19 Elul 5782 Friends, As this shmita year draws to a close and we reflect on the ecological and social justice imperatives in these parashot of Devarim, the time for action is upon us. With a myriad of personal and collective possibilities available, I want to lift up a couple of immediate ones. Dayenu, A Jewish Call to Climate Action Dayenu, A Jewish Call to Climate Action , is running their Chutzpah 2022 campaign, partnering with the non partisan Environmental Voter Project with the following goals: To increase the salience of climate change in the midterm elections – to put climate top of mind for voters and for candidates for office To increase voter turnout; and to Grow the power of the Jewish climate movement - that is, to let our Jewish communities know that climate is a top priority for Jewish communities, and we are backing that up with our time and our volunteerism. The campaign is laser focused on the lowest hanging fruit in the upcoming state elections: Jewish environmental voters (climate is their #1 priority) in swing states who have not voted in previous midterm elections. Through phone banking every Tuesday and Thursday night between now and Election Day, I am inviting you to join me and hundreds of other volunteers from Dayenu in these efforts. It’s fun, important and makes a difference! Here is the link to sign up for a shift. Sukkot Gathering - Refuat Adamah Climate Change impacts our entire planet. For each of us the devastation is both personal and communal. Earlier this summer on Tisha B’Av, I held an earth healing circle ( refuat adamah ) to gather folks together to allow us to experience our inner responses to the condition of our world and help build our capacity to take part in its/our healing. I am aware that there is a deep grief that eats away inside of me and I need to find healthy ways to lament, explore and share this with loving hearted kindred spirits. Do you? If you are interested in attending on helping create this healing ritual that will take place during Sukkot please contact me at your convenience and stay tuned for more details on time and location. Shabbat Bachutz is returning! SAVE THE DATES: October 22, November 19, and December 17. More info to come! As Elul winds down and we prepare to enter the New Year, may we all be blessed with the strength, calm and resilience needed to care for ourselves and others in this climate changing world. Peace, Lorin Troderman Please contact Lorin for more info at ljtroderman@gmail.com .

Like to cool the planet, reduce waste, and improve health with one simple act? Carry a refillable container for water and participate in the mitzvah of healing the world. To encourage our awareness of what’s best for ourselves and the planet, the Temple has installed an Elkay water filter and dispenser outside the main bathrooms. It not only provides great tasting water, it tracks the number of 20-ounce water bottles avoided by its use. And waste reduction is key! We are the generation that is taking responsibility for ensuring that we don't continue on the path of careless use of the bounties of the earth. Disposable plastic bottles are filling our landfills and polluting our seas. Here are a few facts : 1 million plastic bottles are purchased in the US every minute 8 million tons of plastic end up in the world’s oceans every 12 months 1,500 plastic bottles are thrown away every second of every day 91% of the world’s plastic bottles are not recycled It can take up to 300 years for a bottle to fragment, and after it does it still never disappears  The Jewish value of bal tashchit (do not destroy - Devarim 20:19 ) leaps off the Torah scroll in regards to trees and morphs through the generations to instill valuable lessons regarding our relationship with the more than human world. Using refillable containers and water bottles helps cultivate a mitzvah consciousness as we appreciate the precious gifts our planet’s unique life systems offer. So bring your reusable container, whether fancy or plain, and enjoy the delicious taste of clean water while reducing our use of plastic and building our community’s environmental mitzvah capacity.