

saving the planet
simply one meal at a time
vegetarian                               

-Dan Brook           

We need to act now
To save our changing climate
Install CFLs                           

-Mark Katz, Legislative Assistant - the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism (RAC)

Keep sending us your haikus and light bulbs jokes!