In keeping with the theme of Jewish eco-friendliness, it’s worth mentioning that Hadassah, the women’s Zionist organization of America, has recently gone green! An increasing number of Jewish organizations and synagogues are becoming more environmentally responsible by making commitments to energy conservation, renewable energy programs generated by wind, sun, ocean tides, and geo-thermal sources, water conservation, toxics reduction, and Eco-Kashrut standards.

Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, New York City’s synagogue for GLBT Jews, where Sharon Kleinbaum is the Senior Rabbi, is now powered by 100 percent green power, with greenhouse gas-free and pollution-free renewable energy. In response to the synagogue’s Green Power campaign, approximately 10 percent of the synagogue’s members have switched to green power as well. My own synagogue in which I grew up—Temple Israel of Ridgewood, New Jersey—is also going green and has been working closely with GreenFaith, an interfaith coalition for the environment, to create its own greening program.

For more information about Jewish greening initiatives, check out COEJL (Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life) and Hazon.