ARE You AND YOUR CO-WORKERS READY FOR...
An (Energy-Efficient)
Light Unto The Nations
a simple action that will
lead to larger actions that
we can take:' she said.
More than 350 Jewish
institutions have already
signed on, and COEJEs
Web site is maintaining
a running tally of how
many bulbs have been
sold and how much car-
bon dioxide has been kept
from the atmosphere as
a result.
"Chanukah is a time
A specially designed menorah using compact fluo-
when we think about the
rescent light bulbs.
Maccabees, a small group
of people affecting a
,
'Lerman-Golomb
said. "In
larger
group'
New bulbs use a
advocating switching to CFLs, we want
fraction of power. to motivate the Jewish community to
take this small act of tikkun °lain [sav-
ing the world] which will have a huge
Ben Harris
impact."
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
COEJL estimates it will sell 20,000
of
the compact fluorescent light bulbs,
New York
which Lerman-Golomb says will prevent
more than 8,000 tons of carbon dioxide
or centuries, Chanukah has
from entering the atmosphere.
brought warmth and light to
The bulbs not only save money by
Jewish homes at the darkest
time of the year. Now, two Jewish organi- consuming less energy, but last longer
zations are using the eight-day festival to than regular bulbs while providing the
same illumination. The design COEJL
warn about too much warmth and light.
is selling is a unique spiral shape. "It's a
The Coalition on the Environment
thing of beauty': Lerman-Golomb said.
and Jewish Life
Rabbi Paul Yedwab of Temple Israel
and the Jewish
in West Bloomfield spoke about COEP
Council for
CFL bulb campaign on Shabbat. The
Public Affairs are
congregation joined with COEJL to
teaming up this
install the bulbs during Chanukah.
Chanukah for a
Rabbi Yedwab touched on why some
nationwide educa-
tion and advocacy oppose conservation issues."Sometimes
in this country' he said, "conservation is
campaign about
categorized as a liberal cause, which is
global warming
Rabbi Yedwab
opposed by conservatives.
and energy con-
"I consider myself a conservative in
servation.
many ways — and one of them is that I
Both groups want to shed light on the
am in favor of conservation":
global warming problem — but a more
Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb, a
energy-efficient light.
Reconstructionist rabbi in Maryland,
The bright idea at the center of their
designed a ceremony for congregations
effort this Chanukah is to encourage
to use in the bulb installation:
Jewish institutions to switch to compact
'As we take in the glow and warmth
fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, which
and peace of these Chanukah candles
consume 75 percent less energy while
— and as our way is illuminated by the
lasting 7-10 times longer. The campaign
steady, sustainable light of our new low-
is known both as "A Light Among the
energy bulb — let us commit to becom-
Nations" and "How Many Jews Does it
ing the Maccabees of our day' it reads.
Take to Change a Lightbulb?"
"Let us replace more bulbs, install more
COEJL Executive Director Barbara
insulation, adjust more thermostats, and
Lerman-Golomb is hoping that i the
become more conscious of all the small,
bulbs will turn the public on to the need
simple, effective ways that we can help
for greater energy conservation."The
protect God's good Creation."
idea behind it is that we can start with
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