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Jewish
Public Policy
Jewish Advocacy
- In 2003, Temple Beth Israel, Eugene, Oregon,
hosted award-winning documentary film maker,
Judith Helfand, for a four-day residency and
two showings of her film Blue Vinyl. [Link to
Poster for Helfand Residency.] The film showings
attracted over 600 people. At the second film
showing, TBI arranged to have a panel of distinguished
experts in "green" building and toxics
use reduction join with Helfand for more in-depth
discussion. Helfand spoke at three events at
the University of Oregon, and twice at TBI;
once for children and once for members of the
Board of Directors and Committee chairs
Other Models of Engagement from the past decade of the Partnership:
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Jewish Community Action of Minneapolis Minnesota is providing tools and assistance to catalyze Jews throughout Minnesota to address the roots of social, economic, and environmental problems by honoring Judaism’s ethical, cultural, and spiritual commitments. Founded in 1995, Jewish Community Action has been working in coalition with congregation-based organizing projects in Minneapolis-St. Paul, focusing on reclaiming polluted land for job creation, and on transportation and other environmental issues related to urban sprawl.
- Elinor Weiss, chair of the Social Action Committee at Temple Beth El in East Amherst, New York, has linked breast cancer and environmental concerns, organizing legislative meetings in support of pesticide registry and protecting environmental regulations for air and water.
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Other Models of Engagement from the past decade of the Partnership:
- In 1993, Congregation Ansche Chesed in New York, New York, co-sponsored a forum on incineration issues in the New York area, which provided a Jewish analysis of New York City’s solid waste disposal plan. Members of the congregation later testified on behalf of their synagogue at public hearings, met with officials, and encouraged city-wide Jewish organizations to take public positions on the issue.
- The education and advocacy program of the Indianapolis Jewish Community Center provides information to children and adults on a personal and institutional level. As a result of this environmental education, the Jewish community initiated a petition campaign to urge the city of Indianapolis to provide curb-side recycling. There have been several neighborhood clean-ups, and an after-school Environment Club has been formed.
Click here for advocacy resources for congregations.
Click here for Jewish perspectives on particular environmental advocacy issues.
Note: Programs and leadership of congregations and other organizations change over time, and the above information may not fully reflect current activities.
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