by Marti Reinfeld

Al HaNissim, the prayer we insert into the Grace after Meals and the Amidah on Chanukah, includes a verse from the book of Jeremiah: “Ravta et rivam, danta et dinam.” Hashem reminds us that He fought our battles and then judged our judgments. This seems backwards. A more logical progression of events, in most scenarios, is to judge a situation and then decide whether it is a battle worth fighting. But sometimes we know enough to understand that the consequences of a battle will be of vast importance, and so we jump in to fight before fully knowing all of the details. 

 

Unlike the previous Persian Empire that attempted to destroy us bodily, the Greek Empire was interested in cutting us down spiritually. As the preceding verse in Al HaNissim illustrates: “…The evil Greek kingdom stood up against Your nation Israel to make them forget Your Torah and go astray from the laws of Your will.” They forbid the observance of the Sabbath, the New Moon, and the holidays. For a people so closely tied to the calendar and the cycles of the moon, meddling with the Jews sense of time represented an attempt to completely uproot the nation spiritually. This was not a time for contemplation; this was a time for action! Could we know with certainty the outcome of a battle against the Greeks? Of course not, though our chance of success against this powerful army seemed slim. But the alternative—sitting idly by and allowing the Greeks to shred our connection to Hashem—was not an outcome we could risk. If an action (or lack of action) may cause irreversible damage, even if there is not consensus on the specific consequences, we have an ethical obligation to mitigate potential risks. In the case of the Jews, the possible damage of living passively among the Greeks any longer involved an unacceptable level of risk. This concept is referred to as the “precautionary principle,” and is often invoked in the debate on global warming. 

 

The scientific evidence in support of global warming, with humans as primary contributors, is overwhelming. Yet many elements of the effects of climate change remain uncertain. This is not unusual for a problem so complex and new. To face a problem that we do not fully understand with apathy, however, is foolish. If we wait to completely understand the many causes and effects of global warming—the feedback loops and various estimates of future damages—it will be too late to act. Rather than wait to see the actual consequences of a warming world, and risk necessitating a drastic change in lifestyle, we should begin to make small changes now to slow the rise of greenhouse gas emissions and the effects of climate change.

 

But what can we do? Even the term “global warming” suggests the enormity of the issue. Can I make a difference? And if so, what? The laws and story of Chanukah can answer these questions, as well.

 

Every night of Chanukah we light an additional candle. This practice is the result of a debate between Hillel and Shammai on how we can make the mitzvah of lighting the candles more beautiful. The basic mitzvah of Chanukah is “ner ish u’beito,” one candle for every man and his household. In order to beautify the mitzvah, we add another candle every night (following the opinion of Hillel; Shammai argued that we should begin with eight candles and subtract one every night). The focus of the basic mitzvah is clearly on the household. One household, one candle. Darkness is encroaching from every angle. Alone you cannot prevent it, but if every household provides just one candle, we can bring light into the world. The same is true in regards to environmental stewardship. Our actions alone may not seem like much, but combined with the efforts of many, we can hold off the darkness. 

 

So, yes, I can make a difference. But how? On Chanukah, the Jews found just a bit of oil, enough for only one night and, miraculously, it lasted for eight days. Chanukah tells us the story of limited resources. The miracle of Chanukah illustrates the importance of making those resources last, of using them wisely. We cannot rely on miracles. If we continue to send the message to automakers that we are more interested in V8 engines than fuel efficiency, the industry will continue to invest in power over mileage. The prudent use of resources is in our hands. 

 

Global warming is only partly about cars. Most of our manufacturing processes rely on fossil fuels. Many of our daily decisions can have a significant effect how much fuel we consume, how many greenhouse gasses we emit, and how much we contribute to a warming planet. Below are a few ideas on how you and hour household can make a difference:

 

Choose a more efficient vehicle: A vehicle that consumes 20 miles per gallon (mpg) emits about 50 tons of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. In contrast, a vehicle that gets 40 mpg emits only 25 tons over its lifetime. (See http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/choosing.shtml for tips on how to choose an efficient vehicle that meets your needs.)

Consider your mobility choices: Do you really need to drive to the pharmacy? Is there one within walking/biking distance? Is there a carpool to your office that you can join? If you do need to drive, try to bundle your trips together so you make fewer trips.

Weatherize your home: Ensure that your home has adequate insulation. Many utility companies offer energy audits that assess whether your home has enough insulation. Use weatherstripping to stop drafts around windows and doors.

Buy energy-efficient appliances: Look for EPA’s Energy Star label—it lets you know which appliances are the most efficient.

Unplug appliances that aren’t being used: The “standby” consumption of all of our household appliances can be as high as a 100 watt light bulb continuously running!

Hibernate your computer: Set your computer to hibernate automatically after a set period of inactivity. You won’t have to reload programs when you turn the computer back on, and you’ll save energy!