In the last ten years, the Jewish environmental field has seen exponential growth. Across North America, a vibrant Jewish environmental culture is flourishing, attracting young adults and inspiring many people — Jews and non-Jews — to live more sustainably. Today, the Green Hevra, a network of Jewish environmental initiatives, is proud to present the Green Hevra Report 2013, a study exploring the growth, scale, focus and challenges facing today’s Jewish environmental field.

This report, created by the Jewish environmental movement and based on Jewcology's Map of Jewish Environmental Initiatives, assesses 124 Jewish environmental initiatives to clarify and communicate the state of the field. How has the Jewish environmental field grown in the last decade? In what regions are Jewish environmental initiatives most active? How many individuals do they reach? What is the average budget of Jewish environmental initiatives in North America, and how are they staffed? What challenges are faced by this young and growing new movement in Jewish life? For example, the report finds that:

• Almost three-quarters of Jewish environmental initiatives are focusing on education, while significantly fewer organizations focus their attention on environmental improvements in Jewish institutions, grant-making or advocacy.
• The Jewish environmental field includes over 200,000 participants each year, and reaches nearly 700,000 readers with its communications materials.
• The total budget reported for the field was approximately $24 million.

This report complements and adds to the information base created by Seeds of Opportunity: A National Study on Immersive Jewish Outdoor, Food, and Environmental Education (JOFEE), which assessed the impact on Jewish education outcomes from a specific set of immersive programs taking place within the Jewish outdoor, food and environmental education fields. The new report takes a more comprehensive view of Jewish environmental organizations, assessing the nature of this growing field, and providing a new set of data for practitioners, funders and researchers to understand the field as a whole.

View and print the report to learn more about the state of our field: http://www.greenhevra.org/gleanings-from-our-field-green-hevra-report-2014.html

Monday, June 9 – Friday, June 13, 2014 at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center

Join us for a week dedicated to renewing our relationship with the earth, gaining garden education skills, and studying eco-Torah. The Teva Seminar is the premier annual professional development opportunity in the field of JOFEE: Jewish Outdoor, Food, and Environmental Education. Featuring leaders in the JOFEE field: Nili Simhai, Mordechai Leibling, Jakir Manela, Cara Silverberg, Brent Spodek, Arthur Waskow, plus a team of talented educators from Teva, Jewish Farm School, Eden Village, and many more.

Now in its 20th year, this multi-day, hands-on training program is designed for educators, camp counselors, community leaders, and anyone who is seeking training in the emerging JOFEE field. Participation in the Teva Seminar will enhance the work of your community ­– whether your organization is just getting started in this field, or you’ve been wanting to add goats to your camp’s nature center, take a field trip with your Hebrew school to the farm, or offer a kosher foodie series or farmer’s market at your JCC. Each workshop is accessible to people with all levels of experience in gardening,wilderness skills, culinary arts, and/or experiential Jewish education.

• Learn to infuse Camp, Hebrew school, synagogue, or JCC programming with JOFEE-based activities
• Build new skills in Jewish environmental education
• Get trained to lead hikes and outdoor games within a Jewish context
• Take home resources to use in your community

Use code WELOVEU50 for $50 off. Generous scholarships available.

Presented by Hazon, Adamah and the Jewish Farm School, in partnership with: 7Seeds, Baltimore Jewish Environmental Network, Canfei Nesharim, COEJL, Eden Village Camp, Ganei Beantown, Green Zionist Alliance, Jewcology, Jewish Farm School, Jewish Greening Fellowship, Moishe House International, Neo Hasid, Pearlstone Center, RAC, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Shalom Center, Shoresh, Urban Adamah, Wildnerness Torah, Yiddish Farm

Basics of Advocacy for Jewish Environmentalists: A Citizen Training Webinar

To build a more sustainable society, we need more than just individual action: we also need sustainable policies at the local, state and national level. Many Jewish environmentalists want to get involved with advocacy, but aren’t sure exactly where to start. The advocacy world can feel like a confusing maze. When should I call my representative? What kind of letter will make the most difference? How do you schedule a meeting?

Join COEJL, Canfei Nesharim and Jewcology for “Basics of Advocacy for Jewish Environmentalists,” an opportunity to learn about the basic tools of advocacy and how you can make a difference. We explored the challenges and opportunities of advocacy, tools to help you, and practice some specific skills to help you get started.

Next webinar: Monday, March 31 at 8:00-9:30 pm. Register here!

Want to hear about future opportunities? Let us know.

This training requires your active participation, so please plan to have computer, internet and telephone available and to be present for the full 90 minutes. Space is limited. This webinar is free, thanks to the generous support of our Year of Engagement sponsors.

It’s the end of the Year of Action! During the last twelve months, Jewcology has been pleased to host and share 24 actions to help you save energy and reduce food waste. Together, our community has taken action and saved resources, and demonstrated the difference we can make together!

It’s not too late to report your actions on Jewcology so that we can show the full impact of the difference we’ve made. In honor of Tu b’Shevat, please report your actions on your individualized savings page during the month of Shevat! **Can’t access this page? Simply log in to Jewcology and it will display for you.

Explore the full list of actions and our results in this campaign.

This ebook is the most comprehensive study in English of how Jewish traditional sources teach us to protect our natural resources and preserve the environment. From food to trees, energy to water, wealth to biodiversity, the book studies eighteen topics where Jewish tradition has a relevant lesson for today's environmental challenges. All materials were comprehensively studied and reviewed by scientists and rabbis before printing.

These materials were originally created for the Canfei Nesharim/Jewcology Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment in 2012, and were released between Tu b'Shevat 5772 and Tu b'Shevat 5773. The materials were shared widely throughout the Jewish community, reaching more than 50,000 people. Source sheets, podcasts and videos are also available separately for each topic.

The ebook can now be ordered for your Kindle or Ebook device.

Podcasts now available: Another exciting release from the Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment: all podcasts from our series are now available on iTunes! To see the full series, simply search “Canfei Nesharim” in the itunes store, or go to https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/canfei-nesharim/id646475293?mt=2. You can listen to the podcasts right there, or click "view in iTunes " and then click subscribe to have them appear in your iTunes podcast library.

Don’t have itunes? All items are also available for listening or downloading at http://canfeinesharim.podbean.com/.

Check out all the materials, including source sheets and videos, at www.canfeinesharim.org/learning or www.jewcology.com/learning.

Become a partner in engaging your community this year!

Together, we will organize Jewish campaigns throughout the year to help you learn about opportunities to make a difference on key environmental issues at the national and state level, to get to know your elected representatives, and to engage your community.

How can Jewish environmental advocacy make a difference?

The Jewish community has a long history of championing support for Israel and social justice causes. For the last twenty years, we have been learning and changing our behaviors to protect our environment. To address this critical global challenge, it is now time for us to unite in support of sustainable policies that reflect our Jewish interests and values, to make a meaningful impact at the state and national levels and beyond.

Explore our current Year of Engagement Opportunities:

• Campaign #1: Wish Your Reps a Happy Tu Bishvat
  
• Basics of Advocacy for Jewish Environmentalists: A Citizen Training Webinar
  

Campaign #1: Wish Your Reps a Happy Tu Bishvat!

We are beginning the Year of Engagement with a simple but effective way to begin a conversation about environmental advocacy with your family, community, and elected officials.

For our first Year of Engagement campaign this year, we encourage you to send a simple letter to your representative to wish them a Happy Tu Bishvat and explain why our nation needs sustainable climate and energy policies.

On Tu Bishvat, many Jewish communities get together for seders and to learn about Jewish environmentalism. If your community has a shared event, invite them to join along with you in your letter.

To help you turn your Tu Bishvat into a policy engagement opportunity, we’ve created:

•Activity instructions (PDF),

•A template letter for your elected representatives (editable .doc file),

•An example letter to show you what it will look like (PDF), and

•some talking points to help you engage your community (PDF).

Each of these materials can be previewed below if you are logged into google. Or simply click the links to download the files.

We hope you’ll take this opportunity to begin to share your views with your elected representatives and your community. Let us know after you take this action!

Basics of Advocacy for Jewish Environmentalists: A Citizen Training Webinar

To build a more sustainable society, we need more than just individual action: we also need sustainable policies at the local, state and national level. Many Jewish environmentalists want to get involved with advocacy, but aren’t sure exactly where to start. The advocacy world can feel like a confusing maze. When should I call my representative? What kind of letter will make the most difference? How do you schedule a meeting?

Join COEJL, Canfei Nesharim and Jewcology for “Basics of Advocacy for Jewish Environmentalists,” an opportunity to learn about the basic tools of advocacy and how you can make a difference. We explored the challenges and opportunities of advocacy, tools to help you, and practice some specific skills to help you get started.

Recent webinars:

• Monday, March 31 at 8:00-9:30 pm. 
• Tuesday, January 28 from 12:30-2:00 pm. View the webinar here!

Want to hear about future opportunities? Let us know.

