April 22 is not only the last day of Passover (for some) but also
Earth Day. Here's a column from last year by Mayim Bialik for Raising
Kvell
Today
is Earth Day. I asked my 7 1/2 year old son what the main ways are that
we make the planet a better place. He dictated the following:
1. Pick up trash. When you see trash on the ground or at the beach or anywhere, pick it up. And put it in the trash.
Continue reading.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Monday, April 14, 2014
Environmental Connections to Passover
By Richard H. Schwartz for Jewcology
In
view of the many current environmental crises that face the world
today, this pre-Passover period is a good time to consider environmental
messages related to the holiday and the events and concepts related to
the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt:
1. Today's environmental threats can be compared in many ways to the Biblical ten plagues:
* When we consider the threats to our land, water, and air, we can easily enumerate ten modern "plagues". For example: (1) climate change (2) rapid melting of glaciers and polar ice caps (3) destruction of tropical rain forests (4) acid rain (5) soil erosion and depletion (6) loss of biodiversity (7) water pollution (8) air pollution (9) an increase in the number and severity of storms and floods (10) increased use of pesticides, chemical fertilizer, and other toxic chemicals.
* The Egyptians were subjected to one plague at a time, while the modern plagues are threatening us simultaneously.
* The Jews in Goshen were spared the Biblical plagues, while every person on earth is imperiled by the modern plagues.
* Instead of an ancient Pharaoh's heart being hardened, our hearts today have been hardened by the greed, materialism, and waste that are at the root of current environmental threats.
* God provided the Biblical plagues to free the Israelites, while today we must apply God's teachings in order to save ourselves and our precious but endangered planet.
2. The Passover Seder is a time for questions, including the traditional "four questions." Additional questions can be asked related to modern environmental threats. For example: Why is this period different than all other periods? (At all other periods only local regions faced environmental threats; today, the entire world is threatened.) Why isn’t there more activism in the Jewish community (and other communities) about current environmental threats? Why aren't Jewish values applied toward the alleviation of environmental problems?
Continue reading.
For other great Pesach ideas, visit Jvillage Network's Passover Spotlight Kit.
In
view of the many current environmental crises that face the world
today, this pre-Passover period is a good time to consider environmental
messages related to the holiday and the events and concepts related to
the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt:1. Today's environmental threats can be compared in many ways to the Biblical ten plagues:
* When we consider the threats to our land, water, and air, we can easily enumerate ten modern "plagues". For example: (1) climate change (2) rapid melting of glaciers and polar ice caps (3) destruction of tropical rain forests (4) acid rain (5) soil erosion and depletion (6) loss of biodiversity (7) water pollution (8) air pollution (9) an increase in the number and severity of storms and floods (10) increased use of pesticides, chemical fertilizer, and other toxic chemicals.
* The Egyptians were subjected to one plague at a time, while the modern plagues are threatening us simultaneously.
* The Jews in Goshen were spared the Biblical plagues, while every person on earth is imperiled by the modern plagues.
* Instead of an ancient Pharaoh's heart being hardened, our hearts today have been hardened by the greed, materialism, and waste that are at the root of current environmental threats.
* God provided the Biblical plagues to free the Israelites, while today we must apply God's teachings in order to save ourselves and our precious but endangered planet.
2. The Passover Seder is a time for questions, including the traditional "four questions." Additional questions can be asked related to modern environmental threats. For example: Why is this period different than all other periods? (At all other periods only local regions faced environmental threats; today, the entire world is threatened.) Why isn’t there more activism in the Jewish community (and other communities) about current environmental threats? Why aren't Jewish values applied toward the alleviation of environmental problems?
Continue reading.
For other great Pesach ideas, visit Jvillage Network's Passover Spotlight Kit.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Passover and Earth Day
From COEJL
Earth
Day and Passover occur in the same month this year. This allows us to
consider the relationship between two holidays, which at first do not
seem connected. Passover is an ancient religious festival described in
the Torah and practiced by Jews for thousands of years. Earth Day is a
human-created universal celebration started in 1970 as concern for the
environment rose to new levels. One connects to sacred history, the
other calls for a new relationship with our planet. Yet there is a
deeper and more profound way in which they share a vision.
According to Rabbi Irving Greenberg in his book, The Jewish Way, Passover is not only a commemoration of a past event. It marks a morally significant moment in human history. “The overwhelming majority of earth’s human beings have always lived in poverty and suffering…Statistically speaking, hauman life is of little value…Power, rather than justice seems always to rule.” But Judaism asserts that this is not always the case. Some day history will be perfected and “much of what passes for the norm of human existence is really a deviation from the ultimate reality.” We know this because of the Exodus, the liberation of Israelite slaves. This event, says Greenberg, is more than a minor historical anomaly. It is a paradigm and inspiration for human liberation. It shows that humans are meant to be free and that God is concerned with humanity. While this redemptive experience did not immediately stop all oppression and evil in the world, it created an alternative reality of how life can and should be. It creates a “dream of perfection and thereby creates the tension that must exist until reality is redeemed.” Earth Day does the same thing for the environment by creating a tension which drives our efforts towards sustainability.
