For the past six weeks, I’ve had the privilege of serving as the Adamah ATL Hub Climate Action Intern. I came into the internship fueled by Tikkun Olam, hoping to deepen my understanding of how Jewish values can inspire climate advocacy, while helping translate big ideas into actionable solutions. I quickly found those values reflected in Adamah ATL’s work.
Thank you for welcoming me into your communities and sharing your work with such openness. To the Green Team members, I’m impressed by the countless hours you dedicate simply because you care about your community and the planet. Over the past year, you’ve reduced emissions by electrifying equipment, switching to LED lighting, conducting energy audits, and advancing solar projects, nature-based solutions, and food waste reduction. You’ve also engaged over 2,000 community members through climate-focused programming like Let it Rot Shabbat, Tu B’Shvat hikes, seders, and tree plantings.
The biggest lesson I hope to impart to you is that no congregation has to start from scratch. Some of the most creative ideas already exist within this Coalition. A big mazel tov to The Temple and Temple Sinai, the first two congregations in metro Atlanta to install solar, with three more now in the planning process. For nature-based solutions, reach out to Temple Beth Tikvah, who added garden beds and pollinator gardens, and Ahavath Achim, who removed invasive species, supported by the GIPL ReWilding grant. With eight congregations now eligible for GIPL Power-Wise funding, there’s a real opportunity to build on this momentum.
I can’t wait to see how this coalition continues to strengthen one another and bring our shared values to life through climate action.