TWO NAT’ JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS ASK – HOW MANY JEWS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE LIGHT B

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TWO NAT’ JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS ASK – HOW MANY JEWS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE LIGHT BULB?
For Hanukkah, COEJL/JCPA ask the Jewish Jewish Community to engage in energy conservation by switching to energy efficient light bulbs


NEW YORK – In time for Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, two national organizations are asking the Jewish Jewish Community to add modern-day twist to their holiday celebration by switching from regular light bulbs to energy efficient, cost effective compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. This contemporary Hanukkah celebration is part of a larger climate change campaign, “ Light Among the Nations,” launched by the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA).

From Iowa to Florida, New Hampshire to New Mexico, congregations and Jewish institutions numbering nearly 500 throughout the country and representing all denominations (Reform, Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Renewal and Chabad) of the Jewish Jewish Community will participate in the campaign with special events during Hanukkah. Some examples include: the lighting of public chanukiah with CFL bulbs at the Chicago Jewish Federation offices; engagement of local legislators and political conversations as part of a Hanukkah celebration in Minneapolis; the installation of a CFL bulb in the ner tamid in Atlanta; and the lighting of a custom-built, CFL-compatible chanukiah in a suburban Philadelphia synagogue.

The campaign, also known as “How Many Jews Does it Take to Change Light Bulb?,” seeks to engage American Jewry in awareness, advocacy and concrete action to help stop global warming, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and conserve energy.

Global greenhouse gas emissions are projected to increase average Earth temperatures by 2.5 to 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit in this century, bringing rising seas, major weather and agricultural disruptions, environmental refugees, migrating diseases, and other dangers that most harm the planet' poor and vulnerable.

“We are thrilled about the response we’ve had to the campaign so far,” said Barbara Lerman-Golomb, COEJL’ executive director. “It is truly remarkable that tens of thousands of members of the Jewish Jewish Community will be commemorating Hanukkah by working to fulfill one of the greatest tenets of Judaism – tikkun olam (repairing the world). Each day the number of participants and the demand for CFLs being purchased through COEJL is growing. We estimate that we will be reaching to 50,000 bulbs sold which will prevent over 18,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from entering our atmosphere."

The campaign is inspiring bright ideas to enhance the holiday celebration in terms of awareness of the issue of energy conservation. In addition to the planned events, many synagogues are also handing out bulbs as part of their Hanukkah service and celebration. Hanukkah begins Friday evening, December 15 and continues for eight days.

“Climate change is causing climate injustice around the world,” says Rabbi Steve Gutow, executive director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. “As Jews we can not stand idly by as others suffer.”

If every U. . household changed just one CFL bulb, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions would be the same as taking 1.3 million cars off the road. CFLS save approximately $55 over the lifetime of the bulb and last up to eight times longer than regular incandescents.

The JCPA and COEJL are also advocating that action taken by individuals and Jewish Community organizations needs to be matched by such comparable initiatives by government and business as: mandatory action to curb U. . greenhouse gas emissions; further development and use of fuel-efficient vehicles and energy-efficient appliances; regional and state renewable electricity standards; and repeal of subsidies to multinational oil and gas companies that continue our dependence on foreign oil.

“Judaism prohibits wasteful consumption,” Lerman-Golomb continues. “Engaging American Jewry in this simple step – changing light bulb – will have a huge impact on not only reducing energy consumption, but on bringing about awareness of our energy use in this country.”