Continue reading.
Earth Day and Passover:
Earth
Day and Passover occur in the same month this year. This allows us to
consider the relationship between two holidays, which at first do not
seem connected. Passover is an ancient religious festival described in
the Torah and practiced by Jews for thousands of years. Earth Day is a
human-created universal celebration started in 1970 as concern for the
environment rose to new levels. One connects to sacred history, the
other calls for a new relationship with our planet. Yet there is a
deeper and more profound way in which they share a vision.According to Rabbi Irving Greenberg in his book, The Jewish Way, Passover is not only a commemoration of a past event. It marks a morally significant moment in human history. “The overwhelming majority of earth’s human beings have always lived in poverty and suffering…Statistically speaking, hauman life is of little value…Power, rather than justice seems always to rule.” But Judaism asserts that this is not always the case. Some day history will be perfected and “much of what passes for the norm of human existence is really a deviation from the ultimate reality.” We know this because of the Exodus, the liberation of Israelite slaves. This event, says Greenberg, is more than a minor historical anomaly. It is a paradigm and inspiration for human liberation. It shows that humans are meant to be free and that God is concerned with humanity. While this redemptive experience did not immediately stop all oppression and evil in the world, it created an alternative reality of how life can and should be. It creates a “dream of perfection and thereby creates the tension that must exist until reality is redeemed.” Earth Day does the same thing for the environment by creating a tension which drives our efforts towards sustainability.
Continue reading.
Monday, March 31, 2014
The Jewish Ecosphere Springs Forward: Social Justice & Innovation in the Expanding Universe of “JOFEE”
By Erica Brody for Zeek
One
night this week — before spring arrived! — a statistic kept popping up
in my Twitter feed: “Americans spend 90% of their time indoors.”
Disturbing, right? As it turns out, the architect Marc Kushner had
mentioned this disturbing fact during his TED2014 talk about how design
and space impact our culture, communities and lives, deeply. Although he
was talking about architecture, I was struck by the amount of time
Americans spend outdoors — or don’t. Could it really be so little? The
EPA thinks so.
One day this week, one of the top international bodies of scientists issued a report that might as well have been called “Wake the F-ck Up” or “Everything You Need to Know to Refute Climate Change Deniers.” Bearing the somewhat more sensible title “What We Know: The Reality, Risks and Response to Climate Change,” the report came on the heels of an all-nighter pulled by 31 members of Congress who spent their night indoors – but not at home — to talk about the urgency of acting on climate change. Like many others, Senator Brian Schatz (D, HI, Jewish) talked about impact on local communities: from flooding and erosion to higher food prices. It’s been a headline-heavy week for climate change, what with President Obama launching the Climate Change Data Initiative and Cosmos doing its thing.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch — well, in the Jewish ecosphere — a jackpot of data emerged thanks to the findings of a broad-based study released last week called Seeds of Opportunity: A National Study of Immersive Jewish Outdoor, Food, and Environmental Education (JOFEE), created by Hazon, in partnership with the Jim Joseph Foundation, the Leichtag Foundation, The Morningstar Foundation, Rose Community Foundation, Schusterman Family Foundation, and UJA-Federation of New York.
Continue reading.
The JOFEE Dialogues with Nigel Savage, Jon Marker, Nili Simhai, Seth Cohen, Lisa Farber Miller & Jakir Manela
One
night this week — before spring arrived! — a statistic kept popping up
in my Twitter feed: “Americans spend 90% of their time indoors.”
Disturbing, right? As it turns out, the architect Marc Kushner had
mentioned this disturbing fact during his TED2014 talk about how design
and space impact our culture, communities and lives, deeply. Although he
was talking about architecture, I was struck by the amount of time
Americans spend outdoors — or don’t. Could it really be so little? The
EPA thinks so.One day this week, one of the top international bodies of scientists issued a report that might as well have been called “Wake the F-ck Up” or “Everything You Need to Know to Refute Climate Change Deniers.” Bearing the somewhat more sensible title “What We Know: The Reality, Risks and Response to Climate Change,” the report came on the heels of an all-nighter pulled by 31 members of Congress who spent their night indoors – but not at home — to talk about the urgency of acting on climate change. Like many others, Senator Brian Schatz (D, HI, Jewish) talked about impact on local communities: from flooding and erosion to higher food prices. It’s been a headline-heavy week for climate change, what with President Obama launching the Climate Change Data Initiative and Cosmos doing its thing.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch — well, in the Jewish ecosphere — a jackpot of data emerged thanks to the findings of a broad-based study released last week called Seeds of Opportunity: A National Study of Immersive Jewish Outdoor, Food, and Environmental Education (JOFEE), created by Hazon, in partnership with the Jim Joseph Foundation, the Leichtag Foundation, The Morningstar Foundation, Rose Community Foundation, Schusterman Family Foundation, and UJA-Federation of New York.
