To Till and to Tend

Today we are happy to introduce a new blogger! Moti Rieber is a rabbi and the Federation director in Wichita, Kansas.  He also serves on the steering committee of Kansas Interfaith Power & Light, and writes the blogs Fed Reb and Jewish Simplicity.  He will post here every other Wednesday.

Popular legend has it that the day after Thanksgiving, “Black Friday,” is the busiest shopping day of the year. Anti-consumerist activists have for some years been designating this day “Buy Nothing Day.” This is a day not to go to the mall, not to add to the balance on your credit cards, but rather to start thinking about how to spend this holiday season giving the gift of love, of self, rather than of material goods.

This year, of course, we’re in recession, so is it irresponsible to “Buy Nothing” when the economy depends so much on consumer spending? Well, as Juliet Schor points out in this post on the Center for a New American Dream website, it was financial shenanigans and the housing bubble that caused the problem. For an economic recovery, the pump will need to be primed at a level high above the average consumer.

In addition, many Americans are in hock up to their ears with credit card and mortgage debt, and the wiser option at this stage is to cut down on purchases, pay down debt, and increase the rate of savings, which hovers around zero for Americans. (According to Consumer Reports, in 2006, 23% of shoppers were still carrying holiday-related credit card debt the following March.)

Remember that the cost of every purchase includes not just the price of the item but the price to advertise it, ship it, package it and dispose of it when it breaks down. Much of this cost is in oil, something to think about in this time of global climate change.

And most importantly, real meaning and purpose cannot be found in the mall, or in the exchange of material goods. Real purpose can only be found in human connection, in time spent with friends and loved ones, in volunteering – generally giving the gift, not of stuff, but of self. And that’s the gift that keeps on giving.

(Of course, Jews who observe Shabbat know that “Buy Nothing Day” comes every week!)

Four Thanksgivings ago, I was in India. Though a rare day went by that I was unaware of my blessings (I didn’t need Thanksgiving for that) it was the foods of Thanksgiving that I craved. I love Indian food (there, as the joke goes, it is just called “food”), but sub-tropical climates just don’t produce my beloved winter squashes and cranberries, nor do its people prepare the dishes of the New World.

The culinary tendencies of America are diverse, yet most gather around a similar Thanksgiving table. Though my family table has never (in my memory) been graced by a turkey (nor a tofurkey, for that matter), I know that people across America will chow on pumpkin bread, corn bread, sweet potato pie, cranberry relish, mashed potatoes and apple pie! (I am also happy to share my recipe for any of the above…. just ask!)

One does not have to look far into the Thanksgiving story to understand why: On Thanksgiving, we commemorate a meal centuries old, before industrialized and imported produce disconnected us from the ways, seasons and places our food is grown. More critically, it was at this meal that Native Americans introduced the Europeans to the foods appropriate to their newly inhabited land. In the Northeast, all of the above dishes’ main ingredients are either just coming into season or were just harvested, stored for the long winter ahead: hard squashes survive the change of season, cornmeal is ground from the summer harvest, potatoes outlast the first frost, and apples fill the trees as the leavers of other trees fall.

But the United States has changed since that first Thanksgiving meal. We now inhabit the extreme dessert and tundra of America. For those in Phoenix, roasted squash on Thanksgiving is as unnatural as a white Christmas.

Even if we can’t prepare a locally grown and “traditional” Thanksgiving feast, we can embody the core of the tradition. Wherever you are, be like the Pilgrims: Meet and eat from local farmers. Remember the land and people from where you left, learn from the land and people where you joined.

As I pointed out on my last blog post, “not-good” companies are trying to present themselves as “good” companies through unusual advertisements.  Chevron, one of the major fossil-fuel companies, has taken an interesting route in their advertising. They’re not even attempting to alter their image – they’ve put their advertising bucks into claiming individual action is the solution. No doubt, I believe each one of us has responsibility to do what we can to better the world, but Judaism (and all other value systems, too) teaches us that we are to lead the way and model good behavior… not throw the responsibility onto others.  League of Conservation Voters points out that if Chevron execs took this campaign seriously, they have a few behaviors they could change, too.

The LCV states in a press release that went public last week:

In train stations, at bus stops, online, even on our coffee cups, Chevron ads are trying to convince us that the key to ending our energy crisis is individual action.  Over pictures of everyday Americans, taglines from Chevron’s “Will You Join Us” ad campaign read:

“I will leave the car at home more.”
“I will take my golf clubs out of the trunk.”
“I will replace 3 light bulbs with CFLs.”
“I will finally get a programmable thermostat.”
“I will consider buying a hybrid.”

