After I graduated from college, I went to Washington DC to do environmental advocacy, first on behalf of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, and then for the Sierra Club. For three years, I taught kids, congregations, and members of Congress about how we could be better stewards of the Earth. When I'm asked why I left Washington to go to rabbinical school, I sometimes joke that it was when I realized I couldn't save the world that I decided to become a rabbi.

The deeper answer is that when I made the transition from COEJL to the Sierra Club, my language about the environment needed to change, but my motivations never did. I believe that life on earth is sacred, and we have a sacred obligation to protect it.

Becoming a rabbi was a continuation of that commitment. I am deeply proud to be working with our Green Team-Sara Kaplan, Rachel Klegon, Molly Mardit, Amit Weitzer, and our Program Director Vicki Sitron-to make the synagogue more sustainable. And I am delighted that there will be many opportunities to learn more about Judaism & sustainability November 10-13. Nigel Savage, President & CEO of Hazon, will be speaking and teaching as part of our Green Shabbat, I will be part of an interfaith panel on November 12 (at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills) on Creation Stories & Our Environment, and will focus on early Jewish sources on sustainability during the Lunch & Learn on November 13.

Perhaps now more than ever, we have to recommit ourselves to our sacred obligation to be good stewards, and I look forward to doing so with you.

Rabbi Ariana Silverman