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Green Tsuvah

Green Tsuvah At-a-Glance
Brief Summary: 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.
Audience: Ages 14-17 (High School)
Ages 18-21 (College)
Adults
Seniors
Facility: Community Center
Hillel
Synagogue
Other
Program Type: Educational Program
Sermon/Reading/Discussion
Other
Issues: Air/Water/Trees
Baal Tashchit/Waste/Recycling
Eco-Kashrut/Vegetarianism
Energy/Global Warming
Environmental Health and Justice
Sustainability
Tikkun Olam/Stewardship/Values and Ethics
Tzaar Baalei Chayim/Biodiversity/Endangered Species
Holiday: Rosh Hashanah
 
Description

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 defines as repentance. Tsuvah actually means "return". The idea is that during tsuvah one returns to a more pure state of being.

Given the trouble that our natural world faces coupled with the impact of our own lifestyles on this degradation, this Green Tsuvah has been created. 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. While one can make this Green Tsuvah at anytime, the month before Rosh Hashanah is a good time, since according to Jewish tradition, we are most open to making changes at that time of the year.

Unless otherwise notated, the first answer to a question is a more environmentally sound action, the last answer is less environmentally sound. As you go through the survey mark the answer that best fits your environmental behavior. After you finish the survey look back through the questions and find one to three changes you would like to make. For example, Question #1 is about transportation. If you presently go to work by carpool, you might change to public transportation. This will be your Green Tsuvah.


  1. I get to work or school by:

    1. walking, riding a bike, or telecommuting
    2. public transportation
    3. carpool
    4. drive alone

  2. I drive in a car:

    1. rarely or never
    2. not on Shabbat
    3. once a day
    4. more than once a day

  3. I drive:

    1. nothing, I do not drive
    2. an electric car
    3. a car that gets over 30mpg
    4. a car the gets less than 30mpg

  4. I buy organic products

    1. nearly 100% of the time
    2. fresh produce only
    3. when it is affordable
    4. almost never

  5. I usually eat:

    1. locally grown food
    2. organic food
    3. vegetarian faire
    4. whatever looks good

  6. Most of my produce comes from:

    1. my garden
    2. local farmer market
    3. supermarket - locally grown and seasonal food
    4. supermarket - whatever looks good

  7. I deal with my food waste by:

    1. organizing, or taking part in a food recovery program
    2. composting
    3. trying to cut down on the amount of food that is thrown away
    4. throwing it in the garbage

  8. I usually eat:

    1. Non-animal products
    2. meat, eggs, and dairy that are free range and don't use synthetic hormones
    3. some kind of meet two times a week
    4. some kind of meat at least three times a week

  9. I conserve paper by (note the A-D, all the actions are more or less equivalent to each other. In making your Green Tsuvah you can choose from any of the equivalent answers):

    1. buying recycled paper
    2. reusing paper such as making notepads out of once used paper
    3. copying on both sides
    4. recycling paper
    5. using white paper
    6. I usually do not thing about conserving paper

  10. My baby uses:

    1. I don't have a baby in diapers
    2. cloth diapers
    3. "Environmental friendly" disposable diapers
    4. disposable diapers

  11. I dispense with household hazardous materials by:

    1. finding non--toxic alternatives
    2. sharing material with others so they will not need to buy them
    3. taking materials to hazardous waste disposal site
    4. throwing them in the garbage

  12. I am politically involved in helping the environment by:

    1. volunteering time for an environmental organization
    2. writing one letter a month on an environmental issue or doing one action a month
    3. joining an environmental advocacy group
    4. I am not politically involved with regards to this issue

  13. I save electricity that goes towards lighting by:

    1. using compact fluorescents
    2. using motion detectors and dimmer switches
    3. usually remembering to turn off lights in rooms that I am not using
    4. I do little to save electricity

  14. Whenever I go to a meeting, retreat, or out I:

    1. bring a mug and a spoon
    2. if only disposable cutlery and cups are available, I do not use them
    3. I mark my disposable cutlery and cup and use it all day
    4. I usually use the disposable items

  15. Besides working in my own yard, I do hands-on environmental work in my community by:

    1. organizing tree planting, creek restorations, beach pick-ups
    2. partake in tree planting, creek restorations, beach pick-ups
    3. not really doing anything
    4. littering

  16. On Tu B'shvat I:

    1. organize a tree planting with a Jewish organization
    2. plant a tree(s)
    3. have a tu b'shvat seder
    4. what's tu b'shvat?

  17. I take care of my lawn by:

    1. getting rid of it and planting native or drought resistant plants
    2. not using any insecticides or herbicides
    3. using integrated pest management techniques which use very little chemical poisons
    4. annual broad applications of insecticides and herbicides

  18. I decrease the amount of packaging that I use by:

    1. buying in bulk as much as I can
    2. buying goods that have packaging that can be reused
    3. buying goods that have packaging that can be recycled
    4. I like the convenience of packaging and throwing it away when I open the product

  19. I try to decrease the amount of goods that I throw away by:

    1. usually trying to fix old products before buying new ones
    2. buying products that can be reused
    3. buying products that can be recycled
    4. I often buy disposables and usually don't think about what the final resting place of these goods are when I throw them away

  20. I control my children's toys entering landfills by:

    1. buying toys made of good materials that have a long life
    2. donating toys when they are done with them
    3. buying poorly made non-durable toys and then throwing them out when they break