Continue reading.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Mediterranean cleanup targets will not be met, says expert
Much of the garbage along Israel’s shoreline originated in Egypt and Lebanon.
By Zafrir Rinat for Haaretz
The
countries of the European Union and the Mediterranean will not succeed
in carrying out their ambitious task of treating the main concentrations
of pollutants in the sea by the end of the decade. When 2020 rolls
around, it will apparently be possible to deal with only about half of
the 130 major polluting sites.This was the assessment on Sunday by Nicholas Hanley, Head of International, Regional and Bilateral Relations at the European Commission Directorate-General for the Environment. On Tuesday Henley will participate in the Environment 2050 conference at the Hilton Hotel in Tel Aviv. He comes to Israel from Amman, where an up-to-date picture of the treatment of pollution problems was presented at a meeting of representatives of the Mediterranean countries.
Eight years ago the Mediterranean countries and the EU adopted a resolution to apply a policy of treating the major concentrations of contamination around the Mediterranean by the year 2010. In the framework of the resolution, 130 such sites were identified throughout the countries of the region. Most of the sites are in urban areas that discharge municipal and industrial sewage into the sea, or where there are large waste disposal sites that get partially washed out the sea.
“Apparently by the target date we will be able to deal with about half the sites,” said Hanley, “but it is possible that there will be new sites because of population growth and the increased rate of consumption of various products in some of the countries.”
He offered the example of urban areas in Egypt that are developing without suitable infrastructures, where some of the waste ultimately finds its way into the Mediterranean Sea.
Continue reading.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Top 6 Green Passover Tips
by Claire Moshenberg for MomsRising.org
I
love Seder, and I would never want to give up any of the traditional
pieces of the meal, or any of the traditions my family shares. Luckily, I
can make Seder less toxic without losing any of the components that I
love, and you can too! A few simple changes will drastically reduce
toxic chemicals on your table and in your home this Passover.
Charoset: Apples are a key ingredient in charoset; unfortunately, they’re also a member of the Dirty Dozen, a list of the most pesticide contaminated fruits and vegetables. Minimize toxic chemicals in this beloved dish by using organic apples. If your family uses raisens in their charoset, choose organic raisens as well: grapes are also on the Dirty Dozen list.
Wine and grape juice: Like I mentioned above, grapes are a member of the ominous Dirty Dozen, so it’s important to choose organic grapes, grape juice, and wine when possible. The Jew and the Carrot has recommendations on how to choose an organic Kosher wine for your Seder.
Washing the parsley and bitter herbs: The surface of fruits and veggies can be home to chemicals and pathogens, which is why it’s important to thoroughly wash all your Passover produce, like parsley, particularly if it’s not organic. Rub your fruits and veggies for 30 to 60 seconds under warm running water. Wash inedible peels, like the one on the horseradish; even though you discard the peel, cutting into the fruit or peeling the fruit can transfer chemicals into the fruits flesh through your knife. For edible peels, peeling non-organic fruits and vegetables is an easy way to avoid the chemicals that are absorbed into the peel.
Continue reading.
I
love Seder, and I would never want to give up any of the traditional
pieces of the meal, or any of the traditions my family shares. Luckily, I
can make Seder less toxic without losing any of the components that I
love, and you can too! A few simple changes will drastically reduce
toxic chemicals on your table and in your home this Passover.Charoset: Apples are a key ingredient in charoset; unfortunately, they’re also a member of the Dirty Dozen, a list of the most pesticide contaminated fruits and vegetables. Minimize toxic chemicals in this beloved dish by using organic apples. If your family uses raisens in their charoset, choose organic raisens as well: grapes are also on the Dirty Dozen list.
Wine and grape juice: Like I mentioned above, grapes are a member of the ominous Dirty Dozen, so it’s important to choose organic grapes, grape juice, and wine when possible. The Jew and the Carrot has recommendations on how to choose an organic Kosher wine for your Seder.
