By Sara Schultz
Do you enjoy the sight and sound of birds? Do you feel the connection to something greater than yourself when evening slowly darkens, and busy chattering fills our landscapes? For me, this is Eden. OK, what has all this got to do with the weekly Torah portion, Re’eh? Part of the instructions Moses is giving to the Israelites includes the forgiveness of debt and the freeing of slaves every seven years. I ask myself, aren’t we the ones who need forgiving? Aren’t we slaves to our own needs and desires? Aren’t we the ones who have caused three billion birds and many other species their precious lives and habitats?
First, we need to come to the recognition that we depend on all species for our own existence. The fine web of life cannot function without insects and plankton. Creation was built on layers of life that support each other and add to the whole, the shleimah. In a way, the fish and the fowl, the flora and fauna have been like our servants over millennia. They have been sacrificed for our needs and our desires.
Because the timeline for keeping our climate from irreversible, catastrophic spin is so short, let this and every year be like the Sabbatical year. A year not just of self-forgiveness, reprieve, and rest but of meaningful action within our Jewish institutions. There is more than ample opportunity with the Inflation Reduction Act (30% of project cost for NPOs), grants from Environmental Organizations and green energy loans to do our part for creation. Lo ba-shamayim hi, it is not beyond us in the heavens (Deuteronomy), to make our faith communities more sustainable. We know the science; we have the technology, and it pays for itself in the long term. The only thing missing is heart. Do we love and want for our children what we have had for ourselves? Will our legacy be supporters of life and beauty for future generations just like Honi the circle maker who planted carob trees for future generations?
There is low hanging fruit, like recycling receptacles, reducing single use plastic, and composting kitchen waste. But we won’t slow climate chaos with one plastic fork at a time or even one Tesla. Higher on the list is LED lighting which pays back in huge savings. But most important is reducing dirty fossil fuels from the equation. Whether a congregation chooses to own their own solar installation, lease one or use community solar, it is easier than ever to light up our buildings with the sun. Every institution needs a “climate action plan” so you know when your boiler or your stove needs replacing you will be ready to replace them with cold climate heat pumps and induction stoves. These are not only cheaper over time and highly subsidized but will keep your buildings cleaner and healthier for everyone.
My prayer is that every Jew puts time and energy into supporting creation and a livable planet for future generations. Re’eh means “see”. May we see each of our actions as a step to release, to renew and to forgive. ken yihi ratzon…
P.S. Need guidance? adamah.org, dayenu.org, (Reform Action Center) rac.org, interfaithpowerandlight.org and nyserda.ny.gov (for a list of vetted community solar developers). For more guidance you can email our regional NYState Clean Energy Hub pushgreen@pushbuffalo.org. These are a few of the ways to get support and information. All are very good resources. For our personal impact rewiringamerica.org gives everyone a personal energy calculator to figure out how to save money and lower our carbon footprint in our homes, even as renters.
It’s also nice to only pay the hookup fees (under $20) to our gas and electric utilities each month. Our goal of a net zero carbon home is very close. Feel free to write to me how my husband Steve and I are working toward this. If you want a presentation for your Temple or any group, please contact me: healplanet2018@gmail.com.
Sara Schultz is a member of Temple Beth Zion, Grammy of 7, Vice-Chair of Sierra Club Niagara and a member of the Town of Amherst Climate Smart Communities Task Force.
