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.

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. 

Creation Care Award

The K'vod Ha-Teva Committee is excited to announce that Temple Beth Israel has been awarded a Creation Care Award from the National Religious Partnership for the Environment (NRPE). The NRPE, a formal alliance of major faith groups and denominations across the spectrum of Jewish and Christian communities and organizations in the United States, has honored the outstanding accomplishments of religious communities in celebrating, protecting, and restoring creation. The $250 award will be used by the K'vod Ha-Teva Committee to further its work in caring for the earth.

In his email to Lisa Arkin, K'vod Ha-Teva Committee chair, Peter W. Bakken, representing the NRPE, states, "… But most of all, we thank you for your work and dedication on behalf of the care of creation. We hope that this recognition of your accomplishments will give all involved a heightened sense of accomplishment and increased motivation to continue and perhaps even expand your program."

Solar Ner Tamid –A(n almost) truly eternal ETERNAL LIGHT

The sun's energy will be radiating its life-giving rays in our direction for as close to eternity as we can conceive. With this in mind, the K'vod Ha-Teva (Honoring Nature) Committee thought that powering our Ner Tamid (Eternal Light) with this free, non-polluting, "eternal" energy would be a wonderful improvement to our synagogue. The conventional electricity required to power our current Ner Tamid contributes to global warming, and in the event of a power outage, the Eternal Light will be extinguished! Conversely, a solar-powered, nonpolluting light that never goes out would be a shining beacon of Temple Beth Israel's truly Jewish commitment to k'vod ha-teva – stewardship of the earth. And it would be a wonderful educational tool in talking with our members and especially our youth about the significance and importance of environmental consciousness as it ties in to Judaism and spirituality.

We propose to install a new Eternal Light that is powered with a small photovoltaic solar panel. The panel could be located on the roof, to be invisible; alternatively, it might be mounted to the edge of the roof over the courtyard, so as to be visible. The "light bulb" will actually be composed of many small LEDs (light-emitting diodes) which are hundreds of times more energy-efficient than standard light bulbs and last up to 100,000 hours. The sun will charge this battery every day with excess electricity, so that the light can also stay lit every night, or in the event of a blackout. David Parker, with Advanced Energy Systems, will work with K'vod Ha-Teva to keep the overall cost of the system as low as possible. The Committee will also research all opportunities to work in partnership with EWEB. At this point, the total system is estimated at approximately $1000. Last month the Board of Directors enthusiastically approved this concept and authorized the K'vod Ha'Teva Committee to move forward with fundraising and installation of the project.

Contact: kvodhateva @ tbieugene.org