SHABBAT NOACH AND INTERNATIONAL 350 DAY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

A CALL TO OBSERVE SHABBAT NOACH, OCTOBER 9-10,2010, AS THE SECOND ANNUAL "GLOBAL CLIMATE HEALING SHABBAT"

The Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, as well as leaders and organizations of many other streams of Jewish life, have endorsed a call to focus Shabbat Noach on October 9-10, 2010 as Climate Healing Shabbat. The Torah passage for that Shabbat lends itself to focusing on the danger of destruction of life on our planet, and also on the actions we need to take to prevent destruction and preserve the web of life in which the human race has emerged and created civilization.

We urge congregations to bring sermons, prayer, song, poetry, midrash, resolutions, invitations to public officials, etc., to focus on this issue.
  
The international observance of "Global Climate Healing Shabbat Noach" is a prelude to the crucial United Nations conference on the climate crisis scheduled for December, 2010.

Click here for JRF resources as part of COEJL's Guide (http://www.coejl.org/shabbat_noach.php) to materials from the North American Jewish Green Chevre network of organizations for Shabbat Noach 5771

We call on Jews not only to green our own households and communal buildings but also to work for major public policy changes away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy use in transportation, food production, housing, and other dimensions of our society.

Jewish tradition about caring for the poor also guides us to make sure that industries and regions especially affected must get help from the whole society, and that poor countries also get special help to develop on a non-fossil path and to ward off the destructive effects of climate change.

350 represents more than just a scientific benchmark for a safe climate www.350.org/people/faith – there are also deeply moral and spiritual reasons for getting the world back below 350 ppm CO2.  Social justice, creation care, stewardship, earth community, beloved community – there are many ways we can name and express our moral and spiritual perspectives on this issue. 

350.org is planning another global event - this year on 10/10/10.  Whereas last year we had a very successful coordinated global day of demonstrations, this year the theme is a "Global Work Party". And what exactly is a "Work Party"?  That is up to you.  The idea is an event which embodies the idea of getting to work to address climate change.  This can be at the scale of your block, neighborhood, city and onwards. 

See extensive JRF resources on Sustainability at http://jrf.org/climate

Sign on as part of the JRF supported Jewish Climate Change Initiative at http://jrf.org/Jewish-Climate-Change-Initiative

The full JRF Resolution on the Environment can be seen at http://jrf.org/showres&rid=262

For a list of sponsoring organizations and clergy see http://www.shalomctr.org/node/1517

You can also find additional information through the Shalom Center website (http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/602/t/4180/event/index.jsp?event_KEY=50242)

Visit the Shabbat Noach Resource Guide from the Green Chevre

COEJL and the Green Chevre network that includes, among others: Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Canfei Nesharim, Hazon, the Shalom Center, and the JRF and the Reconstructionist Movement, have combined efforts to compile a resource guide around Shabbat Noach. Visit the resource page here. Learn more and share it with your community.

Join Our Upcoming Webinar on "The Story of Noah and its Relationship to Climate Change." Flag the date October 7th at 10:30 AM EST (subject to change) Check back soon for details.

Download Rabbinic Resources for the High Holy Days and Shabbat Noach

In our effort to energize all of Jewish life to be more meaningful, COEJL offers you a full set of green-tinged rabbinic resources for the upcoming Yamim Noraim, Sukkot, and Parshat Noach. Download the resources here.

Here's what you can do to participate:

• Green your Shabbat Noah! Give - or ask your Rabbi/congregational leader to give - an environmentally-themed d'var torah or Lunch N' Learn at your synagogue.
• Host or join an event bringing awareness to 350 and do something to help reduce climate change. (You can run a energy-efficient light bulb campaign, work in a community garden, gather people together for a bike ride, host a meal with sustainable food options. Many other participating events can be found at 350.org)

Take a picture of your 10/10/10 event with a visual sign of 350, send it do us and post it on 350.org. We'd love to see what you come up with!