This training requires your active participation, so please plan to have computer, internet and telephone available and to be present for the full 90 minutes. Space is limited. This webinar is free, thanks to the generous support of our Year of Engagement sponsors.

Jewcology is partnering with the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life in 2014 for a Year of Jewish Policy Engagement on the Environment. This coming year, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Get to know your elected representatives
• Engage your community to advocate for meaningful environmental change
• Learn about key opportunities to make a difference
• Act at the critical moment

Watch the video to learn more about our partnership!

Why are COEJL and Canfei Nesharim partnering in the Year of Engagement?

COEJL brings advocacy experience, skills and connections empowering Jewish individuals and organizations to take meaningful political action on energy and the environment. Canfei Nesharim brings experience with community organizing and a broad base of Jewish environmental activists across the Jewish and political spectrum.

Together, we will organize Jewish campaigns throughout the year to help you learn about opportunities to make a difference on key environmental issues at the national and state level, to get to know your elected representatives, and to engage your community.

At the end of this Year of Engagement, participating individuals, communities and organizations will have:

• A stronger understanding of the legislative and regulatory processes
• Relationships with their elected officials and community leaders
• Engaged in environmental action campaigns with a meaningful impact
• Learned to use tools and learning materials to help their communities understand the Jewish values that teach us to protect the environment.

How can Jewish environmental advocacy make a difference?

Jews have a long history of championing support for Israel and social justice causes, including successful mobilizations on civil rights, Russian Jewry, Darfur, and other issues. For the last twenty years, the Jewish community has been learning and changing our behaviors to protect our environment. To address one of today’s most important global challenges, it is now time for the Jewish community to unite in support of sustainable policies that reflect our Jewish interests and values, to make a meaningful impact at the state and national levels and beyond.

We want to know how Jewcology is making a difference to you — and what we can do to make it even better.

Please help by filling out
********Jewcology's Fall 2013 User Survey********

This survey was developed by a team of Jewcology leaders who are working to improve the site in the coming year.

We see this survey as the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewcology community. We'd love to continue the conversation with you! If you'd like to be part of the conversation, please enter your contact information when you fill out the form.

Thanks!

Jewcology is sharing this idea because we know there are some Jewish environmental leaders out there who could use $1000 to make a big difference.

Here are some details:

• The proposals are accepted on a rolling basis, but the final deadline is December 6. Eligibility guidelines here.
• If the idea meets the Terms and Restrictions, it will be featured on the #MakeItHappen website and be eligible to receive one of the micro grants.
• Between October and December 2013, up to 50 ideas will be selected to receive a micro grant of up to $1,000. Five ideas could receive up to $5,000.

What are you waiting for? Submit your idea here by filling out a short form describing what you'd like to do.

Join the conversation by sharing #MakeItHappen with your friends, fans and followers on Facebook, Twitter, etc. You can also browse ideas that have already been chosen and offer to get involved with them. See selected projects here.

Go straight to the site and get your microgrant today!

Please share widely.

Cadette Girl Scout Troop 4056 is pleased to present, as its silver award project, this cookbook of recipes that not only use leftover or excess food as ingredients but also conform to Jewish dietary laws, or kashrut. In preparation for this project, the troop earned the New Cuisines badge and experimented with cooking foods from different times, places and cultures. The troop also volunteered in the kitchen at Martha’s Table, a Washington, D.C. organization that prepares over 1,000 meals per day for needy residents of the city. The Troop learned about the Biblical commandment not to waste food, and brainstormed ways of using food that might otherwise go to waste. Members of the troop collected recipes from their families. They tested recipes, typed and edited copy and provided photographs of completed recipes.

This cookbook contains recipes that use three different categories of “leftovers.” The first category includes traditional leftovers–dishes prepared for one meal that are then repurposed into a second meal. For example, if roasted chicken and rice are served on Monday, any leftover chicken can become a chicken pot pie or chicken jambalaya later in the week and the leftover rice can be reused in kugel or as fried rice. Other common leftovers in this category are leftover cooked vegetables and leftover cooked pasta. The second category includes leftovers that are not previously cooked but that might be tossed out as garbage, such as potato and carrot peels, chicken wings and necks (which come with the whole cut up chicken but which my family doesn’t eat), or a pumpkin that has been used for a Fall display. The third category includes foods that were purchased in bulk and are in the refrigerator or pantry but will spoil or go stale if not used. These foods include milk, eggs, bread, cereal, bananas and apples, and for any family with a backyard vegetable garden, tomatoes and zucchini, in season.

Troop 4056 developed this project as a part of the 2013 Year of Jewish Action on the Environment, developed by the Jewish-environmental organization Canfei Nesharim and its Jewcology program. The year-long program focuses on actions to save energy and reduce food waste, practical actions called for by the Jewish mitzvah of bal tashchit. Jewcology.com is a social media portal where Jews who care about the environment can connect and share resources. As part of the Year of Action, Jewcology members can take action and check a box to see their personal impact, and can also see the shared impact of the entire Jewcology community. You can see the full program at www.jewcology.com/action.

This cookbook is the featured online tool for the Year of Action’s “Food Waste Action #8: Make Leftovers” and, as such, will be distributed to Jewish communities worldwide. Troop 4056 wishes to thank Evonne Marzouk and Canfei Nesharim for helping develop the project and for distributing the cookbook.

Laura Warshawsky

Advisor, Troop 4056

Silver Spring, MD

September 2013

Thanks so much to everyone who contributed. Your generosity made a big difference! Stay tuned for more details as we continue our Year of Action and move toward the Year of Engagement in the coming months.

This campaign is complete, but we're still accepting donations to support the Year of Engagement! You can give here.

Thank you so much for your support!

MAKE AN ELUL DONATION TO SUPPORT JEWCOLOGY NOW!

With your support, in 2014 Jewcology and COEJL will partner on a "Year of Jewish Policy Engagement on the Environment," which will provide tools to help Jewish environmental activists and local leaders become more involved in environmental action at the policy level. COEJL will provide advocacy guidance and connection with mainstream Jewish institutions. Jewcology will provide our active audience of grassroots Jewish environmental activists.

It's a match! All donations in this campaign will be matched by a grant from the ROI Community, up to $5000. Now is the perfect time to support our work!

You can follow the success of the campaign, and share this exciting opportunity with your family and friends, at http://igg.me/at/engagement

Watch this short video to learn more from the Jewcologist and COEJL-er:

Continuing with the Year of Action, we're now pleased to share the fourth action to reduce food waste! You can also see this action in the full list here.

Food Waste Action #4: Put on My Plate ONLY What I will Eat.

Eyes bigger than your stomach? Once that food is on your plate, it’s either going in your mouth or in the trash. Prevent food waste with these tips:

1. Find out what is available first.

2. Start with small samples, especially if there are choices you've never tried before.

3. Take less than you think you're going to eat. You can always go back to get more.

4. Teach your children to try a small portion first. Encourage them to finish what they have before taking more food.

(Credit: Sarah Rebecca Bedder)

Online Tool: Here’s an interesting campus activity to try.

Report your action as part of the Year of Action! Your savings will be added to the combined total savings for our community this year. Note: You must be logged into Jewcology to report your actions.

The Year of Action is a project of Jewcology, in partnership with Canfei Nesharim and in coordination with the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL), along with many other Jewish environmental organizations and initiatives, and with the support of the ROI Community.

As a Jewcology community, we feel that the more Jewish environmental leaders who apply to this event, the more likelihood that the conversation will include challenges of sustainability. We encourage you to apply for this event. The deadline to apply is this coming Monday, July 15.

To apply, visit http://2030.nathancummings.net/

Here are the details from The Nathan Cummings Foundation:

In a time of significant national and global transitions, religious communities, faith leaders and those on a spiritual journey will play a central role in determining the future of our country, with global implications. We believe when individuals and communities articulate and embody their personal religious and spiritual values in the public arena this country is best able to fulfill its promise as a refuge for the outcast, provider of opportunities and mobility for all, and fulfill the promise of a robust democracy where power is held in the hands of the many.

Challenge we are seeking to address: In a rapidly changing world, where faith is as often a force for inspiration as well as polarization, how might we as people of faith, support individuals and communities connected to their religious and spiritual identities, to amplify their voice, vision and public leadership?

Is this a challenge that resonates with you or keeps you up at night? Would you invest four days of your life to wrestle with this challenge with a diverse group of leaders?

If yes, we invite you to complete an application to join us for the 2030 Challenge gathering application due on by Monday, July 15, 2013. If selected, travel, food and lodging will be covered by the Nathan Cummings Foundation. Below you will find the articulation of the broader context in which we are locating this challenge, our belief in the importance of a strong religious and spiritual voice in the public arena, information about outcomes, methodology, profiles of potential participants, and a Frequently Asked Questions section.

Please review the required preparation and questions and please submit the completed application online by 11:59pm EST on Monday, July 15, 2013. Please send questions to 2030challenge@nathancummings.org.