  21. I limit use of batteries by:

    1. not using batteries
    2. using rechargeable batteries
    3. conserving batteries by running items off of the house current whenever possible
    4. I don't limit my use of batteries

  22. I make my washing more environmentally friendly by:

    1. hanging the laundry to dry when ever possible
    2. using non-phosphate detergent
    3. using only warm or cold water wash
    4. using the washing machine only with a full load
    5. I don't think about the environment when I do laundry

  23. I decrease the amount of junk mail I receive by:

    1. writing to get off direct mail lists
    2. recycling junk mail
    3. throwing out junk mail
    4. writing to get free catalogs

  24. I throw away:

    1. close to nothing, I am able to reuse, recycle, or compost mostly everything
    2. items that cannot be composted nor recycled
    3. items that cannot be recycled
    4. I throw most everything away when I am done

  25. For household cleaners I:

    1. research the best environmental products and buy them
    2. look at the labels when I shop and buy the most environmentally friendly product available
    3. don't look at labels too much but I try to avoid poisons if possible
    4. use whatever chemicals I need to clean the house, unclog drains and get rid of pests

  26. In my garden:

    1. I don't use poisons
    2. I limit the amount of poisons I use
    3. I use whatever I need to kill pests or weeds
    4. I don't garden

  27. When I buy food I:

    1. bring my own small plastic bags and containers for small items and big durable bags to carry everything home
    2. bring my own big durable bags to carry everything home
    3. ask for paper or plastic bags
    4. double bag paper or plastic bags

  28. I conserve water in my yard by:

    1. planting a Xeriscape (low water) garden
    2. using drip irrigation
    3. watering in the evenings or early morning
    4. I don't usually conserve water in my yard

  29. I conserve water in the shower by:

    1. turning off my low flow shower head while I am soaping
    2. using a low flow shower head
    3. showering rather than taking baths
    4. taking baths on a regular basis

    I save heating energy in my house by: (A-F have the same value)


    1. using passive solar designs when buying, building, or remodeling a home
    2. insulating attic and walls (if appropriate)
    3. sealing and weather-stripping windows and doors
    4. turning my thermostat down to 65 degrees
    5. putting heavy curtains over the windows
    6. insulating my hot water heater and pipes
    7. I don't think about saving heat in my house
  31. I save electricity in my house by:
    1. buying a more energy efficient refrigerator
    2. using a fan instead of air conditioning
    3. turning computers and appliances off when not using them
    4. conducting and energy audit
  32. When I shop I:
    1. ask store managers to stock environmentally friendly items
    2. buy environmentally products as much as possible
    3. don't buy products from species that are endangered
    4. conducting an energy audit
  33. I respond to boycotts of goods called by environmental organizations by:
    1. Volunteering to help get the message out
    2. boycotting the goods
    3. boycotitng the goods if there are alternatives
    4. I don't uslaly abide by boycotts
  34. I try to wear clothes:
    1. made by myself
    2. made of organic natural fibers
    3. made of natural fibers
    4. made of synthetic fibers
  35. I buy clothes:
    1. after I have tried to repair them
    2. at a clothing exchange store
    3. at a retail outlet
  36. For recreation/vacation I like to:
    1. stay close to home and explore my particular biome
    2. go on an eco-tour
    3. go on a car trip through the States
    4. go overseas
  37. I buy grooming supplies:
    1. in bulk that are not animal tested
    2. that are not animal tested
    3. with natural ingredients
    4. whatever looks good on me
  38. When deciding to buy a product from a company I:
    1. only buy from companies that have a good environmental record
    2. try to buy from companies that have a good environmental record
    3. don't care what the companies environmental record is
  39. I buy cleaning supplies:
    1. in bulk that are not toxic
    2. that are not toxic
    3. whatever works
  40. In doing my hobbies I:
    1. don't do any hobbies that have adverse environmental impacts
    2. try not to do any hobbies that have adverse environmental impacts
    3. try to limit the hobbies that have adverse environmental impacts
    4. do hobbies that are fun
  41. In the winter I keep the thermostat at:
    1. 64 degrees or off
    2. between 64-66 degrees
    3. between 66-70 degrees
    4. over 70 degrees
  42. I use air conditioning:
    1. never
    2. only in my car
    3. when eggs can fry on the pavement
    4. whenever it’s hot
  43. I drive the following number of miles a year:
    1. 0 - 1,500
    2. 1,500 - 5,000
    3. 5,000 - 10,000
    4. over 10,000
  44. I fly the following number of miles a year:
    1. 0 - 1,500
    2. 1,500 - 10,000
    3. 10,000 - 20,000
    4. over 20,000
  45. In the past 5 years, I have bought this many new cars:
    1. 0
    2. 1
    3. 2
    4. 3 or more
  46. I subscribe to this many magazines:
    1. 0
    2. 1-3
    3. 4-6
    4. over 6
  47. I invest this percentage of my money in "green" or "socially conscious" portfolios:
    1. 75-100%
    2. 50-75%
    3. 25-50%
    4. less than 25%
  48. My job:
    1. restores the environment
    2. is neutral to its environmental impact
    3. somewhat harmful to the environment
    4. very harmful to the environment
  49. I have or plan to have this many children
    1. 0
    2. 1
    3. 2
    4. 3
 
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This program added on 2003-02-25.


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