Global/Climate Healing Shabbat
Dear friends,
Shabbat October 23-24th is Shabbat Noah, the week in which we read about Noah, the ark, the flood and the rainbow. It has also been designated as “Global/Climate Healing Shabbat”, 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 life. Jewish teachings have much to say on this important topic that will be the focus of our study this week.
Below is a letter from The Shalom Center (abridged) with specific, easy steps we can each take to make a difference. I urge you to take a moment to review the letter to our senators link and if you are in agreement, add your voice to the call to adopt the Kerry-Boxer bill, or engage in other productive ways to protect our environment.
Rabbi Sharfman
Dear shalom-seekers,
We are at a great choice point for healing the planetary climate crisis — the most dangerous crisis in all human history, but one we can still heal.
Before I explain why and how, let me say right away that we have made it possible and easy for you to write your Senators to support climate-healing action.
And I also want to say right away that in accord with next Shabbat (October 23-24, the story of the Flood & Rainbow) having been proclaimed Climate Healing Shabbat, and in the light of calls for world-wide action on Oct. 24 by many environmental leaders, I hope you will urge your own synagogue, church, or masjid board or social action committee; your havurah, local chapter of the PTA or teachers union or AJCommittee or National Council of Jewish Women; your local Jewish or church newspaper, to take a stand urging strong climate-healing action by your Senators.
Why is it so important to act NOW?
Because the US Senate is now considering a major, flawed, but useful bill to heal our plant from global scorching.
And why is that so important?
Because the US contributes far more per capita to global scorching by our over-use of fossil fuels than any other country. So the first turning point will be getting the US government to define this as a great issue by passing a major bill, even if it has important flaws.
IF that happens, other major governments (outside Europe, which is well ahead) will have good reason to move as well, and the Copenhagen conference may point forward instead of bogging down in despair.
And if a major bill is passed, that COULD – it depends on us, the people – energize instead of lulling major public action by Americans. (The early civil rights bills and court actions in the 1950s were inadequate, but they encouraged widespread committed public action, and that in turn moved Congress to do much more.)
The US Senate now has before it a flawed but useful bill co-sponsored by Barbara Boxer of California and John Kerry of Massachusetts, with unexpected and important strong public support from Lindsey Graham, a Southern Republican — offered on some conditions. His support is important because it may well open the way for other Republicans, who will be necessary to reach the 60 required votes. In the view of one of the wisest and most knowledgeable analysts of Congresssional enviro policy, David Roberts of Grist on-line enviro magazine, there is now reason for cautious optimism about the Senate’s passing a bill. Roberts, though he views Graham’s conditions as odious (allowing but not mandating off-shore oil drilling and nuclear power) thinks they will have little actual ecological down-sides because few companies expect to make money from drilling or nukes, whereas the finances of wind and solar energy are much more attractive.
So I urge you, our members, readers, and activists, to act NOW, especially using the momentum of the Shabbat of Noah (October 24) and its proclamation as Climate Healing Shabbat — to work hard for the Senate bill. I urge you to write this week to your Senators to urge them to support the Kerry-Boxer bill, and to keep it strong.
Click here to find a model letter and an easy way to fax your Senators I hope you will add your own words.
And I hope you will follow up by getting your own clubs, organizations, newspapers, and friends to take a stand supporting the bill and letting your Senators know. You could do this easily just by forwarding this letter to your friends, co-workers, and key local leaders.
With blessings of shalom, salaam, peace! —
— Rabbi Arthur Waskow
Dear friends,
Shabbat October 23-24th is Shabbat Noah, the week in which we read about Noah, the ark, the flood and the rainbow. It has also been designated as “Global/Climate Healing Shabbat”, 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 life. Jewish teachings have much to say on this important topic that will be the focus of our study this week.
Below is a letter from The Shalom Center (abridged) with specific, easy steps we can each take to make a difference. I urge you to take a moment to review the letter to our senators link and if you are in agreement, add your voice to the call to adopt the Kerry-Boxer bill, or engage in other productive ways to protect our environment.
Rabbi Sharfman
Dear shalom-seekers,
We are at a great choice point for healing the planetary climate crisis — the most dangerous crisis in all human history, but one we can still heal.
Before I explain why and how, let me say right away that we have made it possible and easy for you to write your Senators to support climate-healing action.
And I also want to say right away that in accord with next Shabbat (October 23-24, the story of the Flood & Rainbow) having been proclaimed Climate Healing Shabbat, and in the light of calls for world-wide action on Oct. 24 by many environmental leaders, I hope you will urge your own synagogue, church, or masjid board or social action committee; your havurah, local chapter of the PTA or teachers union or AJCommittee or National Council of Jewish Women; your local Jewish or church newspaper, to take a stand urging strong climate-healing action by your Senators.
Why is it so important to act NOW?
Because the US Senate is now considering a major, flawed, but useful bill to heal our plant from global scorching.
And why is that so important?
Because the US contributes far more per capita to global scorching by our over-use of fossil fuels than any other country. So the first turning point will be getting the US government to define this as a great issue by passing a major bill, even if it has important flaws.
IF that happens, other major governments (outside Europe, which is well ahead) will have good reason to move as well, and the Copenhagen conference may point forward instead of bogging down in despair.
And if a major bill is passed, that COULD – it depends on us, the people – energize instead of lulling major public action by Americans. (The early civil rights bills and court actions in the 1950s were inadequate, but they encouraged widespread committed public action, and that in turn moved Congress to do much more.)
The US Senate now has before it a flawed but useful bill co-sponsored by Barbara Boxer of California and John Kerry of Massachusetts, with unexpected and important strong public support from Lindsey Graham, a Southern Republican — offered on some conditions. His support is important because it may well open the way for other Republicans, who will be necessary to reach the 60 required votes. In the view of one of the wisest and most knowledgeable analysts of Congresssional enviro policy, David Roberts of Grist on-line enviro magazine, there is now reason for cautious optimism about the Senate’s passing a bill. Roberts, though he views Graham’s conditions as odious (allowing but not mandating off-shore oil drilling and nuclear power) thinks they will have little actual ecological down-sides because few companies expect to make money from drilling or nukes, whereas the finances of wind and solar energy are much more attractive.
So I urge you, our members, readers, and activists, to act NOW, especially using the momentum of the Shabbat of Noah (October 24) and its proclamation as Climate Healing Shabbat — to work hard for the Senate bill. I urge you to write this week to your Senators to urge them to support the Kerry-Boxer bill, and to keep it strong.
Click here to find a model letter and an easy way to fax your Senators I hope you will add your own words.
And I hope you will follow up by getting your own clubs, organizations, newspapers, and friends to take a stand supporting the bill and letting your Senators know. You could do this easily just by forwarding this letter to your friends, co-workers, and key local leaders.
With blessings of shalom, salaam, peace! —
— Rabbi Arthur Waskow