Faith groups have obligation to plant green shoots

The Board’s Grow Tatzmiach Project supported Sunday’s ‘Fair Chanukah Fayre’ in which hundreds of people enjoyed a green and affordable gift buying experience ahead of the festival of lights. There was vibrant music and 20 stalls featuring wonderful sustainable Chanukah gifts that are good for the earth. Among the highlights were live folk music from Jess Gold and Richard Lobb, a Pedal Powered Chanukiah and a demonstration of how to make 'Sustainable Sushi’. To see the video please click here. This project was incubated within the Board of Deputies' Social Action Grow Tatzmiach programme. Grow Tatzmiach provides mentorship and micro grants for grass roots projects like the Chanukah Fayre.  One of the highlights was a panel discussion on protecting the environment by the three co-authors of “‘Sharing Eden’: Green Teachings from Jews, Christians and Muslims”, including Rabbi Natan Levy (pictured above),who is the Board's Social Action and Interfaith Officer, David Shreeve and Harfiyah Haleem. The event was chaired by the Board’s PR and Communications Manager James Martin. Rabbi Levy said that “the imperative to act to safeguard the environment is incumbent on our generation to ensure that the next generation and generation after that can  occupy a world that is full of beauty and adequate resources.” All panelists agree that their faiths have a sacred obligation to work together to make the case for environmentalism both to politicians, and to their congregants. To watch highlights from the panel click here. The event took place at the Sternberg Centre in East Finchley.