Going green

Silver Member Joined: Jul 05 2006 Posts: 854 Location: uk

What are your thoughts on going green and doing your bit to help the enviroment etc..?
do you think it is a issue that is ignored in the frum world.?
and what do you do to be more energy efficiant, Environmentally friendly etc..??
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Posted: Thu, May 29 2008, 6:00 am Post subject: re: going green

I don't use my computer, washing machine or dryer one day each week.

(This is not so tongue in cheek as it seems. There was a campaign in Israel at Chanuka time this year, that everyone should light one candle less Evil or Very Mad

to limit the damage to the ozone layer. Some people retorted that we are going to light as many candles as usual, but frum people have entire days of not using appliances and 'saving the earth'.)

In all seriousness, I believe Hashem created the Earth for our use and not the other way around. I don't believe in needless waste, but I believe in making the most of what we have to do ratzon Hashem. If I can buy disposable dishes at certain times, like erev Shabbos or yomtov, that will enable me to look after my children better/ have time for other mitzvos etc, then I am going to use them.

Silver Member Joined: Jan 08 2006 Posts: 997

I do think it is an issue ignored by the frum world. I am not "super green" but I try to be responsible. I think it can only be helpful to do our parts to keep Hashem's world beautiful.

It falls under "Baal Tashchis" and not wasting. We are a disposable society (here in America) and there's room for lots of improvement. But I don't make it my whole life's focus.

I think it's about balance; not being terrified by every scary research prediction but being responsible and using common sense.

When we had a drought recently, and had water restrictions, my kids were all super vigilant about not wasting water, which was good. I told them that it's good to be careful and not waste, but to also remember to daven to Hashem for rain, because only Hashem can really stop the drought. We talked about all those drought stories in the Talmud.

Well, the local media went nuts for a couple of months with their dire predictions of parched people and land, and then wouldn't you know, we had a month of soaking rain, and our reservoirs are overflowing. My daughter raised her hand at school and said, "We saved water during the drought, but we knew Hashem was going to give us rain."

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Posted: Thu, May 29 2008, 8:27 am Post subject: re: going green

I do feel it's totally ignored in the frum world, and close to ignored in the non Jewish world, except in green circles.

I try not to waste, but I am far from "green". I think more people would have a better image of it if the green circles were less extreme, if not agressive... it's too bad.
Green shouldn't remind of the tiny % that is violent, just like pro-animal shouldn't remind of PETA,natural parenting shouldn't remind of the extreme posts we had, and so on. It's a big loss.
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Posted: Thu, May 29 2008, 8:41 am Post subject: re: going green

I grew up recycling. but in some cities you have to or you'll get a fine. we walk dh rides a bike or uses public transportation, we don't have a car. I buy some used things from craigslist. I also grew up in a house that use to save electricity so if some ones not in a room and leaves the air conditioner or light on it drives me crazy. I also use the compact fluorecent light bulbs. if it were a possibiltiy to have a dud shemesh. solor powered hot water or electricity on the roof that would be great. because it can save money in the long run.

Diamond Member Joined: Nov 11 2007 Posts: 3792

I guess we are a bit "green" in that we make every effort to buy organic produce and groceries as much as possible. And we use organic cleaning supplies.

But we do this for health reasons, not out of concern for saving the earth. The fact that it is also good for the environment is just a side benefit. If I feel like I need to use paper plates and other disposables I really don't lose any sleep over it.

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 07 2007 Posts: 10429

For environmentally-conscious frum people there's an org called Canfei Nesharim with a website (www.canfeinesharim.org).

Despite the environmental laws in the Chumash (bal tashchit being the one people know ablout), the frum world is by and large very NOT environmentally responsible. And IMO women are the worst offenders. The volume of disposable tableware sold in the kosher aisle of my supermarket alone--and in my not-very-large community, frum Jews are still a minority--far outweighs the volume of disposables sold in the regular disposable aisle.

Frankly, I can't understand how people can afford to use so many disposables, considering that for the price of a few weeks' worth of disposables you can buy a very nice set of Corelle or glass, and for a year's worth of disposables you can buy a set of the finest china. But I don't worry about other people's budgets. I do wonder how people's hearts don't squeeze them when they buy a perfectly lovely set of "disposable" tableware and throw it in the trash after a single use. Even if you're not aware that this material will never biodegrade and will clutter up the landscape till the end of days--doesn't the sheer waste of resources bother you? How can you moan about the escalating price of oil on the one hand and continue using more and more "disposable" plastics that are made from that same oil?

True Torah judaism is extremely environmentally aware. We reuse worn bigdei kehuna to make wicks for the Menorah. We bury worn-out scrolls and sefarim. We use our old lulavim to build our biur chametz fires. We let our land lie fallow every 7 years rather than work it year after year till it's exhausted. We kill animals only if we're going to make use of them or if they're threatening our safety or property.

Unfortunately, many frum people don't see past the letter-of-the-law halacha to the underlying principle.

Posted: Thu, May 29 2008, 9:22 am Post subject:

respect the earth where & when you can ... it's not easy being GREEN Mr. Green

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Posted: Thu, May 29 2008, 9:27 am Post subject: Re: re: going green

Silver Member Joined: Apr 26 2005 Posts: 778

Jewish community in general comes with an attitude of "Haolam nivra bishvili".
I had a conversation about it with my neighbor, who said that she does not really care what happens to the planet, and when I asked: "But what about your children?" - she replied "That will be their problem" . It's mind boggling to think that our children will not be able to see or recognize many animals which are becoming extinct in many parts of the world.
And yes, washing dishes is a pain (I hat washing dishes) - but so it living in a garbage dump.I believe that as disposable goods will become more expensive (due to rising oil prices), less people will use them. But there is also plastic packaging for thousands of kids snacks, plastic bags and diapers.

Posted: Thu, May 29 2008, 2:55 pm Post subject: re: going green

I also don't understand the need for disposable dishes. Washing machine is not THAT difficult... (or by hand if you have 2 or 3 people).

Posted: Thu, May 29 2008, 3:03 pm Post subject: Re: re: going green

Posted: Thu, May 29 2008, 3:25 pm Post subject:

Ruchel, wanna come wash dishes in my house??!! Very Happy

Diamond Member Joined: Nov 11 2007 Posts: 3792

Posted: Thu, May 29 2008, 4:37 pm Post subject: Re: re: going green

Posted: Thu, May 29 2008, 6:20 pm Post subject: Re: re: going green

Posted: Thu, May 29 2008, 6:28 pm Post subject: re: going green

Even when using disposables, there are "greener" options you can make. eg paper plates (you know the cheap flimsy ones) are better then plastic, which is better than polystyrene.