Welcome to Shaaray Tefila’s Newest Initiative

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The Green Team

Our mission is to inspire our community to be stewards of the earth, consistent with our collective beliefs and with our commandments. Through our various initiatives and actions our focus is on helping reduce our carbon footprint and making our Temple campus a model of environmental stewardship.

Shaaray Tefila Sustainability Philosophy can be found HERE.

THE WORK HAS ALREADY BEGUN...

 

OUR ACTION STEPS

WE HAVE JOINED A LOCAL COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECT to enable renewable energy in New York State.

BENEFITS

 

  • We are enabling a solar energy project to be built in New York.
  • We are helping reduce greenhouse gases in the electricity grid.
  • We are saving the temple money! (We will be receiving a 10 percent discount on our electric bills)

 

 

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

*Sign up for Community Solar for your home (and receive a 10% discount on your electricity bill)

*For more information: https://sustainablewestchester.org/solar

*If you have questions, contact Karen Sabath.

WE HAVE DONE AN ENERGY AUDIT to assess TST’s energy use in the Main Building, Sanctuary and School Building

BENEFITS

  • We are initiating many big & small actions to reduce TST's carbon footprint
  • We now have the information to take steps towards upgrading our heating and air conditioning systems, adding temperature controls for heat and air conditioning and even changing more light bulbs

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

  • Schedule a home energy audit
  • Improve your home’s energy efficiency simply, from your thermostat settings to your light bulbs
  • Consider changing your heating and air conditioning system to more efficient electric options
  • Check for resources at Bedford 2030

WE ARE PLANTING OAK TREES THIS SPRING to help capture carbon and to support natural wildlife around the Temple property

BENEFITS

  • Oak trees are native to this region and by choosing to plant native trees (or shrubs or plants) that have always grown in this area, we are doing our part to support the native birds, bees butterflies and other necessary pollinators that help to create a healthy ecosystem
  • We will be bringing lots of new life and vibrancy to our Temple grounds
  • Trees and plants capture carbon from the atmosphere and help reduce our carbon footprint and the more we plant, the better

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

  • Plant “native” at home this spring
  • Support landscapers who understand the importance of native plantings
  • Think “Diversity” -- A balanced landscape, one that has many different plantings, creates a network and a more robust ecosystem.
  • Look into planting more than one thing, and with a little research, you will find there are many beautiful native options
  • Watch for updates on the oak tree planting at the Temple
  • For more information, check out the Native Plant Center

Message from Rabbi Wilfond

In Genesis, Chapter 2, our Torah reads that God took man and placed him in the garden of Eden, to till it and tend it.

In Psalm 24 we learn: "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof," a dramatic assertion of God's ownership of the land. Our Jewish tradition teaches us to care for our planet in order to preserve that which God has created. The Jewish concept of ba’al tashchit, "do not destroy," forbids needless destruction.

Environmental stewardship is the way in which we, as individuals, and a congregational community, can actualize our commitment to doing better for the planet, as we consider what inspires us from the natural world and how we can make our community healthier and more sustainable, both Jewishly and environmentally.

Interested in joining the Green Team? We always need more energized individuals to support our mission
Thank you to our Green Team Committee…

Interested in joining the Green Team? Click Here.

Our Green Team Committee

  • Ellen Chassin
  • Gary Cohn
  • Lesa Levine Greenfield
  • Joe Grossman
  • Sue Heifitz
  • Cathy Hildenbrand
  • Bob Karpel
  • Beth Metzger
  • Karen Sabath (chair)
  • Jill Seraita
  • Susan Shaw
  • Karen Spiegel
  • Brenda Yates
  • Harriett Zeller

Resources/Links

A Message from our Rabbinic Intern

This past Monday we celebrated the holiday, Tu B’Shvat! Tu B’shvat is a Jewish holiday that marks the birthday of the trees. I am grateful to be a part of a religion that celebrates one of God’s most precious creations. In our busy lives, it is so easy to overlook the beauty and value of trees. This holiday serves as a reminder to pause more often and appreciate the simple things surrounding us. 

On the topic of trees, I want to share with you something I learned recently. A unique tree stump was recently found in a forest in New Zealand – this tree stump keeps itself alive by holding onto the roots of its neighboring trees, exchanging water and resources through the grafted root system. Though the remnant stump appeared dead, a grafting of roots underground connects the part that looks dead to the healthy trees. I found this image to be so symbolic and reminiscent of our communities. For a community to sustain itself, it must imitate this grafted root system. It should make an effort to connect to all the individuals within the community, especially those who may be disconnected or lacking their sparks of life. In celebrating the birthday of the trees, my prayer is that we strive to imitate this grafted root system here at Shaaray Tefila. 

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbinic Intern, Ashira Boxman