Timeline

Monday, July 15: Application deadline

Thursday, August 8: Selections announced

September 2013: Prep work (3-4 hours total)

October 7-10: Gathering in Garrison, NY

Action:Replace 3 incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR certified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

Annual Impact (per person taking this action):238 lbs CO2e

Description:

Trade in your old light bulb for a spiral! You’ll save energy, save money, and reduce carbon emissions. If every American home replaced just one light bulb with a light bulb that's earned the ENERGY STAR, we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for a year, save about $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to those from about 800,000 cars.

Online Tool:

Wondering which bulb to purchase? Check out this great Bulb Purchasing Guide from Energy Star

Take this action now on Jewcology! Simply go to your My Savings page to report your action at http://www.jewcology.com/mysavings. You’ll need to join Jewcology to get access to this page. Not yet a member of Jewcology? Explore all the actions at http://www.jewcology.com/content/view/yoa-campaign.

Take this action now and see the results of the entire community!

At 12 Noon on Sunday, February 17, thousands of Americans will head to Washington, D.C. to make Forward on Climate the largest climate rally in history. Join this historic event to make your voice heard and help the president start his second term with strong climate action.

Many Jewish environmental organizations are promoting or participating in the event. For example:

The Shalom Center urges Jews who want to gather as Jews, as well as members of other religious communities, to come to a place where Sojourners (progressive Christian magazine), Interfaith Power & Light, and IMAC (Interfaith Moral Action on Climate) are gathering. People are urged to bring banners or placards and/or wear T-shirts announcing who they are (organizations or specific congregations).

WHERE AND WHEN: The multifaith group will gather from 11:30-12:30 outside the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden on the National Mall (between 7th and 9th Streets SW) – on on the north/Mall side on the gravel pathway. The closest Metro station is L’Enfant Plaza (green, yellow, orange, or blue lines). Look for Tim Kumfer, of the Festival Center, and Rose Berger, of Sojourners, who will be carrying a large “dove” to help you find them in the crowd.

Sign up and see IMAC info by going to:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/423/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=76974. More details here: https://theshalomcenter.org/heal-climate-huge-rally-dc-sunday-feb-17

In addition, the Pearlstone Center has provided a venue to coordinate transportation to the rally following their 5th Annual Beit Midrash (which takes place from February 15-17 in Baltimore). The Teva Learning Alliance will be coordinating a group from the Beit Midrash and intends to have a presence at the rally.

From the DC area, the Buber Youth Network and members of the Am Kolel congregation and its affiliates, led by Rabbi David Shneyer, will be taking part, bearing shofrot.

The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL), the Green Zionist Alliance (GZA), Hazon, the Jewish Farm School, Jewcology, NeoHasid and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism are participating by promoting this rally to our audiences.

We hope to see a nice contingent from the Jewish community at the rally!

“The need to address our dependence on fossil fuels and increase our energy security has become central to our time. Although international commitments and legislation in Washington are critical in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy independence, our challenge is not to passively wait for policymakers to finally make their next moves. We need to bring our communal, institutional and personal strengths to bear now.”

- Sybil Sanchez, Director of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life

Below is the full list of Energy Saving Actions released so far in Jewcology’s Year of Action. Looking for Food Waste Actions? Visit the Actions to Reduce Food Waste page.

Energy Saving Actions

1. Assess Energy Use in my Home

Knowledge is power. The first step in any large undertaking is to find out where you are now!

Set aside an hour to walk around your home and make note of areas where energy may be wasted. Look for drafts, leaks, old appliances and light bulbs, and things plugged in that are not being used.

Online tool: For more ideas, see this “Do It Yourself Home Energy Audit.”

By taking this action you will save “1 shtickel of energy wisdom,” by which we mean, you are well on your Jewish way to saving energy! Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

2. Replace 3 Incandescent Light Bulbs with ENERGY STAR certified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

Trade in your old light bulb for a spiral! You’ll save energy, save money, and reduce carbon emissions.

How do CFLs work? CFLs produce light differently than incandescent bulbs. In an incandescent, electric current runs through a wire filament and heats the filament until it starts to glow. In a CFL, an electric current is driven through a tube containing argon and a small amount of mercury vapor. This generates invisible ultraviolet light that excites a fluorescent coating (called phosphor) on the inside of the tube, which then emits visible light. CFLs need a little more energy when they are first turned on, but once the electricity starts moving, use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs.

Older CFLs used large and heavy magnetic ballasts that caused a buzzing noise in some bulbs. Most CFLs today — and all ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs — use electronic ballasts, which do not buzz or hum.

If every American home replaced just one light bulb with a light bulb that’s earned the ENERGY STAR, we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for a year, save about $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to those from about 800,000 cars.

Online tool: Wondering which bulb to purchase? Download this great Bulb Purchasing Guide from Energy Star.

By taking this action you can save approximately 238 lbs CO2 in a year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

Please note:

CFLs are hazardous waste. When your CFL burns out, EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local options for recycling CFLs, fluorescent bulbs and other bulbs that contain mercury, and all other household hazardous wastes, rather than disposing of them in regular household trash. Learn more: http://www2.epa.gov/cfl/recycling-and-disposal-after-cfl-burns-out

CFLs and other fluorescent light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. If a fluorescent bulb breaks in your home, some of this mercury is released as mercury vapor. To minimize exposure to mercury vapor, EPA recommends that residents follow the cleanup and disposal steps described on this page: http://www2.epa.gov/cfl/cleaning-broken-cfl-detailed-instructions

3. Tighten Your Home

Is your precious energy slipping through the cracks? According to EPA estimates, homeowners can typically save up to 20% of heating and cooling costs (or up to 10% of total energy costs) by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces, and accessible basement rim joists.

Online tool: Want to learn more about the process of insulation? This handy website provides good information and tips.

By taking this action you can save approximately 1038 kWh in a year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

4. Make Friends with the Trees

Let the trees do the work! Landscaping can be a natural and beautiful way to cool your home in summer and reduce your energy bills. Trees and shrubs can provide shade, break the wind, and reduce your energy bills. A well-placed tree can save up to 25% of the energy used in a typical household! And daytime air temperatures in the summer can be 3°–6° cooler in tree-shaded neighborhoods than treeless areas.

Online tool: Learn more about landscaping! This handy website provides good information and tips.

By taking this action you can save approximately 2820 kWh in a year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

5. Just How Much Difference Do 2 Degrees Make?

During the heat of summer, it can be tempting to set the thermostat to “arctic freeze.” But there is a cost to constantly running the energy-intensive air conditioner, and by keeping the temperature slightly higher, you can reduce your electricity consumption and lower your energy bill. Try raising the temperature setting on your AC by 2 degrees this summer.

Need extra cooling? Instead of lowering the temperature setting, use a fan to circulate air, a more efficient choice.

Online tool: EPA’s “Reducing Energy Use” page is full of ways to cut energy expense, encompassing both heating and cooling.

By taking this action you can save approximately 115 kWh in a year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

6. How You Get There Matters!

Carpooling and taking public transportation reduces the need for more cars on the road. By catching a ride on the bus, or sharing a ride to work or school, you can really reduce your carbon footprint!

• Option A: Carpool to school or work with one other person.
• Option B: Take the bus or other public transportation to work or school.

Online tool: Learn more about carpooling and taking public transportation! Designed for students, this handy EPA website provides good information and tips for everyone.

By taking this action you can save approximately 315 kWh (carpool) or 632 kWh (public transport) in a year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

7. Use Efficient Appliances

Action: Replace my dishwasher with an ENERGY STAR model

Saving more than just the time you would spend washing dishes by hand, ENERGY STAR rated dishwashers are 20% more water efficient and 10% more energy efficient than standard models. They use sensors to determine how much food is on dishes and adjust the washing to increase water efficiency.

To increase the water saving, here are some “best practices” suggested by ENERGY STAR’s website:

• Scrape food off dishes rather than rinsing before putting dishes in the dishwasher.
• Load the dishwasher as full as possible for each load.
• Select the washer’s no-heat drying action.

In addition, there are federal tax credits available for many ENERGY STAR rated products. Learn more here.

NOTE: While this action focuses on dishwashers, of course it also makes a difference to buy all kinds of ENERGY STAR appliances. Learn more here.

Online Tool:

Learn more about energy efficient dishwashers! This handy website provides good information and tips.

By taking this action you can save approximately 34 kWh in a year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

8. Turn off the TV

Action: Replace 2 hours of watching TV per week with an energy-free activity.

By replacing 2 hours of watching TV per week with an electricity-free activity (like going for a walk or reading a book outside), you can reduce your energy consumption. You’ll also get an extra two hours in your week! Try a hike—through the woods or around your neighborhood, playing tennis or basketball at a nearby court, a trip to the library, or other items on your to-do list. You are saving energy and improving your quality of life—enjoy!

Online Tool:

Writer and activist Michael Bluejay’s online electricity saving guide provides a TV energy use calculator, as well as a guide to TV energy use:

By taking this action you can save approximately 15 kWh in a year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

9. Unplug Energy Vampires

Action: Unplug DVD player while not in use.

