Tzedek Council Newsletter (continued)

Tutor with Back on Track

Congregation Emanu-El has a 30+ year partnership with Third Baptist Church and Back On Track to build bridges of opportunity and academic enrichment for SF students.
Please contact Rebecca Reiner if you would like more information.

Help a Student Learn to Read

Can You Read This…Then You Can Help a Child Who Can’t
In just one hour a week you can help a struggling student learn to love reading. Join JCL as a volunteer reading tutor and make a difference in a child’s life.
Learn more here.

Be an Environmental Steward

In Genesis Chapter Two we are commanded “to serve and to protect” the planet. Here are a few ways your choices can help ensure a healthy environment and fulfill the calling of Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World):

1. Water and Energy Saving Tips: Small choices can add up to large savings – for both the environment and your wallet. Consider low-flow faucets to reduce your water use or changing out your lightbulbs or thermostat to cut your energy bill.

• Visit the SFPUC for water saving tips
• Visit PG&E for energy saving tips

2. Balloon Alternatives: Thinking of using balloons at your next event? Consider these alternatives instead. Balloons and their ribbons are most often made of plastic and get caught up in trees or water ways, harming the animals around them. Thankfully there are other options for you to make your event festive, including environmentally friendly:

• Flags • Banners • Streamers • Kites • Pinwheels • Local bouquets/floating flowers • Flower buds or petals • Bubbles •

3. Cut Food Waste: Did you know we waste 40% of available food in America? While there are programs bringing excess grocery and farm food to those who are in need, we – consumers – are one of the largest sources of the waste. This has an extensive impact on the environment, including wasting water and fertilizer while creating a greater need to truck waste to landfill. Curious to learn how you can cut your food waste? Visit:

4. Where do I put what? Wonder where to put your waste? Remember that both recycling and composting are sorted before being processed (but the trash isn’t). If you aren’t 100% sure something is trash, do your best to figure out if it’s compost, recycling, or another option so it doesn’t go to the landfill. Here’s a handy website to help you figure it out.