TAKE ACTION: Playing Politics With Pollution
CELEBRATE: Tashlikh and the Sea
LEARN: The Meaning of the Shofar
GO GREEN: Green Tsuvah
STAFF NEWS: New COEJL Staff Members
SPOTLIGHT ON THE FIELD: Hazon Rides Again!

Playing Politics With Pollution
House and Senate leaders may have agreed with the Bush Administration on the contents of a major transportation bill known as the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. They are trying to pass the legislation, which will determine how nearly $300 billion will be spent over the next six years, before Election Day. Unfortunately, the bill contains many provisions that could threaten the nation's air quality, weaken public health standards, destroy critical habitat, and pose other risks to our environment. Please contact your Senators and Representatives and tell them that America needs a transportation bill that gives us the infrastructure we require without endangering our health and environment.

Tashlikh and the Sea
On the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah (or the second if the first is Shabbat), there is an ancient tradition in which we go to a natural body of water like a stream or a pond and throw crumbs into the water while reciting several verses from Scripture. It is called tashlikh. In Micah 7:18-20, the prophet proclaims the uniqueness of God in being forgiving of the people Israel. He says, you will again have compassion upon us, subduing our sins and casting (ve-tashlikh in Hebrew) all our sins into the depths of the sea." For the environment-tashlikh link, click here.

The Meaning of the Shofar
The Shofar is one of the most ancient musical instruments known to humankind. It is human made, but out of the rough horn of a ram. This combination of natural material and human artifice reminds us not only of our humble origins as a people but also how indebted we are to the rest of creation for all that we have, eat, wear, and celebrate with. The music it makes is loud and not subtle. It is as if the voice of the Creator is sounding out the beginning of time. It is a call back to our origins and to the better future that we must bring about. God is calling us to restore ourselves as we restore creation. For full text, click here.

Green Tsuvah
Every year at Rosh Hashanah, Jews are commanded to take stock of themselves and their lives. In the Jewish calendar this is the time of the year to make changes. The word for this introspection and change is tsuvah, loosely defined as repentance. Tsuvah actually means "return". The idea is that during tsuvah one returns to a more pure state of being. Green Tsuvah is a survey designed to allow you to take a look at how you are living on Earth. The survey will allow you to examine your lifestyle and offer ideas on how to make change, tsuvah. Click here for the Green Tsuvah Program.

New COEJL Staff
COEJL welcomes two new staff members this month. Danielle Luttenberg has become our new Coordinator of the Jewish Global Environmental Network -- our project that seeks to involves Jews around the world in helping address Israel's environmental problems. Previously, Danielle worked at Environmental Defense and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She has an M.S. in Oceanography from the University of Rhode Island and a B.S in Biology from the University of Buffalo.

Barbara Lerman-Golomb, a long-time COEJL activist and recently a COEJL trustee, has now taken on a staff role as Communications Director. A writer, editor, and educator, Barbara serves on the Commission on Social Action of the Union of Reform Judaism, and has been on the board of Partners for Environmental Quality (New Jersey). She has an M.F.A. from New York University.

Danielle and Barbara join the rest of our team: Rabbi Lawrence Troster, Rabbinic Fellow; Hadar Susskind, Washington Representative; Deborah Shapiro, Director of Outreach; Kirsten Kleinman, Director of Web Operations; Nina Bohlen, Development Officer; and Adam Stern, Executive Director.

Hazon Rides Again!
Last weekend, Hazon completed its 4th annual New York Bike Ride to support Jewish environmental education and advocacy. One hundred and fifty riders biked from Falls Village, CT to New York City to raise money for groups such as the Teva Learning Center, the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, the Heschel Center for Environmental Leadership and Learning, and COEJL! This year's ride included a Shabbaton at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center. This was Hazon's biggest ride to date, including Arava students from Israel, as well as Adamah fellows and Tevaniks. Click here for more information on Hazon, including the upcoming Israel Ride in 2005!