Save our planet and connect our synagogue to Israel

Jewish National Fund (JNF) and the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) are pleased to offer our congregation an opportunity to help our environment and support Israel by participating in the JNF GoNeutral/ARZA Synagogue Affiliate Program.

The effects of unchecked environmental damage are already evident.  Glaciers are melting, severe storms and droughts are becoming more frequent, and animals are being forced out of their natural habitats.  We can learn to address these challenges and to live in better harmony with our environment.

 

	Together we can make a difference!  Here’s how you can participate:

• Click on the JNF/ARZA GoNeutral link below.  This link will take you to JNF’s “carbon calculator” where you can calculate your family’s carbon footprint.  With that knowledge you will be given two opportunities for immediately taking steps to offset your negative environmental impact: You may plant trees in Israel OR support JNF’s cutting-edge research on alternative sources of energy.

• JNF will return 20% of all donations received through this link to our congregation on a quarterly basis for environmental or Israel activities in our congregation and community. These funds will be used to help us address the environmental challenges in our local area and promote our connection to Israel.

• Our congregation will also benefit from outstanding educational resources, speakers, activities available to us as participants in the JNF/ARZA GoNeutral program.

Let’s seize this excellent opportunity to get involved in addressing the environmental challenges of our time and show our support for Israel!

For more information contact: (congregational contact name)

With 107 years of experience as caretaker of the land of Israel, Jewish National Fund has planted more than 240 million trees, transforming over 250,000 acres of arid land into lush green forests. Because of JNF’s forestry expertise and commitment to environmental protection, Israel is one of two countries to leave the 20th century with more trees than it had at the start. The trees already planted by JNF have absorbed an estimated 110 million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

ARZA, the Israel arm and voice of the Reform Movement in the U.S., endeavors to make Israel fundamental to the sacred lives and Jewish identity of Reform Jews. ARZA champions activities that further enhance Israel as a pluralistic, just and democratic Jewish state.  Domestically, ARZA promotes Israel and Zionism in Reform congregations throughout the U.S.  In Israel, ARZA provides significant support for the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) and the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) in their fight for religious rights for Reform Jews and civil rights for all Israelis.

Friends,

     My name is Marlene Dodinval and I am a Regional Director with ARZA (Association of Reform Zionists of America, the Israel arm and voice of the Reform Movement in the U.S and an affiliate of the URJ).  I recently learned about your selection to participate in The GreenFaith Certification Program.  Please accept my hearty “mazal tov” on your commitment toward becoming environmental leaders in your community and in our movement. 

     I want to tell you about a partnership program that ARZA has with JNF that would support your efforts at becoming an environmentally minded community and also support Israel at the same time.  It is the ARZA/JNF GoNeutral Synagogue Affiliate Program. 

By joining the JNF/ARZA GoNeutral Synagogue Affiliate program:

• JNF and ARZA will provide a link to the JNF website for to be placed on your own synagogue’s website. Visit http://support.jnf.org/goneutral/affiliate.html to sign up or for more information.  After you sign up, your synagogue will encourage individual congregational families through congregational advertising to use the JNF GoNeutral carbon calculator to offset their personal impact on the environment. They can choose to plant trees in Israel to offset their carbon emissions and lessen their environmental footprint OR support JNF’s important environmental initiatives on developing alternative sources of energy.
• JNF and ARZA will provide a flyer for you to send to congregants (a sample is attached) and will send you a guide with step by step instructions for implementing and promoting the program (including a sample bulletin article) as well as resources with programming ideas.
• JNF will donate 20% of all donations received through this link to your congregation and 5% to ARZA on a quarterly basis for environmental and Israel activities.
• JNF will provide you with outstanding educational content, program ideas and activities that complement ARZA’s Israel programming resources. This guidance will be an excellent opportunity to get a congregational volunteer involved to lead these programs and initiatives.

JNF has planted over 240 million trees in the land of Israel, which have absorbed about 110 million tons of carbon dioxide from the air. This, along with all of their other cutting edge environmental work, puts them in a unique position to be a leader in the global environmental movement.  An important example of their work can be found at Kibbutz Lotan – one of two Reform Kibbutzim in Israel supported by ARZA– where they have a commitment to “Eco-Zionism”.  Besides trees being planted on the kibbutz, JNF has worked in partnership with Lotan to build wetlands for migratory birds, installing solar panels to create energy for the region and more. 

The JNF/ARZA GoNeutral Synagogue Affiliate program is a terrific way to support Israel, the environment and your own congregation  - a win-win-win!!  Visit http://support.jnf.org/goneutral/affiliate.html to sign up or for more information (be sure to click on ARZA when it asks how you heard about the program!).    Or you can call me, Marlene Dodinval, ARZA, 847-239-6974.

Marlene L. Dodinval

Regional Director

ARZA

Phone.: 847-239-6974 

Fax......:  847-509-0990

MDodinval@arza.org

www.ARZA.org  

Not a member of ARZA? Join now!