About Us – JCAN

About the Jewish Climate Action Network - MA

Mobilizing communities to take leadership in bold climate campaigns through education and reducing carbon footprints.

Why JCAN? Why we Jews? Why you?

Dealing with the human existential crisis of global climate change is our ultimate task of Tikkun Olam, repairing of the world, for which we are all responsible. If we cannot slow climate change, limit its eventual scope, and preserve the livability of this Earth for generations to come, then nothing else matters.

MISSION STATEMENT

Jewish Climate Action Network seeks to:

Sound out an urgent and visionary Jewish voice on the crisis of climate change.
Build relationships with environmental and justice leaders in Jewish and other communal organizations.
Inspire and mobilize Jewish communities to take leadership and participate in bold climate campaigns
Develop and provide informational resources to allies working on climate change action

JCAN’S WORK INCLUDES:

Education: Holding educational conferences, workshops, and talks on issues relating to climate change, including greening our synagogues, lifestyles, and homes.
Activism: Engaging in local, national, and global campaigns such as #LightforLima and the People’s Climate Marches, and advocating for laws, regulation, and funding that combat climate change and related environmental harms.
Organizing: Coordinating efforts to reduce energy use in Jewish institutions, working with green teams, and encouraging Jewish institutions to move their investments from environmentally destructive companies to portfolios that have a positive impact on people and the environment.

JCAN HISTORY

JCAN was started in December of 2013 by Rabbi Katy Allen and Elie Gerzon who saw the need for a Jewish voice in response to the climate crisis. They wanted to bring together Jewish leaders and activists to explore resilience, solutions, and community response. The First Jewish Climate Action Conference was held at Hebrew College in 2015 and attracted 100 people. At the Second Jewish Climate Action Conference in 2019, held at Temple Reyim, 250 people attended. The goal was to explore surmounting challenges and mobilize communities to act. The Third Jewish Climate Action Conference in 2021 was online and it attracted 500. The 40 sessions focused on carbon reduction, advocacy, spiritual resilience, soil and agriculture, raised up the voices of youth, and addressed environmental justice. The Fourth Jewish Climate Action Conference focused on how we can work together. Our goal was to inspire participants by the ongoing successful collaborative efforts underway and offer strategies for living a resilient and hopeful life in these troubled times. JCAN-MA puts on about 30-50 educational webinars and programs each year, free and accessible to all.

OTHER JCAN CHAPTERS

JCAN – NEW YORK CITY – Jews in New York mobilized to take action against climate change
JCAN – GREATER DC AREA – Jews in Maryland, Virginia, and DC
JCAN – GEORGIA – Jews in Georgia in coalition to increase awareness regarding the climate