Preserve Our Planet Initiative

Preserving Our Planet: We Can Make A Difference!

Goals:

  • LEARN about local, national, and international issues of earth stewardship.
  • ENGAGE in individual and collective behaviors at home, in the workplace, and in Temple activities that reduce harm to the environment and fulfill our religious and moral responsibility to create a sustainable environment and ensure the survival of the planet.
  • ADVOCATE for local, state and national policies that Preserve our Planet.

Target Population: All congregants including members and their families, clergy, and employees.
Number of Participants: 300
Frequency of Program: continuous for 2 ½ years and ongoing

 

Program Overview:
The Social Justice Committee created a two-year project, Preserving Our Planet (POP), with the express goals to (1) enhance our spiritual/religious connection to the environment, (2)define/practice environmentally-conscious behaviors for congregants at home, workplace, and Temple, (3) advocate for policies within the larger community that Preserve Our Planet. Our Rabbi and Cantor led observances to connect Judaism to environmental stewardship. Four sub-committees were formed, each with an action and advocacy plan:

  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
  • Energy Conservation and our carbon footprints
  • Sustainable agriculture by supporting local food production and consumption
  • Transportation, both individual and public

Pre-program preparation:  

  • Two of our members of the Social Justice Committee (SJC) attended the Consultation on Conscience 2005
  • Learned of the Just Congregations/Congregational Based Organizing Model.
  • This model helped us find an encompassing Social Justiceissue that would engage every aspect of the congregation
  • Followed the suggestion of the staff at URJ Commission on Social Action to consult with a local representative from the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF).
  • Developed a list of Temple members who represented leaders from different sectors of the congregation and a questionnaire as guideline for one-on-one interviews of these members.
  • Interviews took place over a six month period honing in on various issues of passionate concern to congregants.
  • Current involvement, curiosity, thoughtful insights, willingness to give time and surprising levels of expertise on the topic of the environment directed us to the environment.
  • With our Rabbi’s knowledge and passion for environmental justice and a concurrent project to green our existing House of Worship and build a new and “green” Religious school building, we named our project, “Preserving Our Planet” with the overall goal to work through actions and advocacy to reduce green house gasses in cumulative efforts that could substantially contribute to repairing and sustaining the planet.
  • Formed four sub-committees (Energy, Recycling, Transportation, and Agriculture), each with committee heads from outside our SJC and each with a SJC member attending all sub-committee meetings acting as liaison to the SJC.
  • Worked with the NC Interfaith Power and Light (NCIPL) in advocating for a number of environmental issues and we included them throughout this project.
  • Partnered was the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) which helped us become the first faith community to support a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm.
  • Worked with the Planning Department of Asheville, another local Jewish congregation, our Temple building committee, the religious school, a congregant who was a contributing author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Third Assessment contributing to that organization’s winning a share of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, several area churches, particularly St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.
  • Marketing Strategy
  •  
    • For two years we wrote monthly articles in our newsletter, the Menorah, to share information, solicit involvement and discuss our work in relation to Jewish text.
    • Placed information about events on the Jewish Asheville website, the JCC, the local newspaper, the Asheville Citizens Times, as well as through the interfaith group, the Mountain Area Interfaith Forum.
  • Unveiled the program at the 2008 congregational Pesach Seder by expanding the traditional Seder to reflect a focus on worship of the earth. (see attachment ― symbolism of the seeds and plants). Our Rabbi incorporated poetry and liturgy expanding the theme.
  • Kick off of the two year journey.

Program Overview

At the congregational Seder in 2008 we introduced the concept of A NEW SEDER RITUAL:  Planting the seeds of Commitment. (See attachment). The intent was to begin to view our actions as connecting with the planet, in ways that could protect the earth’s resources, beauty and wonder.  We hung large banners in the social hall with the goals of working group and invited all members of the congregation to participate in a variety of ways. All activities were volunteer driven, with the support and involvement of the Rabbi, the temple board, the religious school, the brotherhood, sisterhood, and other congregational committees.

