10 | AUGUST 19 • 2021 

PURELY COMMENTARY

destruction during times of 
war as well as peace. The 
expanded rulings include 
not feeding livestock pol-
luted water, not diverting 
or destroying water and not 
throwing away food or wan-
tonly breaking usable items. 
These interpretations have 
shaped how we, as a Jewish 
congregation, engage with 
the world we live in. 
Another value guiding 
the Congregation’s decision 
to invest in an EV charger, 
along with other measures 
to make our building more 
energy efficient and less 
polluting, is the value of bet-
zelem Elohim — the under-
standing that all people are 
made in the image of God. 
This directly relates to how 
we view one another.
All people should have 

access to clean air and water, 
but we know this is not the 
case here in Michigan. Low-
wealth and BIPOC (Black, 
Indigenous, People of Color) 
communities experience 
disproportionate harm from 
dirty vehicle pollution, 
leading to increased rates of 
asthma and other respiratory 
illnesses. We also know that 
low-wealth and BIPOC com-
munities also are often clos-
est to highways and bear the 
greatest burden from vehicle 
pollution.
We have a responsibility 
to act on our values, which 
teach us to care for the 
Earth and that all people are 
important and indeed, made 
in the image of God. 
I am proud to lead a con-
gregation who wants to put 
their values into action in 

any way that they can and 
know that there is still much 
to be done. The installation 
of an electric car charger 
is but one piece of a large 
puzzle that we must all work 
together on building.
As the EPA and 
Transportation Department 
now begin to work out the 
details of longer-term emis-

sions standards, they have an 
opportunity to help create 
the conditions necessary for 
all life to thrive by support-
ing cleaner cars. We urge 
them to make these stan-
dards as strong as possible. 

Simone Schicker is the rabbi of 
Temple B’nai Israel in Kalamazoo.

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE continued from page 8

 TEMPLE B’NAI ISRAEL

CARL LEVIN continued from page 8

same practices. 
Carl Levin was a bridge 
builder so the relationship with 
our agency was a perfect fit. 
The agency’s role in the com-
munity is to build bridges, alli-
ances and coalitions between 
the Jewish community and 
other communities. Sen. Levin 
assisted us in those efforts.
During those same years, 
Sen. Levin met frequently with 
advocates working to free Jews 
in the Soviet Union known as 
“Refuseniks.” He signed every 
petition and visited with peo-
ple who had been freed but 
had been forced to leave loved 
ones behind. He spoke tireless-
ly on behalf of the cause of reli-
gious freedom and particularly 
for Refuseniks.
Much of the work Sen. 
Levin did on behalf of the 
Jewish community and all 
Detroiters was done quietly, 

with little or no fanfare or 
publicity. It was the well- 
being of the people that drove 
him. So, for us, a call to our 
senator was not difficult — we 
knew the answer would be, 
“I’ll do what I can.” And he 
did. Michigan has a history 
of ethical leadership in the 
Senate. We had Sen. Phil Hart. 
And we had Sen. Carl Levin. 
Neither can be replaced. 
The voice of Sen. Levin, his 
work on behalf of the com-
munity, his care and concern 
for Michiganians all serve as a 
role model to public servants. 
We will miss him, but we are 
committed as never before to 
continue his legacy. 

Jeannie Weiner is past president of 
the JCRC/AJC. 
 
For more on Sen. Levin, please 
see Looking Back on page 62.
Sen. Carl Levin with longtime JCRC/AJC board member, Micki 
Grossman, of blessed memory, from JCRC/AJC archives.

Electric Vehicle Expo 
in Kalamazoo

