Conserve with the Conservative Movement

Jewish tradition teaches us not to waste resources. The specific injunction for this comes from Deuteronomy where it is stated: "When in your war against a city you have to besiege it a long time in order to capture it, you must not destroy its trees, wielding the ax against them. You may eat of them, but you must not cut them down." ^{(Deut. 20:19)} Rabbis have understood from this passage the greater principle of Bal Tachchit, do not destroy, a prohibition o­n wasting resources and an ethic of caring about the environment. ^{(Midrash Song of Songs Rabbah)}

The purpose of the bal tashchit mitzvah is to teach us to love that which is good and worthwhile and to cling to it, so that good becomes a part of us and we will avoid all that is evil and destructive. This is the way of the righteous and those who improve society, who love peace and rejoice in the good in people and bring them close to Torah: that nothing, not even a grain of mustard, should be lost to the world, that they should regret any loss or destruction that they see, and if possible they will prevent any destruction that they see. ^{(Sefer Ha-Hinukh, #529)}

Green Synagogues is a program being initiated by the Pacific Southwest Region in partnership with the Coalition o­n the Environment in Jewish Life of Southernb California (CoejlSC) to raise awareness in the Conservative Movement to our partnership in preserving and protecting our environment. It is part of CoejlSC's o­ngoing Green Sanctuaries Program, which includes Sinai Temple as o­ne of the pilot synagogues. The fundamental goal is to implement sound and equitable environmental practices within our synagogues and communities, and to instill the principle of environmental stewardship in present and future generations.

Ultimately, we believe, in addition to the environmental benefits, synagogues will enjoy financial savings. For example, if Sinai Temple were to institute all the energy savings recommendations, they could recognize approximately $40,000 in savings. More would be expected by adding solar. Lee Wallach, President of CoejlSC has called this a Green & Green Opportunity - to Green the environment and add Green to the bottom line, enabling our synagogues to use those funds for their core mission.

Modeled o­nthe Green Sanctuaries projects, we have identified ways for our region's synagogues to raise environmental awareness in their congregations:

1. Programs: We will be developing curriculum for use not o­nly in our schools, but for adult education and enlightenment as well. CoejlSC already has several outstanding educational programs in place such as Havdalah Hikes, Tree Plantings, and Educational Forums, and will make them available to our congregations.
2. The Green Facilities Project: We will help your synagogue's Green Team organize and facilitate green practices in your congregation. There are many quick & easy projects as well as longer term projects. For example, using recycled & non-toxic products in synagogue offices-careful attention can reduce the environmental footprint in your offices. Longer term projects should include retrofitting facilites to establish energy efficiency and water conservation.
3. The Greening Guide: together with CoejlSC and our Business Services Department, we are creating an easy, cost saving opportunity to do what we are commanded to do. We will be compiling an environmental friendly buying guide with recommended products and where to obtain them. We will select vendors who bring our congregations the best prices o­n these products.
4. The Environmental Youth Task Force: Environmentalism in entwined in Social Action. Our USYers pride themselves o­n the variety of social action projects they undertake each year. As adults, we often learn from our children. The aim of the task force is to educate, inspire, and instill in young people environmental stewardship.

We hope that you will work towards becoming a Green Synagogue by calling o­n United Synagogue and CoejlSC to help you implement some of the programatic options. Jewish law and tradition mandate that we protect, serve, and care for all creation. As we learn in Midrash Ecclesiastes Rabbah, chapter 7, when God created Adam. He showed himn all the trees of the Garden of Eden and said to him: "See my works, how lovely they are, how fine they are. All I have created, I created for you. Take care not to corrupt and destroy my ubiverse, for if you destroy it, no o­ne will come after you to put it right." (Ecclesiasted, Rabbah 7)