Accomplishments:

  • 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
    • Started composting kitchen waste
    • Eliminated use of Styrofoam cups
    • Reduced the use of plastics/paper in favor of washable dishes
    • Using recycled paper and expanding use of other recycled items
    • Recycling paper and plastic
    • Writing a series of articles and “tips” for the Menorah on Reducing, Reusing and Recycling
    • Encouraged Meatless Mondays
    • Participating in Adopt-A-Street through Asheville GreenWorks by adopting Martin Luther King Boulevard for street clean-ups and partnering with St. Mary’s
    • Engaged the religious school to compost their snacks
  • Energy
    • Encouraged congregants to use fluorescent light bulbs in homes and at the temple
    • Held Lunch and Learn sessions on climate change
    • Did energy audit of the current temple building
    • Worked with the architects on installing energy efficient and “green” building materials for the new building
    • Created a POP focus on the new congregational website with much information about energy savings, climate change, reducing carbon footprint, as well as a comprehensive article on Jewish Ethics and the Environment. 
    •  Researched particular legislative proposals around climate change and shared with the congregation
    • Participated with the NCInterfaith Power and Light organization in sharing and disseminating information about advocacy issues, and local events
    • Chosen as a “Cool Congregation” by NCIPL for our focus on energy and climate issues. See http://interfaithpowerandlight.org/2009/11/success-stories-congregation-beth-hatephila/ 
    • Advocated for energy efficiency/cleaner environment with the Religious Action Center (RAC), Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) and local coalition NC Interfaith Power and Light (NCIPL)
  • Sustainable Agriculture
    • Unveiled the POP initiative at Passover in 2008 by including in the congregational Seder prayers and items related to growing seeds, plants and food
    • Started the first interfaith CSA (farm produce subscription program) in 2009. In the second year we expanded and partnered with St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and had 22 shares with 3 local farms
    • Started Healthy Onegs and encouraged using local products for Oneg food. Partnered with Earthfare (local grocer) for a full-supported Oneg spread using all healthy foods
    • Created comprehensive guidelines for including healthy foods in Onegs
    • Requested the Board and it was accepted to adopt a policy that the religious
      school start serving organic apple juice
    • Sponsored a Lunch and Learn by NC State researcher on growing organic foods
    • Organized a farm field trip to an apple orchard
    • Worked with interfaith communities on gleaning crops
    • Provided local farm product availability updates in The Menorah
    • Participated in interfaith activities related to:
      • Crop Walk
      • Earth Day
      • Mountaintop Removal in Kentucky
  • Transportation
    • Created internet mapping of congregation members for sharing rides, getting to know neighbors and having local Havdalah services
    • Participated in discussions to expand public transportation
    • Created a Strive Not to Drive Shabbat to encourage alternate modes of transportation, ride-sharing, and fun.
    • Met with local Asheville city planner and transportation director about ways in which the congregation can support public transportation, more sidewalks for walking and decreasing gas emissions

 

Results

  • The POP initiative has raised awareness, changed practices of congregants, along with the temple operations and functions. 
  • Barriers we overcame were: lack of knowledge, complacency about reducing, reusing, recycling, and energy usage, as well involving the participation of the congregation beyond our SJC.
  • All aspects of the POP program can be replicated.

 

We have developed ongoing working relationships with other faith communities that have led us to work on other social justice issues together, including homelessness and immigration. Though we are no longer focused only on environmental issues, we continue to advocate for behaviors and policies that decrease our carbon footprints and protect our environment. We expect to expand our CSA involvement through more participation as well as increased commitment to particular farms. Congregants are eating healthier foods, buying more local and fair traded products.  Though this was a two year initiative, we have made a lifetime commitment to continue our new behaviors toward making a real impact.  We are committed to that process.

 

Judith K. Leavitt
Chair, Social Justice Committee
Judleavitt76@gmail.com