What is it?
- A five-part Jewish Environmental Education course for Y5 Jewish school children – currently just in London or Greater London area.
- A school wide Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) tailored for Jewish schools. The SAP is a set of environmental goals designed to enhance the children’s wellbeing and their Jewish identity, as well as the environmental footprint of the school.
Course Objectives:
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To build environmental responsibility as an integral part of the student’s Jewish identity.
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To educate students on the climate and biodiversity crises from the perspective of Jewish teachings, such as ‘Go out & Learn’ ‘Choose Life’, ‘Take Responsibility’, ‘Teshuvah’, ‘Pursue Justice’, and ‘ Kiddush Hashem- Sanctify G-d’s Name’.
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Students gain a sense of empowerment, confidence and optimism about the future and their place in it.
Delivery Method:
A qualified teacher will deliver four interactive workshops using a variety of educational tools and stimulating media to excite the students about their environmental responsibility as Jews. The course also includes an EcoJudaism funded and led inspirational nature-based outing.
We work closely with the school’s teachers throughout the project to ensure the workshops and outing fit the ethos, educational and logistical requirements of the school.
The same teacher will work with the school management team, PTA and student council to deliver the Sustainability Action Plan (SAP).
We currently work with year five students and aim to expand to other year groups, including secondary, in future years.
Subjects Covered:
The workshops are framed around Jewish concepts and Torah texts and linked to the climate and biodiversity crises. For example, the students learn about Tsa’ar Ba’alei Chayim, the prevention of suffering to animals and get to practice this mitzvah by creating new restoring lost habitat for local wildlife.
The workshop topics are:
Session 1: Life on Earth
Session 2: Justice
Session 3: Responsibility
Session 4: Teshuvah – Return and Restoration
The project is cross curricular as we cover a wide variety of curriculum subjects including links to the Geography, Science, Citizenship, Art, and English KS2 National Curriculum and Limudei Kodesh.
Our Work In Schools
Who We’re Working With:
The workshops have been co-created with Rabbi Mordechai Wollenberg, Senior Rabbi at Woodford Forest United Synagogue and member of EcoJudaism’s Rabbinic Advisory Board.
We are currently delivering this project with Rimon Jewish Primary School and have two other schools starting in Spring Term 2025.
Barnet Council, The London Wildlife Trust and the Friends of Childs Hill Park support the project activities and outings.