Washing the parsley and bitter herbs: The surface of fruits and veggies can be home to chemicals and pathogens, which is why it’s important to thoroughly wash all your Passover produce, like parsley, particularly if it’s not organic. Rub your fruits and veggies for 30 to 60 seconds under warm running water. Wash inedible peels, like the one on the horseradish; even though you discard the peel, cutting into the fruit or peeling the fruit can transfer chemicals into the fruits flesh through your knife. For edible peels, peeling non-organic fruits and vegetables is an easy way to avoid the chemicals that are absorbed into the peel.
Continue reading.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Sustainability Purim Tips
Purim – the celebration of Esther and Mordechai’s triumph over wicked
Haman – is filled with amazing traditions. On Purim night, we rejoice
through recounting Esther’s story and through drinking, wearing masks,
and partying. We also give back to our community – by giving mishloach
manot (gifts of food) to friends and donating to charity. Here is a
number of suggestions as to how you can celebrate Purim in a
sustainable, fun, and festive way!
SUSTAINABLE SNACKS & SPIRITS
Ditch
the dry hamentashen.Crumbly, store-bought hamentashen stuffed with
artificially-flavored jelly are a crime against Purim! Fight back by
baking your own. Experiment with substituting whole wheat flour and
agave nectar in the dough, and think outside the traditional fillings
box. Pick up some local jams at the farmers’ market, or make your own
apricot jam. Try pinching a dab of Nutella or a dollop of
maple-sweetened Mascarpone cheese in the center of your cookies. Your
belly will thank you.
Go savory. Who says hamentashen have to be sweet? This year, nix the sugar in the dough, and fill each “cookie” with a mix of sauteed onions, mushrooms and Gruyere cheese, or crubmled feta and spinach – or try making Pizzatashen!
Edible Groggers. Serve crispy, crunchy, NOISY foods this Purim (try things like: fresh veggies and yogurt-dill dip, blue corn chips and salsa or home made pita chips with your favorite store-bought or home made hummus). As guests snack away, their crunches will let Haman know what a wicked, wicked man he really was.
Can the canned fruit! You may want to buy fruit for your hamentashen filling, but try your best to avoid fruit from a can! Buy your fruit for your hamentashen in glass jars, or use fresh fruit. Cans (and most plastics) are lined with a chemical called Bisphenol-A (BPA) which is an endocrine disruptor, and a chemical that all should try their best to avoid. Learn more about Bisphenol-A from Grassroots Environmental Education.
Sustainable drinks. Don’t forget to drink sustainably this Purim. Pick an organic wine from our kosher, organic wine list. For some celebratory Whiskey for Purim, check out the Koval Distillery in Chicago for organic spirits. Or mix your drinks using freshly-squeezed juices (orange, grapefruit, carrot/ginger, wheat grass – it’s up to you!), natural sodas, Ginger Brew, or even homemade seltzer. And if you’re going alcohol-free, these delicious mixers taste just as great on their own.
Continue reading.
SUSTAINABLE SNACKS & SPIRITS
Ditch
the dry hamentashen.Crumbly, store-bought hamentashen stuffed with
artificially-flavored jelly are a crime against Purim! Fight back by
baking your own. Experiment with substituting whole wheat flour and
agave nectar in the dough, and think outside the traditional fillings
box. Pick up some local jams at the farmers’ market, or make your own
apricot jam. Try pinching a dab of Nutella or a dollop of
maple-sweetened Mascarpone cheese in the center of your cookies. Your
belly will thank you.Go savory. Who says hamentashen have to be sweet? This year, nix the sugar in the dough, and fill each “cookie” with a mix of sauteed onions, mushrooms and Gruyere cheese, or crubmled feta and spinach – or try making Pizzatashen!
Edible Groggers. Serve crispy, crunchy, NOISY foods this Purim (try things like: fresh veggies and yogurt-dill dip, blue corn chips and salsa or home made pita chips with your favorite store-bought or home made hummus). As guests snack away, their crunches will let Haman know what a wicked, wicked man he really was.
Can the canned fruit! You may want to buy fruit for your hamentashen filling, but try your best to avoid fruit from a can! Buy your fruit for your hamentashen in glass jars, or use fresh fruit. Cans (and most plastics) are lined with a chemical called Bisphenol-A (BPA) which is an endocrine disruptor, and a chemical that all should try their best to avoid. Learn more about Bisphenol-A from Grassroots Environmental Education.
Sustainable drinks. Don’t forget to drink sustainably this Purim. Pick an organic wine from our kosher, organic wine list. For some celebratory Whiskey for Purim, check out the Koval Distillery in Chicago for organic spirits. Or mix your drinks using freshly-squeezed juices (orange, grapefruit, carrot/ginger, wheat grass – it’s up to you!), natural sodas, Ginger Brew, or even homemade seltzer. And if you’re going alcohol-free, these delicious mixers taste just as great on their own.
Continue reading.
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