GREENING SYNAGOGUES RESOURCES

Program Bank - Adult

Many of the adult education resources you’re looking for are right here, at the COEJL Program Bank! Here you will find literally hundreds of useful resources. If you search by category, and enter “adult” in the box for “audience,” you will find over 100 programs. Just typing in the keyword “adult” yielded the following couple dozen adult education resources (as of June 2004, that is -- new materials are going up, and old ones are being edited, at any given moment). And should these tremendous resources not be sufficient, even more programs on the Program Bank are geared toward school-aged children; you may find ideas or texts or exercises there which would work with adults, as well.

A Congregational Approach to Green the Holidays: How To Do It
Utilize the Jewish tradition's rich teachings to cultivate a cleaner, healthier, and more inspiring environment.

Advocating for Environmental Legislation
To empower congregants to write letters to their elected officials concerning environmental legislation and to connect them with the Jewish community’s advocacy efforts.

Discover Spring
A nature walk to learn all aspects of spring including early wildflowers, foliage, increased bird activity and emerging insects.

Enviro-Sukkoth Program: Part 1 of 5 - Introduction
This program combines traditional teachings about the holiday (including rituals) with contemporary environmental/agricultural themes (such as organic food and genetically-modified organisms).

Enviro-Sukkoth Program: Part 3 of 5 - Children's Module
This is the children's module for Enviro-Sukkoth. The goal is to provide the children with an entertaining experience that teaches about Sukkot and contemporary agricultural theme.

Enviro-Sukkoth Program: Part 4 of 5 - Discussion Papers
This includes the discussion papers for the Organics discussion and for Genetically Engineered Food discussions

Environmental Service
The following is the service that we performed with Native Americans at Haskell Indian Nations University, in honor of the neighboring wetlands that was threatened by development.

Guide to Using COEJL's Tu B'Shvat Poster
The following overview of themes and programmatic suggestions, in conjunction with the Tu B'Shvat poster, provides educators of children and adults with the basic tools necessary for a program on Judaism and ecology.

Hanukkah Energy Scavenger Hunt
For grades 5-8, learn and play about conserving energy!

Hosting an Environmental Fair
To bring a variety of environmental activities and information to a large number of people at the same time.

I.D. a Tree
Want to know more about a tree? Here are some I.D. starters

Omer for the Earth
An exercise to realign our thinking a little: an environmentalist's guide to counting the Omer - an Omer for the Earth.

Omer for the Earth Day: A Family Programme
This programme was created to remind us of our reliance on and responsibility to our natural environment. This program is written for families but can also be adapted for classrooms.

Recycling and Waste Reduction Program
To involve the synagogue in recycling, either through joining with an established program or through its own efforts, and to use the synagogue as a “role model” to encourage congregants to recycle at home.

Roots and Branches: Section 4 - Ticket to Ride
Cutting down on your driving is a mitzvah in more ways than one.

Small Steps Toward Environmental Tikkun For Home & Synagogue
Some simple environmental acts that you can do at home and the synagogue.

Suggested Tu B'Shevat Events Inspired by Traditional Sources
4 Activites for Tu B'Shevat inspired by the Bible

The Lorax - by Dr. Seuss
It is never too early and never too late to learn about ecology. The book The Lorax by Dr. Seuss is a great tool to use for all age groups.

Tree Bookmarks
A Tu B'shevat program to create Tree Bookmarks

Tree History
Make connections between the social and natural world by conducting an interview about trees. Use that information to create a mishpaha atz, a family tree!