28 | SEPTEMBER 22 • 2022
T
he Well, in collaboration
with Hazon Detroit
and Michigan Interfaith
Power and Light (MIPL), host-
ed Shomrei Adamah: Facing
the Climate Crisis through
Dialogue and Action Together
on Aug. 24.
Shomrei Adamah translates
to “Guardians of the Earth.
” The
principle of being guardians of
the Earth is deeply entrenched
in Jewish values. The event
took place at Walking Lightly in
Ferndale.
Rabbi Jeff Stombaugh, execu-
tive director of The Well, said,
“What I love about this event is
that it didn’t have to look this
way. This was a real collabora-
tion of leveraging strengths and
viewpoints of different organi-
zations to bring the values of
Judaism and sustainability to
life and down to earth.
“On one hand,
” he continued,
“this is a Hazon event that The
Well was able to host space
for. And, on the other hand —
because of how The Well was
able to host this event and col-
laborate to design the substance
and flow for the event — it
became something bigger and
emblematic of how partnership
can work.
“Not to be understated, it
was because of listening to
community lay leaders that
this venue was discovered,
” he
added. “This event was able to
highlight a value-aligned local
business, which I always think
is a great way to make content
feel real and extend a tangible
way for participants to live out
their values.
”
The Well was one of nine
Michigan congregations (others
were synagogues) selected by
Hazon to facilitate the Shomrei
Adamah learning and dialogue
events. The Well, a Hazon
Detroit Seal of Sustainability
site, put the content together
and facilitated the connection
between Michigan Interfaith
Power and Light (MIPL).
Erica Meyers, engagement
and programming associate
at The Well, said the choice of
Walking Lightly for the Shomrei
Adamah event was consistent
with sustainability and foot-
print-consciousness. “We are
leaving as minimal of a foot-
print as we can,
” she said.
Julia Cunnien, Seal of
Sustainability program man-
ager for Hazon Detroit, said
The Well and Hazon partner on
event to address climate destabilization.
Guardians
of the Earth
STORY AND PHOTOS BY YEVGENIYA GAZMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
OUR COMMUNITY
Emily Levine
models her
reusable cup.
Julia Cunnien
and Erica Meyers
Event
participants at
Walking Lightly