Chief Rabbi and Israeli minister Tamar Zandberg to headline EcoSynagogue and Board of Deputies events for COP26

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Israeli Minister Tamar Zandberg will be headlining a series of Jewish community events in the run-up to the UN Climate Climate Change Conference, COP26, at which there will be an EcoSynagogue stand.

EcoSynagogue, a partnership project with the Board of Deputies, is hosting “Carbon Zero, If not now, when?” an event for the UK Jewish Community on Sunday 10th October at The Jewish Museum featuring Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis and Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl the reasons our community should be engaging with the issue of climate emergency. This will be followed by an expert panel to explain the issues around carbon and how it can and should be reduced. Taking part will be Dr Michal Nachmanyan authority on global climate legislation, policy and the low carbon transition; Jonathan Waxman, an expert on renewable and Charles Ogilvie, COP26 Director of Strategy at the Cabinet Office.

Then, on 24 October at 4pm, we will be hosting an discussion with Israeli Minister of Environmental Protection Tamar Zandberg, to talk about the steps Israel is taking to tackle climate change.

EcoSynagogue will be promoting an EcoShabbat on 5 and 6 November, providing all our UK synagogues with the opportunity to put discussions, education, and commitment to the environment at the top of our agenda during a week when the world’s focus will on the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow.

At COP26 itself, EcoSynagogue and Board of Deputies of British Jews will have a stand in the Green Zone at COP26, Glasgow, all day. Please visit us if you are there.

In the week following the conference on 8 November, we are holding an Eco Synagogue and Board of Deputies of British Jews interfaith webinar, featuring Eco Synagogue, Eco Church, EcoIslam (IFEES), Eco Sikh, and Bhumi Global (Hindu).

Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl said: “The world is facing a grave climate emergency and it is up to all of us to do all we possibly can to make a contribution. I am delighted that the Board of Deputies and EcoSynagogue are leading community efforts to engage on this vital issue.”

EcoSynagogue co-founder and Chair Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg said: “The Torah commands to ‘choose life’. At this critical time, we have the absolute responsibility to do all we can to choose life for humanity itself and for our planet.”

If you would like to attend any of these events or would like more information on EcoSynagogue please email andrea.passe@bod.org.uk