Shmita Pledge

Sign On Your Jewish Institution to our 7 Commitments for the 7-Year Shmita Cycle!

In this Shmita year, we expect our institutions (national and local organizations, synagogues, JCCs, federations, schools, youth groups, etc.) to respond to the threat of the global climate crisis. Adapted to meet each institution’s context and capacity, we will work in partnership and community with our institutions to pursue Jewish-centric climate justice action that adheres to the Shmita Commitments listed below.

First Name

Last Name

Role/Title

Institution

Shmita Commitments (select all that your institution is excited to address with us):

Make a climate crisis and justice plan, including plans for education, community engagement, public communications, energy transition, advocacy, and direct action

Appoint a climate crisis coordinator, committee, organizer, etc. to inform and oversee your institution’s climate crisis and justice plan—include youth in this coordination team

Present regular progress updates (through meetings with JYCM, written reports, or other sorts of communication) on your institution’s climate crisis and justice plan; foster ongoing collaboration with JYCM and Jewish climate organizations

Frequently deliver and participate in climate-related D’var Torahs, learn-ins, trainings, holiday programming, public messages, childhood classroom education; for these engagements, draw from Jewish tradition and history, emphasize the systems of oppression that created the climate crisis, and amplify equity-based solutions

Learn about and participate in advocacy and actions around local and federal climate policies and legislation

Educate your congregants and community members about the sovereignty of the peoples indigenous to land we live on, and build partnerships with native communities (and other frontline communities) around pursuing climate justice

Start a JYCM kvutzah at your institution, or conduct outreach to synagogues and youth groups in your area (and across your network) to recruit youth to build kvutzot; support young Jews in becoming leaders in this intergenerational mobilization for climate justice