Thirteen Jewish organizations, under the umbrella of the Green Hevra, have issued the following joint statement today publicly calling on the U.S. government to reject the Keystone XL pipeline:

It has become abundantly clear that we are consuming far too many fossil fuels. In this Sabbatical/Shmita year, when the Torah calls for deeper gentleness toward the Earth, we are especially conscious of the dangers to the Earth from the drilling, transporting and burning of tar-sands oil. The resources that would be devoted to the Keystone XL pipeline should be devoted instead to initiatives in clean energy, a fast-growing field in which we hope the United States will take a leading position.

Climate change, worsened by burning more and more oil that the Keystone XL pipeline would permit, poses a grave threat to the security of the United States, Israel and the world.

Jewish tradition is not monolithic, and the issues around the pipeline are complex. But the Jewish community has consistently sought to take a stand in favor of creating a better world for all. It is hard for us to believe that building the Keystone XL pipeline could possibly do so.

This is not the first time that Jewish organizations have taken a stand against Keystone XL and we call upon fellow Jewish leaders to join us in encouraging President Obama and Congress to reject the Keystone XL pipeline.

Signed by the following members of the Green Hevra:

Amir

Aytzim: Ecological Judaism

Eden Village Camp

Energiya Global

Habonim Dror North America

Hazon

Jewish Climate Action Network

Jewish Farm School

Jews Against Hydrofracking

NeoHasid.org

Reconstructionist Rabbinical College / Jewish Reconstructionist Communities

The Shalom Center

Shoresh Jewish Environmental Programs

Founding Members include:

 Articles and other Resources related to the Green Hevra

• Op-Ed: Jews should work to reduce fossil fuels, not ally with gas and oil companies (JTA)
• 2012-13 Slingshot List of the 50 Most Innovative Jewish Organizations in North America! (Slingshot Fund)
• Jewish Environmentalists Green the Slingshot 50! (Jewcology)
• Is U.S. Jewish green movement at a tipping point? (Haaretz)
• New Network Strengthens Jewish Environmental Collaboration (Yale’s Forum on Religion and Ecology)
• Jewish Environmental Movement Receives Funds for Collaboration and Strategy (eJewish Philanthropy)

The Green Hevra is currently administered by Hazon.