Ahavat V'Avodat HaAdama (AAA)
Ahavat V'Avodat HaAdama means "love and service of the earth." We seek to nourish the hearts, minds and souls of Jews taking part in earth care in a time of climate crises. Our initiatives include adult education, themed kiddush lunches, religious school and young family programming as well as partnering with organizations that share our values and mission for our community.
If you would like to join the AAA email list, lead an AAA event, or have questions about Greening Congregations, please email Tamar Libicki.
Ongoing AAA initiatives
Greening Congregations with Earth Ministry
Beth Shalom is a member of Greening Congregations with Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light. This means that Beth Shalom has set for itself goals for how to be more environmentally friendly in the year to come. We have set goals in the following five fields: worship, education, building and grounds, community engagement, and faithful advocacy. Being a Greening Congregation also includes us in a network of interfaith congregations who encourage each other to increase their care for the earth.
Shmita Project Northwest
Shmita Project Northwest, a collaboration between Congregation Beth Shalom and Earth Ministry Washington Interfaith Power and Light seeks to educate, inspire, and build community around bringing Shmita to life. Also known as the Year of Release, the Shmita Year invites each of us to re-examine our relationship with the earth, with the Divine, and with one another.
Honi's Circle Podcast
Ḥoni's Circle is a climate chevruta (partner text study), in which Rabbi Paula Rose and Tamar Libicki explore Jewish texts from the Torah, the Talmud, and Commentaries to grapple with climate change. Every two weeks, we will release a new 15-minute episode with its own source sheet, allowing listeners to study along with the discussion. This Podcast is a project of Congregation Beth Shalom and Ahavat V'Avodat HaAdama, our community's environmental group.
Past Projects
Synagogue Vegan Challenge
We integrated vegan learning and cuisine into select CBS programming throughout 2023 and 2024! Learn more...
The Eitz Chaim (Tree of Life)
This tree served as a visual representation of our Environmental Actions. Each leaf represented a small or large step we took as a community to protect our environment. Our goal was to get our members thinking about actions they can take in their own lives, as well as beginning conversation about ways of improving our consumption, transportation, travel, construction, etc.
AAA chair Tamar Libicki posing with the Tree.