Jewish primary schools are being encouraged to become models of environmental sustainability and mindfulness via a new pioneering initiative introduced by EcoJudaism.
Building on the success of their SAP programme (Sustainability Action Plan), where more than 70 synagogues work towards environmental goals, a similar series, SAPling, will soon be rolled out in Jewish schools across Greater London.
The programme will provide schools with a holistic and achievable plan to become environmentally responsible and to foster dialogue and awareness among pupils.
Schools will be graded bronze, silver, or gold in multiple categories such as waste, water management, biodiversity, food growing, transport and building energy efficiency.
EcoJudaism at Rimon[Missing Credit]
Naomi Verber, executive director of EcoJudaism, told the JC: “Jewish schools are outstanding at modelling the values and the behaviours we want to imbue in the next generation.
“The EcoJudaism SAPling project provides Jewish schools with a clear, paced and achievable plan to run according to a Jewish environmental ethos, transforming our schools into models of Jewish environmental responsibility and child wellbeing.”
EcoJudaism leaders will guide students and school staff in identifying which areas they think need the most action and will help run related projects.
In addition to the SAPling programme, pupils are being inspired to care for the environment via four unique workshops that impart environmental messages based on Torah teaching.
Following the recent completion of a pilot course at Rimon Jewish Primary School in Golders Green, north-west London, EcoJudaism will be introducing the course to Year 5 students in a number of other schools. The first workshop will see pupils discover the abundance of life in their local park and build an understanding of the challenges of the climate crisis.
EcoJudaism at Rimon School[Missing Credit]
They will then move on to exploring climate justice through the “Tzedek” workshop, during which they will run their own mini campaigns through artwork, prose and oratory presentations.
The teachings of the late Rabbi Sacks and Pirkei Avot (Sayings of the Fathers) provide the inspiration for the third workshop, focused on “responsibility”, wherein children will learn about accessible ways they can take action for the environment.
Finally, the course ends with the theme of teshuvah (“return”), where the children physically help to return biodiversity and nature to where it has been depleted in their locality.
They will also study tsa’ar ba’alei chayim, the Jewish concept of preventing the suffering of animals, and will build insect and hedgehog homes.
To mark the completion of the course at Rimon, the pupils embarked on a nature-based outing to Camley Street Natural Park in King’s Cross where they saw first-hand how wild areas could thrive, even in urban environments.
EcoJudaism at Rimon[Missing Credit]
Verber said: “There is high demand for environmental education that’s based on Torah teaching. Schools across the community, from the left to the right, want to engage in climate education through a Jewish lens that broadens and enriches the student’s Jewish identity.
“Our ambition is for every UK Jewish school to have access to this course. The appetite is there – the only thing holding us back is funding.”
Dilip Chakraborti, a Year 5 teacher at Rimon, who witnessed the pilot programme, said Jessica Robinson, EcoJudaism’s education lead, and CEO Naomi Verber “really sparked our Year 5 children’s curiosity and active passion for engaging with the current climate crisis.
EcoJudaism at Rimon[Missing Credit]
“The children have really found connections between what is happening to our fragile ecosystem, their Jewish lives and what it means to be an active part of society that can create a safer, more biodiverse world.”
