The mission of the “Green Chevra” is to work with the congregation to develop an environmentally sustainable synagogue, community, country, and world, guided by Jewish values.

We put our mission into action by bringing extra food after synagogue events to shelters for distribution to those who need it, and we aspire to divert food scraps to composting, encouraging the municipality to facilitate that. 

We encourage connection with our natural environment through hikes and connection with native plantings through films, presentations, the annual Tu b’Shevat celebration and online sharing events.

We aspire to free our functions from wasting energy and plastic:

  • Eliminate food waste in the synagogue through food scrape composting via the municipality. Members contact Judy Zingher if you are interested in bringing the Shabbat compost to the DPW after Kiddush.
  • Help the synagogue to accomplish heating and cooling without use of fossil fuels
  • Inspire and inform congregants to use their investments effectively for Environment, Social and Governance (ESG), or as Rabbi Arthur Waskow put it, MOM&POP, Move Our Money, Protect Our Planet!

Contact Judy Zingher if you’d like to get involved.

What the Green Chevra has done and continues to do:

  • Encouraged BAS to subscribe to Community Solar through Sustainable Westchester
  • Ran an enjoyable and educational Gardening Gabfest in the spring and summer where congregants shared their extensive experience with gardens
  • Coordinates the collection of leftover food from Shabbat Kiddush to donate to the Open Arms shelter. Members may sign up to deliver food to Open Arms after Shabbat by following the Shabbat Food Delivery Signup link on the Members’ side of the website.
  • Oversees recycling of plastics at Shabbat kiddushes and other synagogue events
  • Avoids using single-use plates and silverware during weekly Kiddush
  • Encourages members to bring their own coffee/tea cups for Kiddush
  • Offers educational programs on topics such as plastics and the environment, renewable energy in the US and Israel, and climate change
  • Presents annual Tu B’Shevat seders, linking Jewish spiritual traditions to environmental concerns
  • Accompanies BAS members to environmental demonstrations such as the People’s Climate March
  • Works with BAS administration to make sure the synagogue building follows best environmental practices