Communities leading the way in environmental action were honoured at the EcoSynagogue awards, held at Kew Gardens.

Shuls qualify for bronze, silver and gold recognition by progress in categories including prayer and teaching, management commitment, lifestyle, buildings and consumables and community and global engagement.

They submit updates on their efforts and are advised on where improvements are needed. Based on the EcoSynagogue audit, achieving 40 per cent of its target earns bronze, 60 per cent silver and 80 per cent gold.

The latest silver award winners were Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation, Kol Chai Hatch End Reform, Newcastle Reform and Oxford Jewish Congregation.

Bronze recognition was earned by Barnet United, Chigwell and Hainault United, Edgware and Hendon Reform, Golders Green United, Kol Nefesh Masorti, Magen Avot United, Maidenhead Reform, Muswell Hill United, North West Surrey Reform and St Albans United.

The ceremony was also an opportunity for November 2021 winners — including EcoSynagogue’s only ever gold award recipient West London Synagogue — to collect their certificates, having previously received them virtually.

EcoSynagogue project manager Andrea Passe said she was proud of their achievements.
“We know, as we speak with each of them as part of the award process, how hard they have worked to make tangible changes in their communities.”

The ceremony was hosted by journalist and broadcaster Jonathan Sacerdoti and the guest speaker was writer and activist Benita Matofska, who also collected a 2021 silver award on behalf of Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue.

Awards were presented by EcoSynagogue’s rabbinic team of Jonathan Wittenberg, David Mason, Jeff Berger, Mark Goldsmith and Tanya Sakhnovich.

Guests included Board of Deputies chief executive Michael Wegier, who said its partnership with EcoSynagogue had resulted in “measurable environmental changes in registered communities, providing the framework for the UK Jewish community to play our part to halt the climate crisis”.

Earlier in the day, EcoJudaism — the new umbrella organisation incorporating the EcoSynagogue project — held its first event, a panel discussion on the climate and energy crises.

Speakers included Tamara Finkelstein, permanent secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

And in keeping with EcoJudaism’s mission, the event was as sustainable as possible, using compostable and recyclable items.