Think about how often your DVD player is technically on, but not playing a movie. All that time, it is using energy, just like many other appliances do in sleep mode. Your DVD player belongs to a class of appliances that draw “standby power” even when they are supposedly not in use.

A surprisingly large number of electrical products — TVs to microwave ovens to air conditioners — cannot be switched off completely without being unplugged. A great place to start is keeping your DVD player unplugged while you are asleep or at work. There’s no need for your DVD player to draw energy when you know you won’t be using it!

Online Tool:

Want to learn more about the energy vampires in your home? Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s website provides a brief guide to measuring your home’s standby power use.

PRO TIP:

There are devices that will automatically turn off your DVD, VCR, Xbox, Wii, etc when the TV turns off. They look like a regular power strip but have energy efficiency technology. Here is the brand that I install in my customer’s homes during energy efficiency consultations. Check out this video.

Submitted by our friend Reuven Walder of EcoBeco

By taking this action you can save approximately 45 kWh in a year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

10. Cold Water Wash

Action: Wash your clothes in cold water instead of hot.

Washing machines typically have several water temperature settings for the wash/rinse cycles. Many people have different opinions about which clothes to wash on which settings, however, all but the dirtiest clothing can be effectively washed on cold. Switching to cold water can save the average household $30-$40 annually, depending on whether the home’s water heat is electric- or gas-powered.

Skeptical about whether cold water will get clothes clean? Try doing all laundry on cold for a week, and see if clothes are washed to satisfaction. Since cold water is gentler than warm or hot water, there’s nothing to lose. Give it a try!

Online Tool:

Looking for more tips for how to save energy while doing your laundry? Check out this handy resource from Earth911.

By taking this action you can save approximately 355 kWh in a year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

11. Eat Less Meat

Action: Replace one six-ounce portion of beef with a plant-based meal each week.

While red meat is widely known as a cholesterol and high blood pressure culprit, it also has an effect on the health of our planet. The production of meat is much more costly in terms of energy than the production of plant foods.

Replacing one serving of beef with a plant-based food significantly cuts associated greenhouse gas emissions, due to the combination of the reduction in required input energy from fossil fuels to grow plants vs. livestock and the fact that cattle, unlike vegetables, produce methane gas as a consequence of enteric fermentation, a greenhouse gas over 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Eating lower on the food chain means lower energy costs for food production. Beans or nuts make protein- rich alternatives to meat, as do quinoa, tempeh, and many kinds of vegetables, such as kale, broccoli or spinach.

*Thanks to the Jewish Vegetarians of North America for helping us think through this action.

Online Tool:

For cooking ideas, check out Meatless Mondays’ recipes page, available free online. Meatless Mondays is an organization focused on helping people reduce their meat consumption by replacing meat meals with vegetarian meals one day per week.

By taking this action you can save approximately 423 kWh in a year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

12. Save Energy on Heating and Cooling

Action: Save energy by turning back the thermostat by 8 degrees when you are away from home or at work.

You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for eight hours a day from its normal setting. You can do this automatically by using a programmable thermostat and scheduling the times you turn on the heating or air conditioning. As a result, the equipment doesn’t operate as much when you are asleep or not at home. Just like turning off the lights before leaving the house, turning the air conditioning or heating down when you’re on your way out will save you energy and lower your bills.

Important note: If you have a heat pump, don’t do this without a programmable thermostat.

Online Tool:

Check out this more detailed guide to thermostat operation and energy savings as well as a tool from Energystar.gov for planning temperature settings throughout the week.

By taking this action you can save approximately 415 kWh in a year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

Most people recognize that they waste some of their food, but haven’t put effort into reducing it. The goal of the Year of Action’s Food Waste Actions is to raise awareness about this topic, and empower you with practical ways to reduce food waste in your home and community.

Below is the full list of Reduce Food Waste Actions released so far in Jewcology’s Year of Action. Looking for Saving Energy Actions? Visit the Actions to Save Energy page.

Reduce Food Waste Actions

1. Track My Food Waste for a Week

Learn more about the food you are throwing away in your home; the types of foods you are throwing away, when you’re throwing it away, and why.

Online tool! You can use this great food waste diary as a tool, and make notes to record what you’ve learned! Download the Food Waste Diary.

By taking this action you will save “1 shtickel of food waste wisdom,” by which we mean, you are well on your Jewish way to reducing food waste! Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

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2. Save the Perishables!

You can save money and reduce food waste by simply opening the door of your refrigerator and checking the expiration dates! How often do you find that the ‘use by’ date on a package has passed, and you end up throwing it away? Get in the habit of checking the perishable items in your fridge to eat them on time. Move them into the freezer if you don’t think you’ll have time to eat them.

Learn more about “Use By” dates. This handy website provides good information and tips.

By taking this action you will save approximately 11,614 Food Calories during the course of the year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

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3. Plan Ahead!

Save money and reduce food waste by planning meals ahead of time! Before you go to the store, use a meal planner and create a customized shopping list to figure out what you need. With a little forward planning, you can use what you have and buy what you need, reducing the amount of food you throw away.

Tools to help you: Check out this great meal planner and blank shopping list from our friends at Love Food, Hate Waste.

By taking this action you will save approximately 11,614 Food Calories during the course of the year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

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4. Eyes Bigger than Your Stomach?

Eyes bigger than your stomach? Once that food is on your plate, it’s either going in your mouth or in the trash. Prevent food waste with these tips:

1. Find out what is available first.

2. Start with small samples, especially if there are choices you’ve never tried before.

3. Take less than you think you’re going to eat. You can always go back to get more.

4. Teach your children to try a small portion first. Encourage them to finish what they have before taking more food.

(Credit: Sarah Rebecca Bedder)

Tools to help you: Here’s an interesting campus activity to try.

By taking this action you will save approximately 11,614 Food Calories during the course of the year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

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5. Plan a Picnic!

Appreciate food and nature at the same time — go for a picnic. Take the nice weather as an opportunity to clean out your fridge and enjoy an outdoor lunch with friends or family. But don’t bother with a special shopping trip to buy food for the outing, instead, use food that you already have. A picnic is a good opportunity to use up food odds and ends, and it’s OK if everyone eats something different.

When you go out, remember that there’s no need to give in to the custom of bringing disposable plastic utensils and plates to a picnic. Treat yourself to real metal utensils and reusable flatware — this is a waste-free picnic after all!

Tools to help you:

• For a picnic or any other away from home meal-making, try out some ideas from EPA’s Waste-Free Lunch Poster.
• And here are some picnic recipe ideas from LoveFoodHateWaste’s Money-Saving Blog.

By taking this action you will save approximately 11,614 Food Calories during the course of the year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

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6. So Much Bread

How do you use bread? Toast at breakfast, sandwiches for lunches? Now consider how your bread-buying habits align with this consumption. Are you using all the bread that you buy?

By moving that loaf of bread—the one that’s been sitting on the counter or in the back of the fridge—to the freezer, you ensure that there will be slices available for quick meals during the week.

Or pack the bread in a vacuum sealed bag, store-bought or homemade, removing air and allowing bread to keep for longer.

One specific example of bread food waste can occur as a side effect of how we use challahs for our Shabbat meals. We’re used to big, braided challahs for most of the year, and big, round challahs for the high holidays. Do the members of your family devour it the moment it’s cut, or does a large quantity end up in the fridge or freezer, forgotten?

If so, consider alternatives to the big loaf of challah, such as rolls, to keep bread supply in line with consumption.

Tools to help you:

• Despite our best efforts to the contrary, we all end up with stale bread taking up space in our kitchen from time to time. Before chucking the loaf, check out this list of further recipes using “aged” bread.

By taking this action you will save approximately 11,614 Food Calories during the course of the year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

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7. Stock Up on Ingredients

Keep your cupboard full of nonperishables so you can be ready when it comes time to reuse those leftovers.

Having essentials such as flour and baking products, canned beans and tomatoes, and everyday spices on hand allows you to incorporate perishables into meals, without having to make an extra grocery store trip. Those baked potatoes from two days ago (which are getting sort of dry) could easily become hash-browns, home-fries, or potato salad with the right ingredients on hand.

Have fun with this! There are unlimited ways to reincorporate leftovers into tonight’s meal, and they all start with having a few ingredients on hand.

Tools to help you:

• “The kitchen cupboard is the nerve centre of your kitchen – keep it well stocked and you will save time dashing to the shops for that single ingredient and will always have a delicious meal at hand even when the fridge is looking bare.” LoveFoodHateWaste’s webpage lists a collection of potential cabinet-fillers for inspiration and to help get you started.

By taking this action you will save approximately 11,614 Food Calories during the course of the year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

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8. When Life Gives You Leftovers, Make a New Meal!

The leftovers from last week’s meal may look a lot less appetizing than the food you bought yesterday. But if they stay in the back of the fridge, they’re going to end up in the trash!