All good ideas, certainly, but no matter how many clubs they’re carrying in their golf bags, no matter how many light bulbs they change, no matter how hard they consider that hybrid, the folks at Chevron could probably do a little more.  

Click here to see what other suggestions the LCV has. 

I saw the first snowfall of the season yesterday. It lasted 10 minutes and melted before it hit the ground, but to me, that still counts. Winter is here and with it comes the winter blues. Scientists have blamed the bummer in moods on the decreased light exposure due to shorter days. These bad moods do not mean it is ok to turn up the thermostat and leave on the lights as these activities cannot make the sun stay up longer. Staying green when there is a chill in the air is a great way to help embrace the winter season.

 

If you haven’t noticed a trend in my blogs by now, the fastest way to feed my soul is through my belly! Don’t forget about your farmers’ markets. Many are still open. Squash and pumpkins are not only for decoration, but they’re delicious, nutritious, and in season. It is extremely easy to buy squash, pumpkins, and other produce like apples locally, even in a conventional food store. Nothing perfumes the home as well as fresh baked apple pie right from the oven. (To make the fruits of the season even warmer, invite friends and family over to share in a slice of the pie.)

 

When there’s a chill in the air even the best Jewish Environmentalist is tempted to turn up that thermostat… DON’T! Warm blankets, fair trade teas and coffees, and soy based candles are great ways to stay green and cozy. But, my all time favorite way to warm up is to snuggle! Snuggling can be done with friends, family members, puppies, and significant others, so turn on your favorite movie and get cozy.

 

Hannukah is not too far away ladies and gentlemen. This holiday has a stronger environmental meaning that I am sure we will all blog about as soon as Thanksgiving is over, but for now, embrace the seasonal ambiance of giving. Donate your time, leftovers, and smiles to those in need. Thanksgiving leftovers will be welcomed by local food shelters. It would not be the worst thing to TiVo the football game and spend a couple of hours serving Thanksgiving meal at a soup kitchen. It’s a mitzvah.

 

Stay in the sun on Shabbat. The cold morning temperatures make it tempting to drive to Synagogue on Shabbat, but like I said, winter blues is the result of not being in the sun. So make it a point to bundle up and walk as a family.

 

These are just a few ways to beat winter blues … What are some ways you stay green in the winter?

Hundreds of citizens gathered on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to demand that our next Congress and Administration make climate change a priority during their first 100 days in office. In an event organized by the 1Sky campaign and a host of other environmental groups, these activists came together to demand that President-elect Obama honor his campaign promises to confront the climate and energy crisis. Despite freezing temperatures (yes, I realize the irony of talking about the urgency of global warming on a cold winter day), they joined with one voice to declare that the United States MUST start tackling climate change in a meaningful way if we are to avoid disastrous environmental and economic repercussions. Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and Bill McKibben, environmental activist and founder of 350.org, inspired the crowd with speeches on the importance of climate change.

The first goal of the rally was to ensure that the President-elect send representatives to the international conference on climate change in Poznan, Poland in December. The world community will come together at this conference to decide how to tackle climate change moving forward, and it is vital that the U.S. represent itself at this meeting to show the world that we are finally ready to meaningfully engage and confront the climate crisis. As the activists in Washington presented a symbolic plane ticket to Poznan, thousands across the country met with the staffs of over 200 Members of Congress to ensure that they will work with the new President to cut our carbon emissions.

We are at a critical moment on this issue, as scientists agree that we are nearing (if not past) a climate ‘tipping point,’ after which we may not be able to mitigate or adapt to the worst effects of global climate change. A grassroots movement around the country is sending this message loud and clear to our government, and the Jewish community needs to be a vocal member of this coalition. Our obligations to care for our Earth and to speak out for the most vulnerable among us mean that confronting climate change is a moral and religious obligation, and a central piece of our task of ‘tikkun olam.’

To take part in the effort, you can fill out the RAC action alert urging President-elect Obama to make climate change a priority in his first 100 days in office, and visit your local elected official to send the same message in person. Visit the 1sky campaign for more information and resources, and to join the movement to make sure that this urgent problem is addressed beyond this day of action.

Rachel is an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant working on environment and energy issues at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington, DC. She will be a regular guest blogger on To Till and To Tend this year, posting entries every other Thursday. This, and all of Rachel’s entries, can also be found on the Religious Action Center blog.

