Second Jewish Climate Action Conference: The Time is Short, the Task is Great

Summary

​WITH ABOUT 250 PARTICIPANTS, THE 2019 CONFERENCE AT TEMPLE REYIM WAS UNIVERSALLY RATED AN INSPIRATIONAL SUCCESS. EXHIBITORS COMMENTED ON THE SOPHISTICATION OF THEIR CONTACTS WITH ATTENDEES, AND ATTENDEES PRAISED THE QUALITY OF THE TALKS AND INTERACTIONS.  

This half-day conference brought the Jewish community together to explore surmounting challenges and mobilizing communities to act. Learn actions for individuals and congregations to take on the path forward in the coming years. Build connections. Learn from and with experts and leaders. Themes include: Sustainable Synagogues, Systemic Change Advocacy, Spirituality and Psychology, Food and Ecosystems, The Arts, Food Making, and Path for the Next 12 Years. A plenary session on “How Do We Engage Our Congregations in Climate Action?” equipped us to move forward.  

Partners for this conference were the Synagogue Council of MA, Beantown Jewish Gardens, LimmudBoston, and Temple Reyim. It was also supported in part by a grant from the New England Grassroots Environment Fund.

​SPONSORS

​GREAT SESSIONSWe have a great lineup of sessions and session leaders for the conference. Themes include advocacy, eco-food systems, coping with climate change, education, finances, food and waste, sustainable synagogues, and much more. See schedule above. Our conference is attracting teens and youth, for which a special workshop is provided.

VENDORS AND NETWORKING Participants will have time to talk with non-profit and for-profit vendors in the exhibit hall in order to learn about community resources, activities, environmental justice opportunities, and Jewish organizations. Get ideas for sustainable solutions, find out what else you can do.

Madeline Hirschland. Founder and Chair, Solarize Indiana.

​PLENARY TALK

​Madeline Hirschland shifted from her poverty alleviation work in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East (Gates Foundation, Save the Children, USAID, World Bank) to motivating  individuals and congregations to take climate action. She co-founded  Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light, which now has a statewide presence; founded Solarize Indiana, which increased residential solar in  Indiana by 20% in six months. Her plenary talk is entitled “How Do We Engage Our Communities in Climate Action?” While many people understand that climate change is real, largely  human-caused and a grave threat, translating this awareness into  congregational or other community action can be challenging. How can we  surmount the challenges and mobilize our communities to act? Drawing on  research, success stories and our own experience, this participatory  session will equip us to move our congregations forward.    

​VENDORS AND NETWORKING Participants will have time to talk with non-profit and for-profit vendors in the exhibit hall in order to learn about community resources, activities, environmental justice opportunities, and Jewish organizations. Get ideas for sustainable solutions, find out what else you can do.

​VEGAN DINNER & CLOSING PLENARY​The conference will end with a vegan dinner prepared by local chefs and conference participants. Sign up for the Food-Making session if you are interested in learning about vegan meal planning and preparation. During dinner, the closing plenary will include talks by leaders in the climate community including Mindy S. Lubber (Ceres), Leora Mallach (Beantown Jewish Gardens), a video from Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass), and other speakers. Singing and fun too!

Mindy Lubber, CEO and President of Ceres, a sustainability nonprofit organization working with influential investors and companies to build leadership