Going the extra mile to reuse leftovers can really make a difference in your home waste stream—you’ll start to notice that the garbage needs to go out less and less often. And you can redeem your leftovers by making delicious new dishes. Take advantage of this chance to hone your cooking skills and reduce food waste!

When life gives you leftovers, make a new meal.

Tools to help you:

• New! With this action, we are also proud to present the launch of a new resource: When Life Gives You Leftovers, Make a New Meal – a cookbook of leftover recipes developed for the Year of Action by the Jewish Cadette Girl Scout Troop 4056 in Maryland. Check it out and make your own delicious leftovers!

By taking this action you will save approximately 11,614 Food Calories during the course of the year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

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9. Keep Food Fresh Longer

The way you store your fruits, vegetables and other perishables can increase or decrease their shelf life. To keep perishables fresh as long as possible, consider these storage suggestions:

1. Separate fruits and veggies. Ethylene gas produced by ripening fruits and vegetables accelerates ripening in nearby fruits and vegetables. In particular for leafy vegetables, this can quickly cause spoilage.

2. Keep bananas and pineapples at room temperature or below, but do not refrigerate. Onions and potatoes are also best stored in a cool, dark place.

3. Wrapping celery tightly in aluminum foil and refrigerating will keep stalks crisper for longer. The foil can then be reused for the next batch of celery.

4. Bread should be stored in a dry place to prevent mold. It does better in the freezer than the refrigerator, where it goes stale more quickly, and fresh bread keeps best in a cool, dark place. Another effective way to keep bread fresh longer is to use vacuum-sealed plastic storage bags.

Tools to help you:

• Check out this online guide listing proper storage techniques for more than 30 kinds of fruits and vegetables.

By taking this action you will save approximately 11,614 Food Calories during the course of the year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

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10. Plan Ahead to Use Your Bread

Every year, there seems to be a mad dash after Purim to get rid of our leavened bread (chametz) products before Passover. Why? Many of us keep stockpiles of pasta, crackers, and other staples in our pantries and loaves of bread in our refrigerators throughout the year without a second thought. Then the Jewish month of Nissan comes. We are commanded to get rid of our leavened bread, and yet we must also attend to the commandment bal tashchit, don’t destroy, which specifically applies to wasting edible food. Donating nonperishable chametz to food drives is a good way to go. But what do you do with all that extra bread? I know you can’t eat ten sandwiches daily until the Holiday of Matzah commences.

Here are some ways to get new life out of old bread:

1. Don’t buy it in the first place — as long as new bread purchases do not exceed your household demand for bread, there is no reason that it should accumulate into a pre-Pesach problem.

2. Make crumbs — stale bread and especially bread that’s been toasted, makes good fodder for bread crumbs or croutons — and they ought to keep much longer than a loaf.

3. Or try this more unconventional use — a slice of bread placed in the pot after cooking can remove the burnt taste of overcooked rice; in addition, it will remove excess water.

4. Be creative! Take advantage of the months before Passover to try out new chametz recipes, for example, one of these Pre-Pesach bread recipes, or whatever you can whip together with the flour, pasta, cereal, etc. you’ve got to use up.

Tools to help you:

• If eating ten sandwiches daily doesn’t sound so bad, here are some diverse vegetarian sandwich recipes to keep things interesting.

By taking this action you will save approximately 11,614 Food Calories during the course of the year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

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11. Rescue Aging Fruits

Don’t let fear of fruit going bad stop you from picking up produce on your next visit to the grocery store. Though untreated fruit will go from unripe to ripe to overripe within a week (or less), there are methods to preserve fruits beyond their typical counter-life. When your fruit is just overripe enough so that no one in the house wants to eat it, try one of these tasty techniques to extend the life of your fruit:

1.Smoothies – Although smoothie recipes abound, the only ingredient you really need is a blender. Whatever fruit you have on hand can just be tossed in. Feeling worried it won’t come out tasting right? Try this template recipe for a fruit-vegetable smoothie. Try different combinations and discover what you like best!

2.Fruit leather and dried fruit – These can be made in the oven, but are best made in a dehydrator, which is more energy efficient, or even outside in the sun in a warm, dry climate. Place either pureed or thinly sliced fruit into a pan, and bake it on low heat for many hours until it is dry and chewy. Fruit leathers are a good use of overripe or bruised fruit, and can keep up to a month at room temperature (longer in the fridge or freezer). Here is a guide to dehydrating fruit from the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

3.Jams, jellies, and preserves – Often incorporating a special ingredient called pectin, jams, jellies, and preserves can last more than a year. Mastering homemade jam-making can seem daunting, but you can get started with something simple such as the raspberry jam recipe listed at the end of this Guardian food-section article. More information on making jams and jellies and numerous recipes can be found here.

Tools to help you:

• Check out the University of Georgia Co-op Extension Service’s “Preserving Food: Drying Fruits and Vegetables” guide to DIY dehydration.

By taking this action you will save approximately 11,614 Food Calories during the course of the year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

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12. Cook in Bulk

Making a casserole or a kugel? Use the extra ingredients to make two instead of one, and put the second in the freezer for later. Baking more than one will help you avoid wasting that large supply you bought at Sam’s Club or Costco, and will help with meal planning next time.

The potential benefits of cooking in large batches include the time you save yourself from having to spend cooking later in the week, the energy cost of heating up the stove or oven, the cost of ingredients, which are often cheaper sold in bulk, and knowing that there’s always something in the house to eat. And while, you’re at it, with all that food tucked away in the refrigerator, what better time to invite guests over for a meal?

Tools to help you:

• “Double Your Dinner for a Food Waste Winner!” Great tips from the Love Food, Hate Waste Campaign

By taking this action you will save approximately 11,614 Food Calories during the course of the year. Learn more about our assumptions in the Year of Action.

Just in time for Tu b’Shevat, the new Canfei Nesharim/Jewcology Year of Action will provide tools and resources to empower the Jewish community to take action on energy conservation and reduce food waste.

We’re thrilled to announce that this program will be implemented in partnership with the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL)! Check out our joint press release, “New Jewish Energy for Tu b’Shevat“!

The program includes action tips and a calculator on Jewcology, a web-based social media portal for the entire Jewish environmental community, where participants can report their actions and see their results – as well as the results of the entire Jewish community.

The program will continue through Tu B’Shvat 2014. New actions will be posted throughout the year.

Featured Action #1: ASSESS YOUR HOME FOR ENERGY WASTE

Knowledge is power. The first step in any large undertaking is to find out where you are now!

Set aside an hour to walk around your home and make note of areas where energy may be wasted. Look for drafts, leaks, old appliances and light bulbs, and things plugged in that are not being used.

For more ideas, see http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/do-it-yourself-home-energy-audits.

Take this action now and see the results of the entire community!

Featured Article: Director’s Introduction

(from COEJL’s JEWISH ENERGY GUIDE)

While we cannot remove ourselves from the necessity of using energy, we have a moral obligation to work toward protecting our environment. There must be a sustainable alternative to how we live now.

The need to address our dependence on fossil fuels and increase our energy security has become central to our time. Although international commitments and legislation in Washington are critical in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy independence, our challenge is not to passively wait for policymakers to finally make their next moves. We need to bring our communal, institutional and personal strengths to bear now. That is why Jewish Energy Covenant Campaign leaders are committing to speak out as a public Jewish voice on energy and the environment.

Read the full article on COEJL’s website!

Greenly,

The Jewcology and Canfei Nesharim Teams

P.S. Looking for great resources to share with your community for Tu b’Shevat? Canfei Nesharim has a wealth of materials for you to use! And check out these great resources on Jewcology!

We live in an amazingly diverse world, with approximately 8.3 million unique species described by scientists, and likely twice that number that have not yet been discovered. Jewish sources teach that G-d has joy in the diversity and continuity of creation, and that G-d sees a purpose in each of these species. This biodiversity is an expression of G-d’s glory, a testament to the extraordinary creativity of our Creator.

Our tradition has a tremendous sense of appreciation for the diverse and numerous species on this earth. In addition, we benefit from and can learn a great deal from other species. As human beings, masters and stewards of the world, it is our responsibility to support the continuity of this diverse and extraordinary creation. Recognizing this should impel us to utilize the natural world with great care and responsibility.

See all The Glory in Creation: Valuing Biodiversity Materials!

Share Year of Jewish Learning Materials with your community. Contact us about becoming a sponsor!

We live in an amazingly diverse world, with approximately 8.3 million unique species described by scientists, and likely twice that number that have not yet been discovered. Jewish sources teach that G-d has joy in the diversity and continuity of creation, and that G-d sees a purpose in each of these species. This biodiversity is an expression of G-d’s glory, a testament to the extraordinary creativity of our Creator.

Our tradition has a tremendous sense of appreciation for the diverse and numerous species on this earth. In addition, we benefit from and can learn a great deal from other species. As human beings, masters and stewards of the world, it is our responsibility to support the continuity of this diverse and extraordinary creation. Recognizing this should impel us to utilize the natural world with great care and responsibility.

