The Climate Crisis and Being Jewish
I recently led the first meeting of a climate action committee at my synagogue. Ten people came. I was pleased with how it went. People appreciated the focus on taking action and that we shared how we feel about the crisis.
Later that week I read that a founding leader of Extinction Rebellion (XR)—a group I have been involved with locally—had downplayed the significance of the Holocaust in a German publication. His statements were condemned by German politicians, XR Germany, and XR United Kingdom.
There was a meeting that evening of our local XR working committee. We work on colonialism, capitalism, and oppression. So far, I’m the only Jew in the group. During my “check in” I told the group about the meeting at my synagogue and that I was hoping we would discuss the XR leader’s anti-Semitic statements. I was relieved to find that the issue was already on the agenda and that the committee had been asked to edit a draft press release from XR Toronto condemning the founder’s statement.
I said it would be good to include in the draft that anti-Semitism plays a unique and significant role in capitalist exploitation and the climate crisis and that being clear about this would help Jews (including my newly formed synagogue group) feel welcome in the organization. I also said the XR leader shouldn’t be demonized for his mistake (he has since apologized).
The following was eventually included in the press release: “Anti-Semitism has been used for centuries to confuse people about where the power truly lies. We denounce anti-Semitism for the sake of clarity and inclusion of all people.”
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Reprinted from the RC e-mail discussion list for leaders of Jews
(Present Time 198, January 2020)