URJ - Synagogue Architecture - Environmental Responsibility

Judaism values taking an active role in the battles for social justice in the community at large and congregations are charged with creating righteous synagogue communities. Some of the most timely and pressing concerns facing everyone pertain to environmental responsibility and the core Jewish value of tikkun olam, repairing the world.

There are a myriad of opportunities for congregations to model environmentally responsible behavior that can provide long-term financial savings and establish the synagogue as a center of Jewish social conscience:

Purchasing products that are environmentally safe and that conserve energy
Reducing waste
Recycling
Conserving water
Exploring fuel efficiency and alternative modes of transportation
Planting and landscape care
Developing educational programs for the religious school and congregation

Temple Emanuel
Kensington, Maryland
A Congregation's Story of Environmental Awareness

Coalition on the Environmnet and Jewish Life (COEJL)
Provides extensive information and resources with a distinctly Jewish approach to environmental concerns.