Environmental Justice

Pre-Tisha B'av Virtual Lobby Day for Climate Solutions with Jewish Earth Alliance
Wednesday, July 23, 2025

In spite of current setbacks that will impact environmental stewardship, protections and human health overall, we must not give up hope. Our voices need to be heard by elected officials. Please join concerned members Jewish communities from around the country for Jewish Earth Alliance’s 6th annual virtual lobby day - this year on July 23, 2025.

Registration Link: https://bit.ly/9avlobby

Participate in a Lobby Day Prep Webinar with special guest speaker Bill McKibben on Tuesday, July 15 at 5pm PT | 8pm ET.

Support JCoOC’s Climate Justice Partner Initiatives

Become a member of Orange County's first Dayenu Circle

When we think about the climate crisis, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the challenge, and skeptical of our capacity as individuals to make a meaningful difference.

A Dayenu Circle can provide a center of gravity, enabling us to align Jewish values with the change we seek to make in the world. We can do this work together not only to take effective action to confront the climate crisis, but to sustain ourselves and our spirits as we act. Rooted in community and drawing on Jewish wisdom and experience supports us as we move from fear and anxiety to courageous action.

What is a Dayenu Circle and why would I want to be part of it?

Wildland-Urban Interfaith Climate Action Network (WUICAN) Programs

The Wildland-Urban Interface Climate Action Network (WUICAN) is a consortium of community-based organizations, California Native American Tribes, land managers, and universities in Southern California collaborating to address the need for more effective climate action. WUICAN’s goals are to create a new model for co-governance and co-design of climate solutions that center the needs of impacted communities, build capacity for collaboration and decision-making across community-based organizations, universities, and land stewards, and develop community-driven policies and practices for land and water stewardship in the face of climate change.

SAVE THESE DATES for upcoming WUICAN events:

Saturday, October 11, 2025: WIUCAN’s Fall Festival of Environmental Partnership hosted at Harbor Christian Church in Newport Beach. Details forthcoming.

Read about Rabbi Marcia Tilchin’s lifelong passion to champion environmental protections and justice: https://newkirkcenter.uci.edu/wildland-urban-interface-climate-action-network/stories/rabbi-marcia-tilchin-building-interfaith-community-to-care-for-the-earth/

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Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Bill

Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Bill
(SB 684 / AB 1243)
Take Action TODAY!

The burden of paying for the massive damage caused by annual California wildfires should not rest on California taxpayers! Hold the gas and oil corporations that are responsible for NOT taking action decades ago when this crisis was identified accountable to citizens, businesses and all institutions that have suffered unimaginable loss.
Thank you!

We encourage all Californians to call and/or write their California elected officials ASAP! Click here to connect with your state senator and assembly person.

Read Rabbi Tilchin’s March 25th message to learn more about SB 684 / AB 1243 and ways you can help.

JCoOC is a proud member of Adamah’s Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition

The Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition is a network of Jewish community organizations who recognize the urgency of climate change and commit to take action.

No matter where you are on your climate action journey we provide community, gentle accountability, and resources to support meaningful climate action. Get involved with Adamah

“One generation goes and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.” -Ecclesiastes 1:4

It is no accident that the Hebrew word for human (Adam) is derived from the Hebrew word for earth (Adamah). Living creatures are intertwined with the natural world in our entirety, as taught in Genesis 3:19: "By the sweat of your brow shall you get bread to eat, until you return to the ground from where you were taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return."

Showing reverence, love and care for the natural world is as important as showing respect for animals and other human beings. If we want to be honest about it, we could be doing better at all three - especially to our foundational mother (Earth)!

Global warming is the existential issue of our time. Jewish environmental activists are working tirelessly and creatively to be proactive in helping people make necessary changes in lifestyle and working with state and federal policy makers to institute important legislation for environmental protections. The Jewish Collaborative is committed to nurturing a vibrant Jewish Earth Justice movement in Orange County.

We support the missions of courageous national organizations like Hazon, Dayenu, Wilderness Torah and Shamayim as well as local leaders like the Environmental Nature Center and the Ecology Center. Please click on the logos (below) to these organizations to learn more about how to get involved, and stay tuned to our broadening work as a Jewish voice and actor for environmental causes and protection.

The time to act is NOW!

Resources:

Environmental Protection & Advocacy Resources:
- California Environmental Rights Alliance
  JEWISH Organizations Dedicated to Environmental Justice:
  (click on images to link to site)