What we do

The JCRC’s Environmental Initiative is dedicated to educating and mobilizing JCRC constituent groups and the Jewish community on environmental issues, ranging from climate change to energy security and independence, recycling and reducing waste, preserving natural resources and limiting carbon emissions, nature beautification and clean-ups, to all of the personal and business practices that make sense and save precious natural and financial resources.

The initiative is dedicated to forging partnerships with civic and other religious-based environmental groups, drawing upon Biblical and rabbinic teachings to inspire and frame the Jewish dimensions of the environment, connecting American and Israeli environmentalists, and partnering with our JUF departmental colleagues on these and their projects.

Clean Car Legislation

We support the Illinois Clean Car Act (HB 3424), introduced on February 2, 2007 in the General Assembly. We also encourage our Constituent Groups to advocate for this legislation’s adoption. This proposed law mandates the reduction of vehicle pollution emissions for all new cars and light trucks sold in Illinois beginning on the 2011 model-year. Specifically, the cuts must be by an average of 22 percent by 2012 and by an average of 30 percent by 2020.

Illinois would join 11 other states—and become the first Midwestern state—to create a standard for reducing automobile global warming emissions higher than the Federal standard.

This legislation would help achieve the important goals of lessening American dependence on foreign oil, where oil-producing states have used profits to support the enemies of the US and Israel. The bill’s guidelines also provide for meaningful environmental and public health benefits, as well as new economic opportunities created through higher MPGs and lower medical expenses.

For a comprehensive report on clean car legislation, please refer to the backgrounder prepared by the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC).

US Israel Energy Cooperation Act

On December 19, 2007, the President signed The Energy Independence and Security Act (full text) into law. Of particular interest to the Jewish community, the Act included a provision, "The United States-Israel Energy Cooperation Act”, which would encourage cooperation between the United States and Israel on research, development, and commercialization of alternative energy, improved energy efficiency, and renewable energy sources. This provision would establish a grant program to fund joint ventures between United States and Israeli businesses and academic persons and to establish the International Energy Advisory Board.

This initiative offers great benefits to both the United States and Israel. It would help address the problems of global climate change while advancing the national security and economic interests of both the United States and Israel. This legislation will build on the long history of American/Israeli innovation and cooperation by funding the joint research and development of new and environmentally-friendly energy technologies, which will help move both nations toward their goal of energy independence.

The Jewish community has worked to gain support for the United States-Israel Energy Cooperation Act and its inclusion in the Energy Bill is a tremendous accomplishment. To realize the possible benefits from the innovative partnerships created by this bill, it must be properly funded. Accordingly, we are seeking a sufficient funding level in the forthcoming Energy and Water Appropriations bill.

Environmental Seder

*In 2008 JCRC partnered with the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) to co-sponsor the first environmental Passover seder. Nearly thirty Chicago-area organizational environmental leaders attended a seder at Federation headquarters to learn about the centrality of environment in Judaism and the special significance of environmental themes related in the Passover story. Rabbi Sam Gordon of Congregation Sukkat Shalom of Wilmette led the seder. View the Haggaddah (PDF) used for this special seder.

Jewish Environmental Coalition of the North Shore (JECNS)

JCRC is a founding member and executive committee member of the JECNS, formed in the summer of 2007. JECNS is composed of rabbis, synagogue lay leaders and Jewish organizations throughout the North Shore who recognize the Jewish community must act as guardians of the earth for future generations. JECNS is an educational and programmatic resource for repairing the world, tikkun olam, in the environmental context.

On Sunday, November 18, 2007 (PDF), the JECNS held its inaugural event, "If Not Now, When? A North Shore Approach to Sustainability (PDF)." Several hundred Jewish community members participated in the day's activities that included:

•  A keynote speech (PDF) by Rabbi Steve Gutow, Executive Director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs
• A green fair with over 50 exhibitors
• A text study led by 16 local rabbis

The Light Among the Nations Campaign

Distribute, via our “Light Among the Nations” campaign, compact fluorescent light bulbs:

JCRC and the JFMC Facilities Corporation have joined to sponsor the “Light Among the Nations” campaign. This program offers Jewish institutions and community members compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) at well below retail costs. These light bulbs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 5 times longer. This not only emits less greenhouse gasses required to light our homes but it saves us hundreds of dollars in energy costs each year. Learn more about how you can obtain CFLs for your synagogue or home (PDF).

JCRC can also help your synagogue run an event with your synagogue to sell these environmentally-friendly bulbs at your next event. Request more information.