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At the heart of every Jewish community since the destruction of the second temple is the synagogue. It represents the community’s shared spiritual and ideological values, and plays host to a wide variety of events. At Shvuat ha-Adamah/Earth’s Promise, we believe that by infusing these events with social responsibility and environmental activism we can create a unique Jewish experience that blends the traditional with the modern, the Torah with the environment.

Together with our partners from the Rambam synagogue, Shvuat ha-Adamah/Earth’s Promise is developing a replicable model for an urban, environmentally sound, spiritually in tune community. In only 6 months, our community compost initiative has turned more than a ton of organic waste into nutrient-rich organic fertilizer. Our educational workshops have formed the backbone of a community-wide environmental discussion, which has paved the way for an environmental audit of the synagogue. And our special events programming has added a new element of environmental activism to holidays and bar/bat mitzvahs. By using the synagogue as a platform for the environment, and the environment as a platform for spirituality we have achieved a hybrid success that transcends either issue alone.