Go Green

 Jerusalem — A multicultural, borderless Middle East, not unlike the European Union, with Israel and its Arab neighbors brought together not by enmity but by a deep concern for the environment. From Beirut to Jerusalem to Cairo, the people of the Middle East joined by the need for clean air and water, regional issues that transcend nationalities and political ideologies.

It’s a noble, if slightly Quixotic, vision, but perhaps not a surprising one from the woman behind an increasingly popular website with the lofty name, Green Prophet.

 Hazon, a Jewish environmental organization working to build a healthier and more sustainable Jewish community, is one of the most visible and forward-thinking such groups in the Jewish community.

It supports Community Supported Agriculture, runs an annual food conference, sponsors environmental bike rides and is at the forefront of the growing Jewish food movement. The Jewish Week spoke with Cheryl Cook, the group’s acting executive director, about the group’s focus and some of its new initiatives along with the burgeoning Jewish food movement in general.

 Designers of a synagogue building have many things to keep in mind. An ark to hold Torah scrolls. Pews that face east. Shelves to hold the prayerbooks. But those planning to build a Jewish house of worship today may have other considerations like motion-sensor lights, low-flow toilets and recycled or locally-sourced building materials.

A handful of synagogues across the country are building and renovating their facilities to be energy efficient and green-friendly, earning LEED and Energy Star certifications.