JCRC - Social Justice

On January 31, over 40 members and friends of the Jewish Environmental Initiative (JEI), a program of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), gathered at the home of JEI member David Gottlieb to celebrate Tu BShevat. JEI Chair Rabbi Randy Fleisher led a Tu BShevat Seder. The event also commemorated the 10th Anniversary of JEI. Longtime JEI member Alan Elfanbaum received the Alfred Kahn Shomrei Adamah Award for his leadership on environmental issues in the Jewish Community. The award was presented by JEI member Susan Mlynarczyk. Alfred Kahn, one of the founders of JEI who initiated the group’s tree planting efforts, was remembered. Eve Dyson, one of Kahn’s daughters, also attended the event. See pictures below:

JEI members and friends of all ages gather for the Tu B'Shevat Seder

Above left: Host David Gottlieb (center) with the Seder Plate
Above right: From left to right: Alfred Kahn Shomrei Adamah Awardee Alan Elfanbaum, JEI Chair, Rabbi Randy Fleisher, JEI member, Susan Mlynarczyk

Teen Initiative

The Jewish Environmental Initiative is excited to introduce it's newest program--a group for teens interested in environmental issues. The JEI Teen group is for any Jewish teen (9th grade and above) who would like to explore the connections between Judaism and caring for the Earth. The group meets every other month and plans activites and projects of all kinds--from researching environmental topics to doing presentations for youth groups to taking nature hikes. If interested in learning more about the JEI Teen group, contact Gail Wechsler at gwechsler@jcrcstl.org or 314-442-3894.

Visit to R Farm (farm of the Tuv Ha'Aretz CSA)
On Sunday, October 18, JEI members and others in the Jewish community gathered for the first Project Noah 2009 community event: a trip to a local, organic farm. Those attending toured R Pizza Farm, located in Dow, Illinois, which supplies the produce for the Jewish Community Supported Agriculature (CSA) program, Tuv Ha'Aretz. JEI is one of the sponsoring organizations for Tuv Ha'Aretz. Some pictures are below.

               Above pictures from the visit to R Farm:
     Left: Dianna Root explains how fall crops are harvested
     Center: Gabby Levine with fresh-picked sweet potatoes
      Right: Hannah Cropf with fresh-picked tomatoes

                     Above: JEI members learn about "R Pizza" organic farm

St. Louis Jewish Book Festival Environmental Program
On Friday, November 6, JEI co-sponsored the Green event at the 2009 St. Louis Jewish Book Festival. Cambria Gordon, co-author of "The Down to Earth Guide to Global Warming," talked about why global warming threatens our planet and why we are obligated as Jews to take action to reduce it. She provided examples of activities taking place by people of all ages to improve the environment, including school recycling drives and efforts to reduce use of nonbiodegradable products.

Author Cambria Gordon, JCRC Director of Domestic Issues, Gail
Wechsler, JEI member Susan Mlynarczyk

Community Resources for Project Noah—There are many ways that synagogues, day schools and others in the Jewish community can do more to protect the environment. Below are materials that offer a variety of ways you can increase your awareness and act to better protect the planet:

Eco-Friendly Educational Ideas for All Ages

Green Tsuvah Survey for Teens

Tips for an Eco-Friendly Simcha

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Green Pathways Out of Poverty: A Vision for the Future

A diverse audience of close to 125 people came to CRC on Tuesday night, November 3 to attend the forum "Green Pathways Out of Poverty: A Vision for the Future." Speakers included Joe Thomas, Missouri Coordinator for Apollo Alliance, Kyle Hunsberger of Habitat for Humanity St. Louis, Jackie Timm with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Annie Mayrose of Gateway Greening and Missouri State Representative Jeanette Mott Oxford. A wide range of programs that provide green jobs training and greening of area housing stock in low-income communities were discussed. In a call to action, JCRC Social Justice Chair Phyllis Markus urged those attending to sign post cards to Missouri's Senators in support of two pieces of federal legislations that would create more green jobs for low-income individuals. The event was sponsored by JCRC and a coalition of community groups, including area environmental groups and groups focused on reducing poverty.

JCRC Social Justice Chair Phyllis                             Joe Thomas talks about programs
Markus welcomes the audience                              of the Apollo Alliance to Green
                                                                         low-income neighborhoods

Kyle Hunsberger of Habitat for                              Gateway Greening's Annie Mayrose
Humanity describes building LEED                         describes the City Seeds Program
certified housing for first time homeowners

Audience members listen to a call to action

Joe Thomas, Missouri Chapter of Apollo Alliance www.apolloalliance.org (click on “State and Local” and then into “Missouri” for info on the Missouri Chapter)

There are several bills currently being considered by Congress that would benefit lower-income communities in need of more green jobs. In the Senate, the Green Construction Careers Demonstration Project and the Green Jobs Act, both of which are part of the new Kerry-Boxer Climate Change Act, would fund green jobs. We need to let Missouri’s Senators know that we support keeping those provisions in the Kerry-Boxer Bill and that we need to strengthen them by including funding way past the date in the current bill, which is 2013.

In addition, we have an opportunity to urge our Senators to introduce a bill similar to a terrific bill now pending in the House of Representatives. The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act (HR 2269) would create a minimum of 100,000 prevailing wage jobs and training opportunities for local and displaced workers in the Gulf Coast region devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These jobs and training opportunities would focus on projects reinvesting in infrastructure and restoring the coastal environment using emerging green building techniques. It would help residents struggling in poverty as well as residents with disabilities and who are from minority and immigrant communities. Ask Missouri’s Senators today to introduce a bill comparable to the Gulf Coat Civic Works Act in the Senate.

Call Senator McCaskill at: 314-367-1364 or 202-224-6154

Call Senator Bond at: 314-725-4484 or 202-224-5721

Organic Gardening Event Update
By Janessa Hall, JEI Committee

On Sunday July 26, 2009, approximately 30 people attended “How to Plant an Organic Vegetable Garden,” a hands on program sponsored by JEI and co-sponsored by St. Louis Chapter Hadassah, the JCC’s Tuv Ha’Aretz CSA program and Lincoln University Cooperative Extension. This event took place at the home of Maxine Mirowitz. Those attending received a garden tour and a presentation on the basics of organic vegetable gardening by Trish Grim, regional small farm specialist, and Karen Davis, regional horticulture specialist, both affiliated with Lincoln University Cooperative Extension. Actual planting demonstrations were included as part of the program, along with a question and answer session.