It’s hard to ignore the growing financial crisis.  It dominates the headlines and our dinner table conversations.  It’s also dominating the political space – to the detriment of action on climate change.

 

Even before our economic situation reached its current low, US leaders declared action on climate change would drive the US economy over a cliff.  And last month, the Guardian reported that the European Union may “renege on climate change commitments” because of the financial crisis.  To “save money,” European officials have hinted they may not require polluters to purchase emission permits.  Yet climate legislation is the key to generating money needed to help refuel a struggling economy.  The Lieberman-Warner bill that the Senate considered last spring promised to generate $300 billion for research and development in renewable energy and $800 billion to help defray the costs of climate change legislation on the poor.  And while many celebrated President Elect Obama’s declaration last week that climate change was his “number two” priority (after, of course, the economy), this again ignores the fact that the two problems are one and the same: addressing climate change is the key to getting us out of the economic crisis.  Or, as Thomas Friedman queries in his October 21 Op-Ed, “Bailout (and Buildup)“: “Is the economic crisis going to be the end of green? … Or, could green be the way to end the economic crisis?“

 

Van Jones, author of the Green Collar Economy, clearly believes going green is the way to saving green.  In his words:  “If we were to weatherize and solarize America, we could power our way through this recession, we could cut carbon, we could increase the value of people’s homes and we could show that green solutions don’t cost more. They actually save people money.”  Though these initiatives may require an up-front investment, we’ll be able to pay the government back through energy savings.  And the up-front investment will create jobs. A lot of jobs.  Such spending will create more jobs per dollar invested than tax cuts, military spending, or oil and natural gas.  In fact, green investments could generate four times as many jobs as similar investments in the oil industry. 

 

So, if Congress really wants to stimulate the economy, it should start the green revolution by investing money in renewable energy and building retrofits.  A post-election poll sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation suggests the American public is finally recognizing these connections, with a majority of US voters agreeing that clean energy initiatives can help the economy.  There’s no doubt that our economy is floundering.  But, as Pete Altman at NRDC writes, the green revolution may be “just the stimulus we need.”

 Last week I picked up my last CSA share for the fall season. Every Thursday I have anxiously awaited a delivery of fresh produce, eager to see what I will be challenged to cook with next.  Not being on a meal plan, where everything is cooked for me three times a day, seven days a week, has been a hard transition from last year. Instead, I have to plan ahead as to what I need and what I have time to make.  Although there are many times when I’ll settle for an easy PB & J or even a Luna bar when hunger strikes, there’s something in knowing that I have at least some “special” produce in my kitchen that motivates me to cook dishes which do that produce justice. 

Justice! Yes! That’s what its all about! Food is very much about ethics as it is about my belly. When I think about belonging to a CSA (Roxbury Farm), I realize it is only through a community that I can best support local agriculture.  And it is through this community of Columbia University students that we make a statement. We say the local economy is important, eating food grown naturally, without harmful chemical fertilizers is important, eating produce appropriate with the seasons is important, and that human and environmental health is key. But there has to be more. I realize if food is about community and justice, then fresh, local food, must be available for all. 

It is not surprising then that food authors and activists like Michael Pollan and Andrew Kimbrell are speaking out and directing advice to president elect, Barack Obama.  In a recent gristmill article, Pollan says,“”I would urge the new president to appoint a Food Policy Czar in the White House. Why? Because, as I’ve written recently, progress on the all-important issues of energy independence, climate change, and health care costs depends on reform of the food system–and, crucially, an ability to connect all those dots when making policy.” Thinking locally, Kimbrell stated, “Let’s make communities food sufficient and significantly lower food prices. Let’s support farmers markets in economically disenfranchised urban areas that often have no access to supermarkets or healthy and safe food.” 

Both of these points, that food issues are connected to larger environmental and economic problems, and that we must secure lower-income communities with healthy, cheap food, ought to be highly considered by our new executive leadership. I am convinced we can use the model of a CSA on a national level. If we come together as a country to take a stand on human health, equality, and environmental justice, we can create change in all communities.

As I finish off the last tasty bits of my CSA acorn squash, I can’t help but think…Yes We Can!

 Environmentalists must be doing something right – Dixie, the maker of standard disposable plates is fighting back.  People are increasingly becoming aware that our garbage gets piled into a landfill and are consequently making conscious decisions to find alternatives.  Whether it’s vowing to never use disposables again, switching to biodegradable plates or simply using disposables less, people are finding alternatives to standard Dixie products. 