The Glory in Creation: Valuing Biodiversity

• Summary Article

• Longer Article

• Source Sheet
  

• Audio Podcast
  

• Video
  

These materials are posted as part of Jewcology’s Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment, in partnership with Canfei Nesharim. Jewcology thanks the Shedlin Outreach Foundation and the ROI community for their generous support, which made the Jewcology project possible.

Learn more about the Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment!

This program concluded in January 2014. You can learn more about our shared actions below!

The Year of Action was a project of Jewcology, in partnership with Canfei Nesharim and in coordination with the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL), along with many other Jewish environmental organizations and initiatives, and with the support of the ROI Community.  The actions of this project were suggested, researched and drafted by the following members of the Canfei Nesharim and Jewcology teams:  Sarah Bedder, Ruchama Cohen, Jacob Schaperow, Dr. David Goldblatt, Josh Keyak, and Dr. Daniel Weber.  Thanks to the team!

Here are the actions we took:

Actions to Save Energy [view all] 

The seventeenth topic in the Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment, Guard Yourselves Very Well!

The Jewish tradition places a strong value on being healthy. The Torah states, “Guard yourself and guard your soul very much" and “You shall guard yourselves very well." The Jewish Sages explain that these verses refer to the mitzvah (commandment) of protecting one’s physical body and health.

There are very many applications of this mitzvah to guard our health. Jewish law employs a term– Ba’al Nefesh Yachmir, or “A master of the spirit will be stringent”– when a sage senses a cause for concern but does not find it appropriate to forbid something to the public. One relevant item for all of us and our families is the reduction of exposure to chemicals such as pesticides.

See all Guard Yourselves Very Well: Protecting Our Health Materials!

Share Year of Jewish Learning Materials with your community. Contact us about becoming a sponsor!

The Jewish tradition places a strong value on being healthy. The Torah states, “Guard yourself and guard your soul very much" and “You shall guard yourselves very well." The Jewish Sages explain that these verses refer to the mitzvah (commandment) of protecting one’s physical body and health.

There are very many applications of this mitzvah to guard our health. Jewish law employs a term– Ba’al Nefesh Yachmir, or “A master of the spirit will be stringent”– when a sage senses a cause for concern but does not find it appropriate to forbid something to the public. One relevant item for all of us and our families is the reduction of exposure to chemicals such as pesticides.

Guard Yourselves Very Well: Protecting Our Health

• Summary Article

• Longer Article

• Source Sheet
  

• Audio Podcast
  

• Video
  

These materials are posted as part of Jewcology’s Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment, in partnership with Canfei Nesharim. Jewcology thanks the Shedlin Outreach Foundation and the ROI community for their generous support, which made the Jewcology project possible.

Learn more about the Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment!

The Jewish tradition places a strong value on being healthy. The Torah states, “Guard yourself and guard your soul very much" and “You shall guard yourselves very well." The Jewish Sages explain that these verses refer to the mitzvah (commandment) of protecting one’s physical body and health.

There are very many applications of this mitzvah to guard our health. Jewish law employs a term– Ba’al Nefesh Yachmir, or “A master of the spirit will be stringent”– when a sage senses a cause for concern but does not find it appropriate to forbid something to the public. One relevant item for all of us and our families is the reduction of exposure to chemicals such as pesticides.

These materials are posted as part of Jewcology’s Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment, in partnership with Canfei Nesharim. Jewcology thanks the Shedlin Outreach Foundation and the ROI community for their generous support, which made the Jewcology project possible.

See all Core Teaching #17: Guard Yourselves Very Well materials!

Learn more about the Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment!

Guard Yourselves Very Well

By Evonne Marzouk and Rabbi Yonatan Neril[1]

The Torah teaches us to choose life.[2] The decisions we make must enhance our ability (and the ability of others) to live in this world as healthy physical and spiritual beings. The Sages throughout the generations internalized this concept very deeply both in the way they lived their own lives and in the way they guided others to live. In this article, we will explore the Jewish value of protecting our health, and how these lessons can guide us in our complex world, particularly in relation to one health challenge: our modern use of pesticides.

The Jewish tradition places a strong value on being healthy.The Torah states, “Guard yourself and guard your soul very much"[3] and “You shall guard yourselves very well."[4] What does the Torah mean when we are commanded to “guard ourselves” and to “guard our souls”? The Sages explain that these verses refer to the mitzvah (commandment) of protecting one’s physical health.

G-d cares a great deal about how we treat our bodies. The body was given to us as a vessel whose primary function is to house the soul so that the soul can dwell in this world and fulfill its purpose. Maimonides(Spain, 1135-1204)explains this obligation as that one needs to distance oneself from things that might damage one’s body, and accustom oneself to a healthy lifestyle, because it is not possible to understand the ways of G-d when one is sick .[5] Elsewhere, he explains that there is a positive commandment to remove any potentially lethal hazard, and to be extremely careful to protect one’s health. (Mishna Torah, Hilchot Rotzeach 11:4)

According to the Sefer HaChinuch (Spain, 13^th century), it is our responsibility to guard against natural occurrences which may harm our bodies – not only things that can end a person’s life but also things that can damage a person’s body.[6]

This commandment is codified in the Shulchan Aruch,[7] the primary compilation of Jewish law (Rabbi Yosef Caro, Israel, 1488-1575). It states that we should avoid “any matter that threatens human life… to remove it and to guard against it and to be very careful about the matter.” The Shulchan Aruch cites another Torah verse, “do not place blood” (Deuteronomy 22:8), to enjoin us to remove any danger we might cause to ourselves or others. For example, the Shulchan Aruch includes “not placing one's mouth on a flowing pipe and drinking, not drinking at night from wells and ponds, lest one swallow a leech and not see it…” as examples of being careful to protect one’s health.[8] These lessons demonstrate the exceedingly high importance that Jewish tradition places on preserving our lives and protecting our health.

There are many applications of the commandment to “guard yourself and guard your soul.” One relevant item for all of us and our families is the reduction of exposure to chemicals such as pesticides.

Pesticides: Agricultural Necessity or Health Threat?

Jewish law employs a term– Ba’al Nefesh Yachmir, or “A master of the spirit will be stringent”– when a sage senses a cause for concern but does not find it appropriate to forbid something to the public. As one modern scholar notes, this category in Jewish law may be a fitting response in modern society to a specific potential danger: the danger posed by pesticides.[9]

After Adam eats from the forbidden fruit, G-d says to him, “Cursed be the ground for your sake; with toil shall you eat of it all the days of your life.”[10] On this Rashi comments: “It will bring up cursed things for you, such as flies, fleas, and ants.” The following verse states, “And it will cause thorns and thistles to grow for you.”

The Torah makes clear that the agricultural efforts of humans will be complicated by pests and weeds, which compete against the crops humans are trying to cultivate. For thousands of years, humans have been trying to battle this reality. In the past fifty years, synthetic pesticides have been used to kill or deter crop-destroying pests. These pesticides have provided tangible benefits to human society, as well as a number of significant impacts on human health.

By definition, pesticides are toxic. They are designed to kill, repel or inhibit the growth of living organisms.[11]Used against insects, mammals, plants, fungi, nematodes and other creatures, they are intended to reduce problems caused by these creatures in agriculture, public health, or homes, schools, buildings and communities.[12] Pesticides are also harmful to human health, causing an estimated one million to five million cases of pesticide poisonings every year, with 20,000 deaths among agricultural workers.[13]

Since the 1960s, the use of pesticides has grown exponentially, in part due to the industrial production of pesticides and their spread throughout the world, and in part due to the expansion of agriculture to newly-cultivated areas in this period. In 2006 and 2007, the world used approximately 5.2 billion pounds of pesticides.[14]The United States used 22% of the world total, at approximately 1.1 billion pounds of pesticides.[15]

Humans today benefit in significant ways from the use of pesticides. In many circumstances, pesticides are the only effective means of controlling disease organisms, weeds, or insect pests. Consumers benefit from pesticides through wider selections and lower prices for food and clothing. Pesticides also play an important role in protecting homes and businesses from termite infestations, and prevent the outbreak of disease by controlling rodents and insects.[16]The general public also benefits in important ways from the use of pesticides for the control of insect-borne diseases and illnesses, such as malaria.[17]

Unfortunately, the widespread use of pesticides, sometimes in indiscriminate ways, also leads to a number of negative effects. For example, pesticide poisoning can result from a single or short-term exposure, causing death. There are also risks of chronic impacts to human beings from long-term exposure to pesticides, including pesticide residues in food. When pesticide residues enter streams or groundwater, natural resources can be degraded, and pesticides that drift from where they are applied can harm or kill other plants, birds, fish, or other wildlife.[18]

Humans are exposed to pesticides in multiple ways, including through residues in drinking water and foods, and by touching areas sprayed with pesticides. Pesticides are applied to crops as well as lawns and vegetation in residential and commercial areas. With regard to groundwater taken from public wells in the United States, approximately 90 million Americans rely on groundwater for drinking water,[19] and some of that water is drawn from public wells and contains pesticide residue.[20] A study from the US Geological Survey found that “one or more pesticide compounds were detected at concentrations greater than benchmarks in about 3 percent of source-water samples from public wells.”[21]

