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Jewish groups mobilize to fight climate change
from March 2023
BY FRAN OSTENDORF — PROVIDENCE
On Feb. 7, some 40 people gathered to learn about the Jewish climate movement’s efforts to fight climate change both locally and nationally.
JAKIR MANELA , CEO of the nonprofit organization Hazon, along with Rachel Siegal, chief development officer at Hazon, were featured speakers at “A Jewish Response to Climate Change: A Briefing and Conversation with Hazon.” The program, held at the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community Center, was chaired by Mitzi Berkelhammer and sponsored by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.
Manela and Siegal explained how the climate crisis affects everyone around the world. Their words had a uniquely Jewish focus as they discussed what groups in the United States are doing to help local communities. And they pointed out that the climate crisis is deeply affecting Israel, a situation that we often don’t consider here in the U.S. Israel is one of the regions most impacted by the changing climate, Sigel said.
Hazon, according to its mission statement, is “leading a transformative movement weaving sustainability into the fabric of Jewish life, in order to create a healthier, more sustainable and more equitable world for all.”
Siegal talked to the group about the reality of climate-change anxiety.
“One of the challenges is how do we create solutions,” she said. “We know climate change is human-induced, and we don’t all experience it equally.”
Hazon has organized groups across the U.S. into the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition. The Alliance has signed on. Like the other organizations involved, the Alliance will put together a climate action plan to work toward carbon neutrality, said Adam Greenman, president and CEO.
“The Alliance is already one of the leaders in this area,” he said after the program. “We get nearly 100% of our electricity from solar.”
At the program, Greenman explained why the Alliance is taking a leadership role in environmental action.
“I am excited to be talking about this topic and partnering with Hazon,” he said. “It all came into
