Resources
available for Jewish communities in Vermont
Do you know that Jewish traditions and teachings from the Torah
have been a strong driving force for them to lead by example and address environmental
issues?
One example of many would be the law of Lo Tash'chit, the biblical prohibition
against the wanton destruction of nature. It comes from a passage in Deuteronomy
that reads:
"When you besiege a city for a long time, fighting against it to conquer
it, you shall not destroy the trees thereof by wielding an axe against them;
for you may eat of them, and you may not cut them down, for is the tree of
the field a person that it should be besieged by you? Only trees which you
know not to be fruit bearing trees, may you destroy and cut down; and you
may build bulwarks against the city that wars against you, until it is subdued."
Synagogues in Vermont, regardless of their affiliation, have gotten involved.
Several interviewed by Middlebury College students in fall 2004 as part of
a project with Vermont Interfaith Power and Light, provide suggestions for
ways to do this.
The Israel Congregation in Manchester observes the holiday of Tu B'Shevat
that traditionally marks the birthday of the trees planted throughout the
year. For their congregation, the holiday is more about environmental and
ecological awareness than trees specifically, especially because it falls
in February when Vermont trees, unlike trees in Israel, are not flowering.
The Congregation Beth El in Bennington includes an environmental component
in their Judaism school and has hosted workshops on creating eco-kosher homes.
The Rutland Jewish Center uses energy efficient light bulbs and refrains from
using too many disposable dishes. They even teach the value of bal tashchit
(prevention of needless waste) to the children in religious school. The rabbi
also addresses environmentalism in sermons and is involved in COEJL.
What is COEJL?
It stands for the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life and is one of your biggest resources. COEJL’s mission is to deepen the Jewish community’s commitment to the stewardship of creation and mobilizes the resources of Jewish life and learning to protect the Earth and all its inhabitants. They do this through their website (www.coejl.org), publications, and letter writing campaigns. They even have a list of the top ten actions that individuals can take to address global warming, including planting trees and organizing energy conservation programs in synagogues.See resources for other religious groups:
American
Baptist
Episcopal
Jewish
Roman Catholic
Society of Friends (Quakers)
United Methodist
Unitarian Universalist
Zen Buddhist
Questions or Comments? Contact us!
Interfaith Environmental
Awareness and Action in Vermont:
A
Service Learning Project with Vermont Interfaith Power & Light