Union for Reform Judaism pledges to divest millions from fossil fuel industry
We share with you an excerpt from the JTA /Forward article announcing a major step by a major Jewish organization against the Corporate Carbon Pharaohs who are burning Earth for the sake of their own profits. The Shalom Center says “Maxeltov” (not a typo) to URJ, Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, and Dayenu for helping bring about this prophetic action (as well as to ourselves for long years of sowing the seeds for this flowering). The rest of the article is at https://forward.com/fast-forward/601384/reform-judaism-divest-fossil-fuel/
— AW, ed
Union for Reform Judaism pledges to divest millions from fossil fuel industry
The Union for Reform Judaism’s pledge is one of the highest-profile climate actions ever taken by a Jewish organization
Rabbi Jennie Rosenn blows the shofar at the “Jewish Climate Action, Hear The Call Senator Schumer” event in New York City on September 12, 2021. (Jemal Countess / Getty, courtesy of Dayenu)
By Asaf Elia-Shalev
April 10, 2024
(JTA) —The organization representing the largest American Jewish denomination is pledging to divest from the fossil fuel industry as a response to the climate crisis.
Citing the biblical teaching of “till and tend the earth,” the Union for Reform Judaism announced on Wednesday that it has committed to ensuring its investment and pension plans, as well as mutual funds, are free of direct ties to oil, gas, and coal companies. It has also pledged to redirect investments toward renewable energy.
“Climate change’s impacts are being felt in communities worldwide,” Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman, chair of URJ’s North American board, said in a statement. “We have the ability and responsibility to use our dollars to make a positive difference on climate, rather than to continue funding investment in damaging fossil fuels.”
[The rest of the article is at https://forward.com/fast-forward/601384/reform-judaism-divest-fossil-fuel/ — AW, ed.]