UNDER THE CHUPPAH

Taken from "Caring for the Cycle of Life"

Here are a few major areas to consider:

• What values will permeate your family life? Love? Social responsibility? Material success? Tikkun olam?
  
• What kind of food will you bring into your home? Do you have a commitment to keeping kosher? To buying organic foods? To supporting local farmers? To growing some of your own food?

CREDIT: Jewish Museum/Art Resource, NY Marriage contract of Yosef, son of Moshe Tarica, and Rivka, daughter of Moshe Soriano (?), Rhodes, 1830. Ink and gouache on parchment, 85.7 X 61.1. S142. Jewish Museum, New York, U.S.A.

• Which kinds of chemicals will you bring into the house? Do you want to ban toxics from your home?
  
• How many cars will you need? Can you live in an area where you can get to work with public transit? Can you carpool?
  
• Will you minimize the unnecessary consumption of goods?
  
• Will you shop with an eye to minimizing packaging and maximizing recyclable containers?
  
• How will you recycle your waste? Will you have a compost pile for kitchen wastes?
  
• Which bank will you use? Do you have a commitment to finding financial institutions and investments that are ecologically and socially responsible?
  
• Will involvement in the community be a core part of your family life? Will voting and letter-writing be a regular family practice?