Oct 28, 2021 - 8:00 pm EDT - 9:00 pm EDT 
Thursday October 28 from 8:00PM to 9:00PM
Join the dedicated activists of the Jewish Youth Climate Movement (JYCM) and Jakir Manela, CEO of Hazon in conversation Thursday, October 28, 8-9pm ET, in preparation for COP 26 – the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Momentum is building in the Jewish climate movement! JYCM and GreenFaith demonstrated at BlackRock’s office in Manhattan on October 18th to demand they stop funding the fossil fuel industry and human rights violations. Three rabbis and six teens were arrested – watch the video.
Jakir and the JYCM leaders will discuss their work demanding climate justice and the state of the Jewish climate movement. This will take place live on the eve of COP 26, Thursday, October 28, 8-9pm ET.
Meet the JYCM Activists
Shayne, 9th grade (Livingston, NJ): Shayne has always been connected to Judaism and environmentalism. Shayne goes to a conservative Jewish day school in West Orange, NJ, so has always been immersed in Judaism. Shayne’s earliest memory related to environmentalism was when he was in kindergarten. It was right before the 2012 presidential election and his whole school was gathered together for an event, and he went around telling the high schoolers to vote for Obama since Mitt Romney was a supporter of coal. Since then, Shayne has always been very involved in environmental causes. Shayne ran a biweekly column in the Middle School Newsletter explaining ways to reduce your carbon footprint, and he has spoken publicly multiple times to the student body about climate change. Shayne’s Bar Mitzvah project was raising money for carbon offsetting projects in India and Mozambique, and his Dvar Torah was connecting Parashat Noach to climate change. Although Shayne always advocates for climate action and is a member of a number of climate-related groups, Shayne has never really gotten to be involved in any hands-on activism, so Shayne is very excited to get to fight for climate action with JYCM.
Naomi P., 12th grade (Bloomfield, MI): Naomi is passionate about sustainability, specifically in the context of food. She has maintained a plant-based diet since early elementary school and loves to experiment with vegan baking. Outside of environmental activism, she works with the National Equity Project and participates in competitive public speaking and various musical theater activities. Naomi believes that you shouldn’t have to be of voting age to make your voice heard; after all, it is her generation that will be affected by climate change the most. What excites her most about being a part of the Jewish Youth Climate Movement is the opportunity to combine leadership skills and Jewish values to effectuate change in the fight against the climate crisis.
Eli, Amitim College Cohort (Tulsa, OK): Eli was born and grew up in Tulsa with a very strong and supportive Jewish community. Eli is on the Board of Directors of his synagogue, and has been an active member of his local BBYO chapter. Along with leadership roles in his Jewish community, Eli is also a competitive cyclist and went to Nationals last year for cyclocross. When he heard about the Jewish Youth Climate Movement, he was immediately intrigued by the thought that the young Jewish population could rally and combat and help other people and groups lead their own efforts to help combat climate change.
Raphi, Amitim College Cohort (New York, NY): Raphi is the co-founder and co-president of the Environmental Club at her school. Raphi sees it as her personal responsibility to take action to work on the climate crisis. She is not optimistic that the situation will improve on its own, but she is positive we can make a difference if we work together and take the necessary steps, which is why she is thrilled to be part of JYCM, which commits itself to remain aware, making others aware, and taking direct action. Raphi loves journalism and creative writing.
