Inserting climate into the Jewish conversation

In 2009, Jonathan Sacks – the late chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth – urged the Jewish community to dedicate a Shabbat focused on environmental protection.

Today, the Jewish Climate Network (JCN) continues his legacy with Climate Shabbat, an annual initiative that aims to activate the Jewish community’s response to climate change.

“Shabbat is such a powerful Jewish ritual,” JCN’s programs manager Ash Densham told The Jewish Independent.

“The Shabbat dinner table is something that Jewish families gather around every single week of the year. We have 52 opportunities to come together each year, and we thought it was just a beautiful opportunity to put climate at the forefront of people's discussions.”

This year’s programming focuses on quality over quantity, with six panels and talks that address the multifaceted impacts of climate change hosted by Jewish organisations and shules.

In Melbourne, lawyer David Morris will discuss the intersection of law and environmental activism at Kehilat Nitzan; Air Vice-Marshal John Blackburn AO will unpack the threat of climate change to Australia’s security at Caulfield Shule; and Young Jewish Professionals will host a panel of changemakers who are addressing climate action through sport, AI, entrepreneurship and recruitment.

In Sydney, Emanuel Synagogue's inner west Kol Nefesh service will be joined by climate organiser and strategist Daniel Sherrell to discuss the climate policies that will shape the next federal election; Vaucluse MP Kellie Sloane will visit Central Synagogue to talk about her experience working on climate action from within the political sphere; and JCN’s Head of NSW Mitch Burnie will speak at The Great Synagogue about the intersection of Jewish communal advocacy and climate action.