This week, after the holiday of Simchat Torah, we begin the cycle of Torah reading again, with the first portion of the first book of the Torah, B’reishit. This week’s portion, also called B’reishit after the first word of the portion, the book and the Torah, tells two stories of the creation of the world. In the first story, Gd creates people and gives them dominion over the animals and gives them the green plants of the earth to eat. And then, Gd surveyed Gd’s creation, and found it “very good.” In the second version of the creation story, the Adam and Eve story, Gd placed the man in the Garden of Eden l’avda ul’shamra – to work and to keep. In both stories, therefore, Gd created the earth, and then gave humans the responsibility to work it and to care for it. That responsibility did not end with those first created but has passed down through the generations. It is now ours.

How have we been as stewards of the earth? If we look around, we see that we have not done well at all.   We have polluted, we have despoiled, we have generally acted as if the resources we have are limitless, and we can use them to without thinking about whether there is enough for those who live on the planet with us, or for the generations yet to come. Any thinking and feeling person can tell you that this is not a sustainable way to live. But, as Jews, our obligations go beyond a simple understanding of the impracticality of using resources without limit. Whether you believe that the story of creation was literally true it or not, the Torah teaches that the earth and its bounty are sacred, created for us to protect and not destroy. As creatures created b’tzelem Elohim, in the image of Gd, we are obligated to echo Gd’s actions in working and guarding the earth and all that is in it, for the protection of all Gd’s creations. The obligation to care about the earth, to care about our fellow creatures, and to protect it and them, runs all though the Torah, and through the other sacred writings. For example, Deuteronomy tells us that, when the Israelites conquered the land they were going to possess, they were not to destroy the fruit trees, but to preserve them for future generations. The Psalms note that “the earth is Gd’s, and the fullness thereof.”

So how does that affect us now? Many of us have tried to respect the earth and reduce our carbon footprint by things like driving less, recycling, using solar energy, and other actions. These individual acts are important. But no one is able to alter the trajectory of climate change on their own. For that, we need collective action. RAC-NY, the New York Religious Action Center of the Reform Movement, has committed itself to a two to three year Climate Covenant, and I am here to ask you to join in that effort. The first step is a small one. On the ballot this year, in addition to Governor, Senator, Congress, NYS Senate and Assembly, there is the Clean Air, Clean Water and Green Jobs Bond Act. This Bond Act will invest in strategies to improve the environment for all New Yorkers. It includes money to mitigate climate change, including funds for zero-emission school busses, funds for flood mitigation and restoration, open-space land conservation and dedication for recreation, water quality improvement and resilient infrastructure, including replacement of lead pipes, and other projects to preserve our environment. The Act also provides that 35% of the funds must be spent in disadvantaged communities, which feel the effects of environmental degradation more than most, because many of the polluting infrastructure is sited in their communities. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve the quality of our environment in New York State.

I am asking you to commit to voting in the upcoming election, and to vote for the Bond Act. Please note that, on many ballots, you need to turn over the ballot to look for the Bond Act. Please do so. I will ask Nancy to send out a one-page description of the Bond Act, as well as an email you can send to your friends and families to alert them to the fact that it is on the ballot and to urge them to support it as well. After election day, I will be asking you to participate in congregational conversations about what other projects we can undertake, together, to make us better stewards of Gd’s creations, and to fulfill our obligation to preserve the earth. Our Congregation has been, for many years, committed to acts of Tikkun Olam, and our participation in the Climate Covenant will be in keeping with that tradition. I look forward to working with you.

Paula Frome is a retired Attorney, Member of North Country Reform Temple, Glen Cove, NY and a member of the RAC-NY Strategy Team.