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February 20, 2003 |
COEJL Community e-bulletin #4 |
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Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
Early bird prices through April 1st!
REGISTER NOW!
Mark and Sharon Bloome Jewish Environmental Leadership Institute
May 15-18, 2003
Utica, MS
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IN THIS ISSUE:
TAKE ACTION: Break the Paper Chain!
CELEBRATE: An Environmental Purim
LEARN: Bal Tashchit - Do Not Waste
GO GREEN: A Review of the Three R's
SPOTLIGHT ON THE FIELD: Bay COEJL's Making the Connection
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TAKE ACTION
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Break the Paper Chain
Today we ask you to take action not in Washington or in your state capital, but in your own mailbox. American catalog companies sent out nearly 17 billion catalogs last year, or 59 for every man, woman and child in the nation. To produce these catalogs, the industry used 3.6 million tons of paper. Manufacturing this much paper consumes large amounts of wood, energy and water, and generates significant air and water pollution and solid waste. You can save trees, help reduce energy consumption and pollution, and send a message to wasteful companies by removing your name from catalog mailing lists. For more information about getting off mailing lists, go to Direct Marketing Association's (DMA) Mail Preference Service (MPS) page, or click here for DMA's MPS online removal form.
Background information on catalog companies' environmental records.
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CELEBRATE
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Make this Purim Environmentally Friendly
Purim (March 18, 2003) is a holiday filled with tremendous joy and hidden depth. The basis for the mitzvot and traditions of Purim is found in a verse from the book of Esther: "...the Jews are to observe them as days of feasting and merrymaking and as an occasion for sending gifts to one another and presents to the poor." (Esther 9:22) "An occasion for sending gifts" - in Hebrew called mishloach manot, sometimes also called shaloch manot - on Purim, many Jews send packages of treats to family and friends.
Learn how two communities are using shaloch manot to bring joy, happiness and unity amongst Jews, as well as to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection.
Santa Cruz COEJL offers bicycle-delivered organic shaloch manot
Germantown Jewish Centre's Minyan Dorshei Derekh gives eco-friendly shaloch manot
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LEARN
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Bal Tashchit: The Evolution of a Jewish Environmental Principle
Judaism is an evolving tradition, adapting its principles and laws to changing circumstances and challenges. Bal Tashchit, the prohibition of needless waste in Jewish law, has its roots in the Torah and was elaborated over centuries of interpretation. Following its development, one can see the development not only of Jewish law but also of a Jewish environmental ethic. This linked COEJL study page shows the expansion through time not only of the legal prohibition itself, but also the growing depth of understanding about the ethical dimensions of this prohibition.
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GO GREEN
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A Review of the Three R's.
There are a multitude of ways to do our part to help reduce, reuse and recycle paper.
From the classic, simple ways:
Use both sides of paper - for writing, copying and printing.
Recycle used paper.
Buy recycled paper processed without the use of chlorine: Conservatree - Paper for the Environment, ReThink Paper (paper selector tools)
To fresh new ideas:
Send e-cards - Care2.com, Blue Mountain .
Buy used books - Advanced Book Exchange.
Print multiple pages on one piece of paper: In Microsoft Word, go to File/Print. In the lower right-hand corner, find the Zoom box. Change the Pages per Sheet selection to 2 or 4 pages.
To see the whole list, go to COEJL's "Even more ways to save paper" page!
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SPOTLIGHT ON THE FIELD
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MAKING THE CONNECTION: ADAM V' ADAMAH, Judaism, Nature and You
Bay COEJL is offering a 3-day training program for Jewish professionals to explore principles of ecology, how to integrate Jewish environmental concepts and ethics into exciting Jewish education programs, and ways for participants to enrich their daily lives. Workshops will provide hands-on learning opportunities. All are welcome: rabbis, synagogue educators, day school teachers, artists, camp counselors, youth group / Israel trip leaders, naturalists, and environmental educators. April 11 - April 13.
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