Brighton shul’s eco target

BRIGHTON AND Hove Progressive Synagogue members joined The Great Green Skills Share, the first in a series of online events as it moves towards becoming an eco shul.

One of the hosts was Benita Matofska, author of the book Generation Share, and contributors included green transport expert Mark Strong and Sophie Sheinwald, who spoke about photographing environmentalist Tamar Ben Shalom, who set up an urban kibbutz in Jerusalem with the goal of bringing nature to a run down, polluted area.

Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich of NottinghamLiberalSynagogue,whorepresents Liberal Judaism on the Eco Synagogue steering committee, also addressed the Zoom audience.

Ms Matofska is a Brighton and Hove Progressive council member, leading the shul’s work on climate action and sustainability and setting up the “green team” with Claire Bessel. “Our vision is to grow a Jewish community that cares about our environment and each other and takes action for the planet,” she said.

“This is just the start of our Eco Synagogue journey — and with climate change being such a pressing issue, I’m thrilled that awarenessandactionisgrowingamong the Jewish community.”

Ms Bessel, who co-hosted the online event, added that its aim was to “demonstrate the green skills and talents within the community; to connect with like minds and to put together an online map of Jewish-green Brighton and Hove”.

Our vision is a community that takes action for the planet’