Leadership, Education, & Community – Page 2

Project Category: Leadership, Education, & Community

Greening the Negev

Adat Shalom Synagogue

Farmington Hills, Michigan

As a component of our immersive Israel playscape (grant through Hermelin-Davidson), we are building out a full size greenhouse and using drip irrigation and other conservation methods to teach about bringing greenery and food production to the Negev desert. Right now we are in the planning and development phases, and would like to use the funding to develop the curriculum and purchase supplies for this part of the project. However, due to such things as permits and board approvals along the way, it will likely not be functional until early next year.

Energy & Water Conservation, Food Choices, Leadership, Education, & Community, The Natural Environment, Waste Prevention/Material Management

Melissa Ser
October 31, 2022

Tu Bi’Shvat Sutainability Awareness Weekend

Congregation Schara Tzedeck

Vancouver, British Columbia

We are planning on hosting a locally sourced vegan Shabbat dinner for the community that will be followed by a panel discussion on what we as both individuals and a community can do to make our lives eco-friendlier and more sustainable. We hope to have the Rabbi include something environment focused in his Shabbat drasha and potentially changing kiddush for the week to include more local products. We are also contemplating several other ideas to incorporate in the weekend.

Food Choices, Leadership, Education, & Community

Ariel Greene
October 19, 2022

Green Fund for Hillel Knesset

Hillel Day School

Farmington Hills, Michigan

The Hillel Knesset will be comprised of a group of 15 students from grades 3-8. The Knesset will identify areas that they would like to strengthen within the school community. They will be focusing on Hillel's Core Values, which include Tikkun Olam (and other Jewish values). Within this focus, students will identify ways that the Hillel community can become a more green and environmentally aware community. They will discuss and propose initiatives to pursue within the school and beyond. Ultimately, they will choose an initiative that aligns with this core value to enact this school year. The Green Fund (funding by this mini-grant) would allow these students to have the resources necessary to implement their initiative. Examples of initiatives might include:inviting a speaker to educate students and staff on environmental issues, improving our waste and recycling system, sponsoring a school-wide audit to identify areas of improvement, sponsoring an environmental program in the school, or other green initiatives that the students are passionate about.

Energy & Water Conservation, Food Choices, Leadership, Education, & Community, The Natural Environment, Waste Prevention/Material Management

Laura Pasek
September 30, 2022

Greening Tashlich

Beth Tikvah Synagogue

Richmond, British Columbia

For Tashlich, we included some key environmental themes. We provided an educational component related to sustainability and damage caused by bread crumbs when feed to wildlife and modified our practices in order to be more sustainable in the religious service. We also touched on a program we plan to expand for next year – the reverse tashlich. This is where we conduct a beach cleanup as part of the service.

Leadership, Education, & Community, The Natural Environment

Tadd Berger
September 26, 2022

Dor Hadash Detroit Sukkah

Dor Hadash

Detroit, Michigan

We will be building a community sukkah for Dor Hadash families. We will be using local materials for the sukkah structure, decorations, and for a lulav and etrog. We will also be tasting locally grown fruits and vegetables in our sukkot celebration. This will be a great way to observe the holiday and also explore and support our local food ecosystem in an interactive and delicious way. It would be great if we can get our food from a Detroit farm and have a farmer there to share information about the produce, the farming process, and what it's like to grow food in Detroit. The sukkah will be designed and built by a group of parent volunteers on the property of one of our parent/educators. The kids in our program will use gourds and other things from the farmer's market, as well as utilize recycled/upcycled materials for festive decorations. This will provide a great opportunity to talk about and practice sustainability in a creative way. We will have a program on October 9 to teach about the holiday. During Sukkot, it will be open for members of Dor Hadash and guests to strengthen our community, Jewish identity, and connection to the environment as we gather, eat, and celebrate together.

Food Choices, Leadership, Education, & Community, The Natural Environment

Zara Teicher
September 25, 2022

Departmental Environmental Impact Audits

Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver

Vancouver, British Columbia

We have representatives from each department on our green team and each department will be conducting an audit of their operations. The departments are Campaigns, Accounting, IT, Events, Foundations, Executive , Office Local Community Engagement, Israel Community Engagement, JWest Building Team, and Marketing. Some changes that have been made so far are: campaigns switching from paper to virtual thank you, switching to default electronic tax receipts, using to vegan, kosher caterers when available, and defaulting to dairy meals otherwise Each department that has event will have their own sustainability checklist.

Leadership, Education, & Community

Grace Miller-Day
September 21, 2022

Building green updates

Edlavitch DCJCC

Washington, DC,

The Green team identifies several ways the institution can become greener in our day-to-day actions in 2022. -switch to compostable and fair trade keurig pods for staff coffee -switch to compostable disposable plateware and silverware -add "these come from trees" stickers to paper towel dispensers -add new video monitored bike rack in front of building for secure bike parking -write up and circulate a green team one-pager for new staff

Energy & Water Conservation, Food Choices, Leadership, Education, & Community, Waste Prevention/Material Management

Amanda Herring
September 12, 2022

Near Zero Waste Staff Meetings

Vancouver Talmud Torah

Vancouver, British Columbia

Prior to the monthly staff meeting, an email is sent out with a reminder of the meeting and for all staff to bring their own reusable cup, plate and cutlery if they would like to partake in snacks provided. Snacks are vegan and kosher, and offered on platters (not individually packaged). Need to remind office staff not to put out single use items or napkins so that they are not used and wasted. Last year, staff were gifted reusable cutlery sets.

Leadership, Education, & Community, Waste Prevention/Material Management

Danica Burpee
September 6, 2022

After School Care reduces single-use waste

Vancouver Talmud Torah

Vancouver, British Columbia

Our after-school care program sent an email home asking parents to send a reusable cup and bowl or plate with their child for shared snacks from communal packages or platters. This reduces singular packaged food items and plateware waste. It has been well received by the community.

Food Choices, Leadership, Education, & Community, Waste Prevention/Material Management

Danica Burpee
September 6, 2022

Shabbat Environmental Education

Habonim Dror Camp Miriam Society

Vancouver, British Columbia

Every Saturday morning at Camp Miriam, counsellors have an opportunity to bring chuggim, or special interest topics, to campers. We are committing to running at least one chug related to the environment each week this summer. This is a chance for campers to learn about a variety of environmental issues and perspectives, think critically about their own choices and communities, and learn how they can take action. Planned topics are: 1. Jewish perspectives on the environment 2. Food and climate change 3. The intersections between LGTBQ+ discrimination and climate change 4. Energy democracy and Indigenous environmental initiatives 5. Eco-feminism 6. Climate grief and processing emotions related to the environment

Leadership, Education, & Community

Gili Avrahami
July 9, 2022

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