Scientific studies have shown that pesticides contribute to a variety of health effects in people. A study of 200 pesticides found that several exhibited endocrine-disrupting potential,[22]meaning they negatively affect the endocrine system. The American Medical Association recommends limiting exposure to pesticides and using safer alternatives, concluding that:

Current surveillance systems are inadequate to characterize potential exposure problems related either to pesticide usage or pesticide-related illnesses. Considering these data gaps, it is prudent for homeowners, farmers, and workers to limit pesticide exposures to themselves and others, and to consider the use of the least toxic chemical pesticides or nonchemical alternatives.[23]

More recently, a report in AmedNews, a publication of the American Medical Association, cited a report in Pediatrics indicating that pesticides may increase the risk of attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder in children.[24]

The US Environmental Protection Agency writes that “Long-term exposure to pesticides may cause serious health effects such as birth defects, learning disabilities, organ damage, and forms of cancer, including leukemia, breast cancer, and brain tumors.”[25] In addition, pesticides are one form of endocrine disruptors that are believed to be partially responsible for the decrease in the age of onset of puberty in children around the world.[26]

Children are exposed to pesticides in a range of ways, including by ingesting food and touching areas at home or school sprayed with pesticides.[27] Children face more significant exposure risks from pesticides than adults, because they behave and play differently than adults. For example, children play closer to the ground, and may be exposed to pesticides in dust and soil due to normal “hand-to-mouth” activity in small children. In addition, because children have different metabolisms than adults, their bodies have different capacities for breaking down or metabolizing, excreting, activating or deactivating pesticides. These processes change dramatically throughout a child’s journey to adulthood. As a result, pesticides may have more toxic effects in children, or lead to different symptoms from pesticide effects.[28]

Protecting Ourselves and Our Children

Pesticides play an important role in our ability to manage disease vectors and grow food. However, they also present real risks to our health. Given Jewish tradition’s emphasis on “guarding our health very well,” how can we protect ourselves and our families from pesticides?[29]

One thing we can do is reduce sources of pesticide exposures to our children (in food, water, dust, and soil and in the home and the work environment). For example, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) provides a Shoppers’ Guide to Pesticides in Produce which can help you identify healthy food for your family.[30]^,[31]

If you are considering supporting a local farm, for example, through Community Supported Agriculture, choose a farm that uses Organic or Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods to reduce pesticide use. IPM practices utilize a range of pest management strategies, including alternatives like natural predators and parasites, and selective use of pesticides when necessary.

If you use pesticides in your home, keep them out of children’s reach and store them in containers that do not resemble those used for food or drinks, and ensure they are properly labeled with childproof lids. Do not store any highly toxic pesticides in your home. When you use pesticides (for example to control pests in your own home), strictly follow the instructions.

Children spend a significant amount of their time in school. We can create a safe learning environment by encouraging school administrators to adopt better pest management policies in schools, to reduce children's exposure to pesticides as well as eliminate pests. The Environmental Protection Agency encourages school officials to adopt IPM practices and provides a step-by-step guide for doing so.[32]

In a recent landmark ruling, Israel's Chief Sephardic Rabbi Shlomo Amar wrote about the health-related concern from pesticides, stating that eating "bug-free" leafy vegetables poses a health risk due to their increased use. The halachic (Jewish legal) ruling was issued following lab tests conducted on such crops, and recommends that the public purchase regular leafy vegetables and clean them "in the old-fashioned way."[33] This ruling casts a new light on the mitzvah to protect our health.

Examining pesticides and their effects through the lens of the commandment to “guard yourself and your soul” is just one example of how Jewish teachings can apply to health. By becoming more conscious of our Jewish obligation to protect our health, we can also learn to live in a way that protects the land and sustains our resources for the long term. Let us become more healthy in body and soul, and in so doing, create a healthier world.

Evonne Marzouk is the founder and executive director of Canfei Nesharim: Sustainable Living Inspired by Torah. She is also the leader of the Jewcology project.

Rabbi Yonatan Neril founded and directs Jewish Eco Seminars, which engages and educates the Jewish community with Jewish environmental wisdom. Since 2006, he has worked with Canfei Nesharim in developing educational resources relating to Judaism and the environment.

This material was produced as part of the Jewcology project. Jewcology.comis a new web portal for the global Jewish environmental community. Thanks to the ROI communityfor their generous support, which made the Jewcology project possible.

[1]Brief sections of this article are taken with permission for “The Torah of Organics” by Rabbi Akiva Gersh, online at www.canfeinesharim.org. Some footnotes are taken with permission from an expansive article by Rabbi Zecharya Goldman on Jewish legal perspectives on conventional (non-organic) produce entitled "Is one obligated by Halakha to eat organic food?" The article is available from the author in the e-book "Judaism and the New Age: Halakhic Perspectives." Rabbi Goldman is the founder and CEO of EarthKosher, a kosher certifying agency.

[2]Deuteronomy30:19

[3]Deuteronomy4:9.

[4]Ibid. 4:15.

[5]Maimonides, Mishna Torah, Hilchot Deot 4:1

[6]Sefer HaChinuch, Mitzva 546, of putting a fence on one's roof

[7]Shulchan Aruch, Rabbi Yosef Caro, Israel, 1488-1575, Choshen Mishpat 427, 8-10.

[8]Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Mishpat, 427: 8-10

[9]“Judaism,” Op. cit. 3.

[10]Genesis, 3:17

[11]In nature, of course, there are no pests. Human beings consider certain plants or animals that endanger our food supply, health, comfort, or aesthetic sense as pests, and to manage these pests we have created “pesticides.” This excellent point is made by Keith S. Delaplane, Assistant Professor of Entomology, Cooperative Extension Service, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia in

“Pesticide Usage in the United States: History, Benefits, Risks, and Trends” printed March 1996, available online at http://ipm.ncsu.edu/safety/factsheets/pestuse.pdf.

[12]Childhood Pesticide Poisoning. Published in May 2004 by the Chemicals Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP Chemicals) with the assistance of UNEP’s Information Unit for Conventions. Available online at http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Portals/9/Pesticides/pestpoisoning.pdf.

[13]Ibid.

[14]“Pesticides Industry Sales and Usage:2006 and 2007 Market Estimates “ A.Grube et al, Biological and Economic Analysis Division,Office of Pesticide Programs, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

February 2011, online at http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/pestsales/07pestsales/market_estimates2007.pdf

[15]Ibid.

[16]“Benefits of Pesticide Use,” Environmental Protection Agency, available at http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/ag101/pestbenefits.html.

[17]“The Use of DDT in malaria vector control,” WHO position statement, World Health Organization, 2011.Available online at http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/69945/1/WHO_HTM_GMP_2011_eng.pdf

[18]“Risks of Pesticide Use,” Environmental Protection Agency, available at http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/ag101/pestrisk.html.

[19]U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water. “FACTIODS: Drinking Water and Ground Water Statistics for 2009,” The publication notes that “Seventy-eight percent of public water systems in the United States use ground water as their primary source, supplying drinking water to 30% of community water system users, or almost 90 million Americans.”

[20]U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Drinking Water from Household Wells;” 2002

[21]Toccalino, P.L., Norman, J.E., and Hitt, K.J., 2010, “Quality of source water from public-supply wells in the United States, 1993–2007”: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5024, p. 209, online at http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/studies/public_wells/.

[22]Hiroyuki Kojima, Shinji Takeuchi and Tadanori Nagai; “Endocrine-disrupting Potential of Pesticides via Nuclear Receptors and Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor”, J. Health Sci., Vol. 56, pp.374-386 (2010).

[23]Educational and Informational Strategies for Reducing Pesticide Risks, 1994 Interim Meeting of the American Medical Association, Reports of the Council on Scientific Affairs, p. 7, available online at http://www.ama-assn.org/resources/doc/csaph/csai-94.pdf

[24]"Pesticides may increase risk of ADHD in children," AmedNews, posted May 31, 2010, available online athttp://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/05/31/prsb0531.htm

[25]“Pesticides and Their Impact on Children: Key Facts and Talking Points,” US EPA publication, online at http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/Publications/pest-impact-hsstaff.pdf

[26]“Effects of Environmental Endocrine Disruptors on Pubertal Development,” Samim Özen, J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol. 2011 March; 3(1): 1–6. Published online 2011 February 23. doi: 10.4274/jcrpe.v3i1.01
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3065309/

[27]Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children, the United States National Research Council, 1993, as cited in the EPA Publication “Protecting Children’s Health: The National Pesticide Program.” The National Research Council publication cited the following reasons for why children are different than adults in regards to pesticide exposure: 1) Children’s metabolic rates are more rapid 2) Children process toxicants differently 3) Children pass through critical developmental stages 4) Children consume more food in proportion to body size (as well as different types of food) 5) Children’s exposure patterns differ from adults’

[28]Childhood Pesticide Poisoning. Published in May 2004 by the Chemicals Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP Chemicals) with the assistance of UNEP’s Information Unit for Conventions. Available online at http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Portals/9/Pesticides/pestpoisoning.pdf, p. 12.

