‘Choose Life’ says EcoJudaism as it holds its first vigil

EcoJudaism hosted its first-ever eco-vigil in Parliament Square on Wednesday, drawing over 40 attendees to deliver a powerful, urgent message to the UK government and the Jewish community: "Choose life."

The event, which coincided with the COP29 conference in Azerbaijan, marked a significant moment for the Jewish community as it seeks to address the climate crisis from a moral and religious standpoint.

However, the vigil also highlighted a key challenge facing the Jewish community - many still struggled to prioritise the climate crisis amidst other pressing issues, said Naomi Verber, executive director of EcoJudaism.

“There are huge issues facing Jewish people right now, and I can understand why this may not be at the top of everyone's priorities. But at the end of the day, we all need to live. We all want our children to flourish and prosper, live healthy, happy lives, and that really is under threat. Once people understand it as a moral and religious issue, that's where we get real traction.”

Despite the significance of the vigil, Verber expressed frustration at what she described as “selective hearing” among members of the Jewish community when it came to the urgency of the environmental crisis. "Not every community is prioritising it as an issue, and we need to crack why that is."

The vigil came in response to the EcoJudaism’s inability to attend COP29 in Azerbaijan due to security concerns. Instead, the group shifted its focus to engaging directly with the UK government, urging leaders to act in the face of the climate emergency.

Among those who spoke at the event were prominent figures from the UK Jewish community, including Sarah Sackman, MP for Finchley and Golders Green; Phil Rosenberg, President of the Board of Deputies and Rabbi Morderchai Wollenberg from Woodford Forest United Synagogue.

Rabbi Wollenberg addressed the crowd with a call to action. “As human beings, we must make use of and reuse resources around us and not misuse them,” he said. “Don’t let us down when it comes to the environment and the ecosystem.”

One of EcoJudaism's goals is to engage with the Charedi communities and Verber said she saw potential for meaningful collaboration, given the community's emphasis on simplicity, low materialism and their deep connection to nature.

“We have a big reach even beyond the UK Judaism world, but there is a lot more we can do, particularly to the right of the community,” Verber noted. “The lifestyle of the Charedi community actually chimes with a lot of our values, and we need to make that connection for them.”

Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies, responded to those who questioned whether the climate crisis was a "Jewish issue”, saying: “It is fundamental. We are custodians of creation. God tells us in Genesis: ‘Put man in the ground to work it and to protect it.’ This matters for us. It matters for future generations.”

Verber emphasised that the issue was not just an environmental concern, but a survival imperative. “It’s not just about having a nice idea - it’s about fundamental survival, for us, our children, and all of creation,” she said.

Non-faith groups, including Christian Climate Action, reflected the spirit of cross-faith cooperation that EcoJudaism is hoping to foster, and a Jewish school delegation, represented by the JCoSS choir, also attended.