Congregation Ohr Shalom – Summit JCC (COS-SJCC) recently embarked upon a journey into the world of faith-based environmental leadership through the GreenFaith Certification program. Congregation Ohr Shalom – Summit JCC has just completed three detailed audits assessing the congregation’s impact on the environment in the areas of Stewardship, Spirit and Environmental Justice. These audits are one of the rigorous requirements for the GreenFaith Certification Program, a challenging two-year environmental leadership program for faith-based communities.
The Conservative synagogue is the first house of worship in Union County to join this prestigious national program. As part of this program, the congregation will address environmental stewardship, both in their building and by educating congregants about how to personally conserve and protect the environment in keeping with Jewish traditions of guarding the earth. Educational programs for all ages will focus on these spiritual areas for study.
According to Congregation Ohr Shalom’s rabbi, Avi Friedman, “There's a Midrash - rabbinic story - in which God warns Adam that if he were to do something which led to the destruction of the world, there would be no one to repair it after him. We are the heirs to that great responsibility and through GreenFaith, we are joining together with others who feel the weight of that responsibility as well.”
The Congregation Ohr Shalom – Summit JCC community will benefit in many ways: by saving money, by building relationships, by learning more about sacred and long-standing Jewish obligations and by making an impact on the Earth and on their extended community. “This program is a challenging, important way for houses of worship to become environmental leaders, “ explained the Rev. Fletcher Harper, executive director of GreenFaith.
More information on the GreenFaith program is available on their website: www.greenfaith.org.
Congregation Ohr Shalom-SJCC is a welcoming, multi-generational, egalitarian, Conservative congregation located at 67 Kent Place Boulevard in Summit. Questions about membership may be directed to the synagogue office 908-273-8130 or visit the website: www.summitjcc.org. Anyone interested in visiting is welcome to join us any week at Shabbat services.