SIR Weekend

Please join us for an amazing weekend of study and connection centering on environmental justice and climate activism with Rabbi Fred Schirlinder Dobb, Chair of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life. The weekend is titled "Eco-Jew, Eco-You: Exploring Sustainability and Justice as a Jewish Community".

Friday, April 28: "Eco-Judaism: The Global Climate, Torah, Reconstructionism, and Us"- Is there any authentic approach to our faith that isn't somehow "eco-Judaism"?! At this opening session we'll explore the numerous ways in which tradition bids us to love and protect Creation; how our Jewish and our environmental identities can reinforce one another; and how our denomination is a special source of strength for this sacred service. We'll link study and action, science and text, in order to stand spiritually with all that is imperiled -- from endangered species and ecosystems, to people harmed by environmental racism, to our own progeny. 

            6:30 PM - Catered dinner (RSVP required by April 24)

            7:30 PM - Service and Scholar Program with Rabbi Dobb

Saturday, April 29, Shabbat morning: “Nature Hike / Shabbat Morning Service: Tefillah on the Trail… Wonder in the Woods". Join our (weather-dependent) moderate outdoor Shabbos morning experience -- with prayer and Torah reading, mindfulness and nature appreciation -- in Pennypack Park (ADA accessible trail) at 10:00 AM. (NO 9:00 am Torah Study.)

Saturday, April 29, Early evening: "Eco-Mussar: Goading and Guiding Our Faithful Action". Mussar, the spirituality-meets-ethics-meets-psychology wing of Jewish thought, starts from the awareness that while we already know enough to choose wisely, we too often fail to do the right thing. Thus we strengthen own inner attributes (middot), and develop our Jewish/human character, to help our higher selves triumph over our habits, our excessive self-protection, our inertia. Together we'll explore this powerful Jewish realm, a vital resource both for our carbon-cutting era, and for the entirety of our lives. 5:00 pm start will include Seudah Shlishit (late afternoon meal). 7:00 pm will bring music, storytelling, s’mores & havdallah around the bonfire!

Sunday, April 29: SIR weekend continues with an amazing morning with Rabbi Fred during SMILE school - stay tuned for details!

Please click on the file below for the event flier.