Assembly of Rabbis Sustainability Plan: An Update
Nearly a quarter of all UK Reform communities have so far actively engaged in the Assembly of Reform Rabbis UK Sustainability Plan that was launched at the beginning of the year. Many of our communities were already taking steps towards sustainability, such as changing light bulbs or composting, but another nine communities have also undertaken steps suggested by the 2011 plan.
The range of responses has been very encouraging and what follows is a brief summary of some of the things that some of our communities are doing. Alyth (North Western Reform Synagogue) has already run the Big Green Sunday, a workshop where many areas of sustainability were discussed, including how to grow food at home, cycling and much more.
Bournemouth has agreed to film showings on various sustainability issues as well as changing the kashrut policy to mention pesticide usage and issues with battery eggs. It has also agreed to help write information to distribute amongst other Reform communities.
Finchley has created a year-round programme divided into quarters, with three months focussing on differing topics. The first three months have included a focus on locally-grown food, free-range and organic eggs and issues of fairly traded goods. It has also distributed a tick-list for members to consider at home and in the synagogue.
Kol Chai is considering a number of aspects of sustainability, including sustainable fish, the use of local honey, banning battery eggs and promoting local food. They are also considering how they might co-operate with local churches in matters of sustainability.
Maidenhead is, as far as we know, the first synagogue in the UK to have installed solar panels on their building.
Newcastle is going to focus on reducing packaging and food waste and will also address the issue of free-range food.
Radlett and Bushey has phased out styrofoam cups and is looking for partners so that members can source their own High Holiday honey. They also have an entire module at cheder that, amongst other things, encourages the children to carry out an eco-audit on their synagogue.
West London is going to put information about sustainable fish and about how to reduce water usage on their website and Wimbledon is in the process of identifying a plot in their garden for a communal allotment.
These are just some of the many initiatives that Reform communities across the UK are undertaking in order to live more sustainably on the Earth that we believe God created and continually renews every day. It is our hope that the synagogues of the Movement for Reform Judaism will become exemplars of sustainability and, perhaps most importantly, that we can show our members and the rest of UK Jewry that our theology and our practice are unified when it comes to caring for God’s creation
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
