K'vod Ha-Teva (Honoring Nature)

K'vod Ha-Teva uses the Torah as a guide to explore and share issues relating to the environment and the ethical treatment of humans and animals.

Jewish Paths to Steward the Earth

Temple Beth Israel and the Policy of Ethical Kashrut

In 2009, the TBI Board of Trustees adopted a set of principles called Ethical Kashrut.

The word “eco-kosher” itself was coined in the late 1970s by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, founder of the P’nai Or, a Reconstructionist congregation in Portland. Arthur Waskow, in his book “Down To Earth Judaism,” defines ethical kashrut as joining the most expansive sense of healing the earth to the most precise code of daily conduct. In other words, ethical kashrut uses the earth-preserving elements of Jewish tradition such as Bal tashchit (not ruining the earth), Tza’ar ba’alei chai’im (respect for animals), and Tzedik svivati, (environmental justice) combined with contemporary secular work on protection of the environment to expand our choices of what is (kosher) holy and what is traif (not sacred) in everyday action.

In keeping with our principles of Ethical Kashrut, TBI makes a commitment to environmental stewardship through our actions. In the work of repairing the world, tikkun olam, it is not enough to merely talk about moral ideas and commitments. Tikkun olam is rooted in acting as a dynamic force for good in all creation. By shaping our community actions along the precepts of ethical kashrut, TBI is prioritizing just and ethical behaviors in our own community center and house of worship.

As a congregation, we strive to achieve excellent maintenance of the TBI synagogue facility while simultaneously promoting everyone’s right to a healthy, quality environment now and for future generations. These Ethical Kashrut guidelines are for our community and to encourage all individuals, households and organizations to adopt personal and community values that preserve and conserve the environment.

FAIR TRADE – Look for the Fair Trade label when you shop!

•  Fair trade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable             development.

•  Fair trade involves transparent management and commercial relations to deal fairly and respectfully with trading partners.

•  Fair trade is a means to develop producers’ independence.
 
•  It provides fair pay to the producers and takes into account the principle of equal pay for equal work by women and men.

•  Fair trade means a safe and healthy working environment for producers. Child labor conforms to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.

•  Fair trade actively encourages better environmental practices and the application of responsible methods of production.

Fair trade labeling (usually simply Fair trade or Fair Trade Certified in the US) is a certification system designed to allow consumers to identify goods which meet agreed standards. Overseen by a standard-setting body and a certification body, the system involves independent auditing of producers and traders to ensure the agreed standards are met. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers.
 
The Fair trade certification system covers a growing range of products, including bananas, honey, coffee, oranges, cocoa, cotton, dried and fresh fruits and vegetables, juices, nuts and oil seeds, quinoa, rice, spices, sugar, tea and wine and many ethnic handcrafts. 

Contact: info @ tbieugene.org