When our newly elected government takes office in January, one of the top issues on the agenda will be energy and climate policy, and one of loudest voices for the environment will be the faith community. If you still need evidence that the environment has become a religious issue, look no further than the newly released Green Bible. A joint project of the Sierra Club, the Humane Society, and the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program, the Green Bible aims to “equip and encourage people to see God’s vision for creation and help them engage in the work of healing and sustaining it.” 

More than a trendy spin on traditional religious text, the Green Bible is the basis for a plan of action for the Christian Creation Care movement. In addition to highlighting hundreds of passages related to the environment, the Green Bible includes essays from scholars and spiritual leaders including Pope John Paul II and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and advice on how to get more involved with the environmental movement. Practicing what it preaches, the Green Bible is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink, with a cover made from natural cotton and linen fibers. The release is gaining wide attention, with mentions in the New York Times and ABCNews. With Bible sales between $400 and $600 MILLION annually in the U.S. alone, and specialized Bibles for everyone from couples to sports fans, this attention comes as no surprise.

I commend the National Council of Churches for taking part in this ground-breaking effort to incorporate care for the earth into the fabric of religious life. The environmental Bible sends a clear message about the interests and priorities of contemporary Christians. This effort is both a market- and faith-based push for environmentalism, combining two of the major greening forces at play today.

The Bible carries a powerful message about our responsibility to care for our planet. The Jewish community can look to this project as a model as we update our own liturgy for the twenty-first century. While some may be skeptical of a ‘new take’ on the text, it is not necessary to modify the Torah to use it as a teaching tool- the message is already there. As we are told in Genesis, “The human being was placed in the Garden of Eden to till it and to tend it.”  Jewish environmentalism is fundamentally based in our sacred texts, and the Green Bible serves as yet another reminder of how strong a message these texts send.

Rachel is an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant working on environment and energy issues at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington, DC. She will be a regular guest blogger on To Till and To Tend this year, posting entries every other Thursday. This, and all of Rachel’s entries, can also be found on the Religious Action Center blog.

Today is a very big day.  Like me, I suspect each of you has been anticipating today’s election for months.  For the past two weeks, I have awoken with the same eager anticipation I experienced as a child on the eve before a trip to Disneyland.  Each morning I wake up with the jittery, giddy feeling that something really big is about to happen.  And something big is about to happen: because no matter who wins today’s election, we can bet that our country’s historic indifference about climate change is about to end. 

 

Voting is at the heart of Jewish tradition.  More than 2000 years ago, Rabbi Yitzchak taught that a ruler cannot be appointed without consulting the community. (Talmud, B’rachot 55a).  As Al Gore explained in his inspirational webcast last week, voting gives each of us the power to help shape the future of our nation.  I hope each of you takes advantage of this opportunity.  But this power – and obligation – to guide our leaders does not end with the simple act of casting our ballots.  Unlike a trip to Disneyland, we can’t simply pack up and scrapbook our memories when the polls close tonight. To the contrary, as Liore and I have previously written, our fight for a sustainable future is “a marathon, not a sprint.”  And the election does not mark the finish line.

 

Rather, the real work begins after the final ballot is counted.  That’s when we need to work with the new President to ask him to follow through with his campaign promises and help secure a more sustainable future.  That’s why I recently joined hundreds of other leaders from a broad spectrum of American society to sign a “Letter to the Next President,” calling on our leaders to “take bold and rapid action to address the daunting challenge of global climate change.”  And that’s why Betsy Taylor, founder of the 1-Sky Coalition will be leading a national organizing call at 12:00 EST tomorrow (Wednesday November 5) to talk about how grassroots action in the first 100 days will be essential to move beyond gridlock. [Call in: 1-218-486-8700, passcode 020509]

 

In his Prayer for Voting, Rabbi David Seidenberg recognizes that our vote has implications long beyond election day.  Seidenberg asks G-d to empower “all the people of this country” (and presumably our elected leaders) for:

 

[T]he strength and the will
to pursue righteousness and to seek peace as a unified force
in order to cause to flourish, throughout the world, good life and peace

 

For those of you who have already voted this morning, congratulations – you have taken an important first step in shaping the climate policy for our nation.  For those of you who haven’t, stop reading – and Go Vote! And tomorrow, don’t forget to remind our new leaders why you voted for them.

 

[Click here to print Rabbi Seidenberg's Prayer for Voting, a moving prayer for the voting booth]

[Click here to read and sign the Letter to the Next President demanding decisive action to address climate change]

[Click here to find your polling place]