hanukkah is almost here
Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights. When we light the menorah, it is a celebration and a reminder that just one day's worth of oil burned for eight days (and the victory of the Jews of course). This tiny bit of energy went such a long way. I like to think about this each year and remember that we can and should try to use the smallest amount of energy and resources to get the greatest gain from them.
If you are lighting a menorah this year, maybe think about moving toward choices that will allow our limited sources of energy to last for as long as they are needed, and with minimal impact on our planet. Here are some great ways to promote this state of mind:
Wind-Powered Electricity - Call your power company and ask to switch to wind-powered electricity. 100% wind-power reduces CO2 emissions, the same as not driving 20,000 miles in one year. Call your Synagogue, Hillel, or JCC and ask them to switch to wind-power as well.
Driving - If you can, choose one or more days during Hanukkah not to drive at all, and lessen driving as much as you can during this time. And of course, see if you can add this sort of thing to your life more often. Could be a nice time to take a walk or ride a bike (depending on where you are and how cold it is)!!
Workplace - Urge your bosses, (or maybe you are the boss) to arrange an energy audit. Your utility company can tell you how to get one for free or at low-cost.
And for fun, here are some crazy eco menorahs. But if you don't have one, check out CraigsList to find a groovy one and reuse!
Recycled Steel Menorah
A Galvanized Pipe Menorah
An Electric Menorah (which yes, uses electricity, but doesn't use paraben candles or other not so great candles)
And for cards, here are some cute ones that are made from 100% recycled material. Of course, reusing old cards is a more eco way to go, but if you choose to go for new, these are a great way to go.
And this might be a little nerdy, but I had to include it here... the eco friendly dreidle. You can find it at the Baltimore Jewish Environmental Network's website. Click here, and look under "Bar/Bat Mitzvah Suggestions", and click on the "Green Dreidle Project." You fold it and make it and it lands on cute eco suggestions.
Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays!
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Happy Hanukkah
5 comments
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The vast majority of things that we put into a recycling bin can be effectively and easily converted (reused) in the construction of other things (mostly decorative, some functional).
The INTERNET is full of DIY guides for which the materials called for can be sourced from recyclables that we would otherwise responsibly place in oru recycling bins.
If only recycling was pervasive: millions of Americans still lack convenient access to mixed stream recycling at home or work. For these people, trash output can become art/ materials for other projects.
Reusing something uses a lot less energy than the recycling process. Throwing almost anything in a trash dump is ethically reprehensible. Reusing containers is probably the easiest thing to do. I watched/ learned this principle from my grandparents who were naturally resource conserving/frugal despite their wealth because they lived through the depression (rest their souls).
Saving a jar or box can really come in handy if you want to buy something organic in bulk with your reused container, or if you ebay regularly that box can become a new shipping container :) The possibilities are endless if we apply creativity and critical thinking to any project or problem. I admittedly recycle far more often than I reuse products in my output stream- we all always have room for improvement, growth and learning! -
If you want to save money by driving, how about getting together with some friends and spending Shabbat (Saturday, Jewish Sabbath) together, from Friday evening to Saturday evening. No driving. No cooking. No TV. No Internet. Cook in advance. Play games together. Go on walks. Play (non-electric) musical instruments. Study some Torah with some cool commentary. Do it once a month and save the planet a heap of resources!
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My husband and I love to make our own hanukiot(menorahs)! My favorite one has a recycled mirror as the base, so pretty when the candles are lit! I'm making my first vegan challah for Shabbat tonight, yum!
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I just went on the Baltimore Jewish Environmental Network's website, but couldn't seem to find the link for Bar/Bat Mitzvah suggestions. Could you please let me know if you have to click on another link first. I did try many of the links listed.
Thanks so much as I am very interested.
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Making menorahs with children is also a lot of fun!! When I was younger my parents and I would make menorahs from blocks of wood and nuts and bolts to glue on top for the candles. This can be a very fun project to do for all you Jews with little ones!
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