Focus Areas > Social Justice > JEI > Environmental Awareness
Environmental Awareness
JEI utilizes Jewish values to advocate and educate about the environment. As Jews, we are commanded to preserve and restore God's wondrous creation - the Earth! We value, ba'al tashhit, the prohibition against wasting resources and tikkun olam, to repair the world.
Fight Global Warming
Carbon dioxide and other gases warm the surface of the planet naturally by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil to run our vehicles, homes, businesses, and institutions and by cutting down trees, humans have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere. The first half of 2006 was the warmest on record for the U.S. The U.S. contributes 25% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the world!
Global Warming has put our world at risk, particularly the most vulnerable members of our society. As air pollution worsens, storms intensify, sea levels rise, and drought destroys crops. These environmental changes impact respirator illness, migrating diseases and a direct impact on homes being destroyed by natural disasters. Also, U.S. dependence on Middle East oilcontinues to endanger Israel and America.
What can you do???
Change to CFL Bulbs
In order to maintain a sustainable world, each person must take personal responsibility to drive less, conserve energy in our homes, plant trees, reduce-reuse-recycle and educate our children that the earth’s resources are not limited.
Alan Elfanbaum lighting the way as the "shamas" to teach his grandchildren and the community about the importance of compact fluorescent light bulbs.
To learn more about the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) and the Campaign to promote the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs go to www.coejl.org.
BLESSINGS FOR CHANGING YOUR LIGHTBULBS FOR CHANUKAH, click here
