A Letter from the Beth Emet Environment Committee

By now we hope you have heard about our year-long environmental initiative to reduce our environmental footprint. This year, we will have an ongoing series of articles in our bulletin and a bulletin board across from the synagogue administrative offices to update you on ideas and events. We want to take a moment to remind you about all the exciting activities we will be working on this year. Please look over the enclosed materials, complete the Evanston Light Bulb Challenge.

BETH EMET FOOTPRINT REDUCTION INITIATIVE

God led Adam through the Garden of Eden and said to him, "See My Works, how fine and excellent they are! All that I am going to create for you, I have already created. Reflect on this, and do not corrupt or desolate My world; for if you do, there will be no one to repair it after you." - Midrash Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13

What is Beth Emet Doing?

As stewards of God’s creation, we have a mandate to care for our environment. Our programming for this year will focus on reducing our environmental “footprint” in a variety of ways:
• We will have an energy and facilities audit to determine how we can increase energy efficiency and save money
• Our school program will be learning about the environment through a Jewish lens
• Our B’nai Mitzvah/Mitzvah Corps students and Youth Group will also be involved in projects
• We encourage all members to participate as individuals and families

What Can I Do?

Calculate your current environmental footprint, and then take steps to reduce it. Go to the Earthday Network calculator to measure your current impact and then your impact at the end of the year. The calculator takes less than 5 minutes to complete and gives you results that you can print out. Please save that print out to compare to your footprint as you take action steps throughout the year.

• Check out our Evanston Light Bulb Challenge to find out how Beth Emet is turning a mitzvah into a friendly competition with St. Nick’s, a local Evanston congregation.
• Read about ways to reduce your footprint in our monthly bulletin.

Questions? Interested?

If you have any questions, or are interested in joining the Environment Committee, please contact us.

Other Beth Emet Initiatives with the Israel Committee and the Social Action Committee

HELP ADVOCATE FOR GREEN ISRAEL

Israel is taking remarkable action to help save our world from Climate Change, improve the environment, and promote peace and social justice. Yet, this very positive and important aspect of Israel is largely unknown. Each of us has an opportunity to really help Israel by learning the facts and telling people the truth about Israel. See the presentation of the social action, environmental and Israel committees on website which you can copy and email.