[29]Many of the suggestions below are drawn from Childhood Pesticide Poisoning, p. 18-19.

[30]The website is available at http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/.

[31]Please see the following Note from Canfei Nesharim’s Science and Technology Advisory Board for more context when thinking about preventing chemical and pesticide exposure to your children, http://www.canfeinesharim.org/tubshevat/note-from-board/.

[32]This guide, along with many other helpful resources, is available at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm/brochure/.

[33]“Rabbi Amar: 'Bug-free' vegetables dangerous”, Ynet News, published 11/6/12. Article online at http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4300824,00.html

Click here to listen to Jewcology's podcast on Protecting Our Health.

These materials are posted as part of Jewcology’s Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment, in partnership with Canfei Nesharim. Jewcology thanks the Shedlin Outreach Foundation and the ROI community for their generous support, which made the Jewcology project possible.

See all Core Teaching #17: Guard Yourselves Very Well materials!

Learn more about the Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment!

Enjoy this Hebrew/English source sheet and study guide on the topic of being a good neighbor. Discussion questions provided!

These materials are posted as part of Jewcology’s Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment, in partnership with Canfei Nesharim. Jewcology thanks the Shedlin Outreach Foundation and the ROI community for their generous support, which made the Jewcology project possible.

See all Core Teaching #17: Guard Yourselves Very Well materials!

Learn more about the Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment!

Guard Yourselves Very Well

By Evonne Marzouk and Rabbi Yonatan Neril[1]

The Jewish tradition places a strong value on being healthy.The Torah states, “Guard yourself and guard your soul very much"[2] and “You shall guard yourselves very well."[3] Jewish Sages explain that these verses refer to the mitzvah (commandment) of protecting one’s physical body and health.

Maimonides (Spain, 1135-1204)explains this obligation as that one needs to distance oneself from things that might damage one’s body, and accustom oneself to a healthy lifestyle, because it is not possible to understand the ways of G-d when one is sick (Mishna Torah, Hilchot Deot 4:1). The body was given to us as a vessel whose primary function is to house the soul so that the soul can dwell in this world and fulfill its purpose.

According to Sefer HaChinuch (Spain, 13^th century), it is our responsibility to guard against natural occurrences which may harm our bodies – not only things that can end a person’s life but also things that can damage a person’s body.[4]

This commandment is codified in the Shulchan Aruch,[5] the primary compilation of Jewish law (Rabbi Yosef Caro, Israel, 1488-1575).It states that we should avoid “any matter that threatens human life… to remove it and to guard against it and to be very careful about the matter.”

There are many applications of this mitzvah to guard our health. Jewish law employs a term– Ba’al Nefesh Yachmir, or “A master of the spirit will be stringent”– when a sage senses a cause for concern but does not find it appropriate to forbid something to the public.[6] One relevant item for all of us and our families is the reduction of exposure to chemicals such as pesticides. Rabbi Zecharya Goldman notes how this category in Jewish law—of a sensitive and disciplined soul being mindful—is a fitting response in modern society to the danger posed by pesticides.[7]

Humans today benefit in significant ways from the use of pesticides. Consumers benefit from pesticides through wider selections and lower prices for food and clothing. Pesticides also play an important role in protecting homes and businesses from termite infestations, and prevent the outbreak of disease by controlling rodents and insects.[8]The general public also benefits from the use of pesticides for the control of insect-borne diseases and illnesses, such as malaria.[9]

Unfortunately, the widespread use of pesticides, sometimes in indiscriminate ways, also leads to a number of negative effects. Pesticide poisoning can result from a single or short-term exposure, causing death. There are also risks of chronic impacts from long-term exposure to pesticides. When pesticide residues enter streams or groundwater, natural resources can be degraded, and pesticides that drift from where they are applied can harm or kill other plants, birds, fish, or other wildlife.[10]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency writes that “Long-term exposure to pesticides may cause serious health effects such as birth defects, learning disabilities, organ damage, and forms of cancer, including leukemia, breast cancer, and brain tumors.”[11]

Children face more significant exposure risks from pesticides than adults, because they behave and play differently than adults. For example, children play closer to the ground, and may be exposed to pesticides in dust and soil due to normal “hand-to-mouth” activity in small children. In addition, because children have different metabolisms than adults, their bodies have different capacities for breaking down, metabolizing, and excreting pesticides. As a result, pesticides may have more toxic effects in children, or lead to different symptoms.[12]

How can we protect ourselves and our families from pesticides?[13]One thing we can do is reduce sources of exposures to our children in food, water, dust, and soil and in the home and at work. For example, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) provides a Shoppers’ Guide to Pesticides in Produce which can help you identify healthy food for your family.[14]^,[15] If you are considering Community Supported Agriculture, choose a farm that uses Organic or Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods to reduce pesticide use. You can also help create a safer learning environment for children by encouraging school administrators to adopt better pest management policies in schools.[16]

In a recent landmark ruling, Israel's Chief Sephardic Rabbi Shlomo Amar wrote about the health-related concern from pesticides, stating that eating "bug-free" leafy vegetables poses a health risk due to the high pesticide use in growing them. The Jewish legal ruling was issued following lab tests conducted on such crops, and recommends that the public purchase regular leafy vegetables and clean them "in the old-fashioned way."[17] This ruling casts a new light on the mitzvah to protect our health.

By becoming more conscious of our Jewish obligation to protect our health, we can also learn to live in a way that protects the land and sustains our resources for the long term. Let us become more healthy in body and soul, and in so doing, create a healthier world.

Evonne Marzouk is the founder and executive director of Canfei Nesharim: Sustainable Living Inspired by Torah. She is also the leader of the Jewcology project.

Rabbi Yonatan Neril founded and directs Jewish Eco Seminars, which engages and educates the Jewish community with Jewish environmental wisdom. Since 2006, he has worked with Canfei Nesharim in developing educational resources relating to Judaism and the environment.

This material was produced as part of the Jewcology project. Jewcology.comis a new web portal for the global Jewish environmental community. Thanks to the ROI communityfor their generous support, which made the Jewcology project possible.

[1]Brief sections of this article are taken with permission from “Guard Yourselves Very Well,” a commentary on Parshat Vaetchanan, by Rabbi Akiva Gersh, available online at http://www.canfeinesharim.org/torah/vaetchanan-guard-yourselves-very-well/.

[2]Deuteronomy4:9.

[3]Ibid. 4:15.

[4]Sefer HaChinuch, Mitzva 546, of putting a fence on one's roof

[5]Shulchan Aruch, Rabbi Yosef Caro, Israel, 1488-1575, Choshen Mishpat 427, 8-10.

[6]Rabbi Goldman, founder and director of EarthKosher, writesabout this andJewish legal perspectives on conventional (non-organic) producein his e-book "Judaism and the New Age: Halakhic Perspectives,"in the essay entitled "Is one obligated by Halakha to eat organic food?"

[7]“Judaism,” Op. cit. 3.

[8]“Benefits of Pesticide Use,” Environmental Protection Agency, available at http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/ag101/pestbenefits.html.

[9]“The Use of DDT in malaria vector control,” WHO position statement, World Health Organization, 2011.Available online at http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/69945/1/WHO_HTM_GMP_2011_eng.pdf

[10]“Risks of Pesticide Use,” Environmental Protection Agency, available at http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/ag101/pestrisk.html.

[11]“Pesticides and Their Impact on Children: Key Facts and Talking Points,” US EPA publication, online at http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/Publications/pest-impact-hsstaff.pdf

[12]Childhood Pesticide Poisoning. Published in May 2004 by the Chemicals Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP Chemicals) with the assistance of UNEP’s Information Unit for Conventions. Available online at http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Portals/9/Pesticides/pestpoisoning.pdf, p. 12.

[13]Many of the suggestions below are drawn from Childhood Pesticide Poisoning, p. 18-19.

[14]The website is available at http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/.

[15]Please see the following Note from Canfei Nesharim’s Science and Technology Advisory Board for more context when thinking about preventing chemical and pesticide exposure to your children, http://www.canfeinesharim.org/tubshevat/note-from-board/.

[16]This guide, along with many other helpful resources, is available at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm/brochure/.

[17]“Rabbi Amar: 'Bug-free' vegetables dangerous”, Ynet News, published 11/6/12. Article online at http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4300824,00.html

Being a good neighbor is a Jewish obligation. It can also be a tremendous challenge. We all have physical needs and wants to satisfy in order to live in this world, but much of what we do to satisfy these needs and wants can negatively impact our neighbors. This is especially true today, with so many people, with so much technology, living on a material level beyond the dreams of our ancestors.

See all Toward a Being a Good Neighbor Materials!

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