Environmental Activism: Good For The Jews?

by Kara A. Kaufman As we feel the heat this summer--the unpleasant, sweaty results of global warming-- we wondered: How are Jewish organizations working on issues like climate change? As part of a series on faith and the environment, Moment interviewed Sybil Sanchez, the director of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life. COEJL, which is part of the larger Jewish Council for Public Affairs, strategically partners with a host of organizations to conserve energy and support policies that encourage sustainability. In the process, it helps to expand notions of Jewish values such as tikkun olam (repairing the world), g’milut hasadim (deeds of loving kindness) and tzedek (justice). Read lightly edited excerpts below, or listen to the full interview. What got you interested in this work? I’ve been working in the Jewish community on issues and advocacy and...

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