Hannukah is the Jewish Festival of Lights. When we light the menorah, it is a celebration and a reminder that just one day's worth of oil burned for eight days (and the victory of the Jews of course). This tiny bit of energy went such a long way. I like to think about this each year and remember that we can and should try to use the smallest amount of energy and resources to get the greatest gain from them.
If you are lighting a menorah this year, maybe think about moving toward choices that will allow our limited sources of energy to last for as long as they are needed, and with minimal impact on our planet. Here are some great ways to promote this state of mind:
Wind-Powered Electricity - Call your power company and ask to switch to wind-powered electricity. 100% wind-power reduces CO2 emissions, the same as not driving 20,000 miles in one year. Call your Synagogue, Hillel, or JCC and ask them to switch to wind-power as well.
Driving - If you can, choose one or more days during Hanukkah not to drive at all, and lessen driving as much as you can during this time. And of course, see if you can add this sort of thing to your life more often. Could be a nice time to take a walk, ride a bike (depending on where you are and how cold it is!!)
Workplace - Urge your bosses, (or maybe you are the boss) to arrange an energy audit. Your utility company can tell you how to get one for free or at low-cost.
And for fun, here are some crazy eco menorahs. But if you don't have one, check out www.craigslist.org to find a groovy one and reuse!
Steel and Cork Menorah
A Galvanized Pipe Menorah
An Electric Menorah (which yes, uses electricity, but doesn't use paraben candles or other not so great candles)
And for cards, here are some cute ones that are made from 100% recycled material. Of course, reusing old cards is a more eco way to go, but if you choose to go for new, these are a great way to go.
And this might be a little nerdy, but I had to include it here... the eco friendly dreidle. You can find it at the Baltimore Jewish Environmental Network's website. Click here, and look under "Bar/Bat Mitzvah Suggestions", and click on the "Green Dreidle Project". You fold it and make it and it lands on cute eco suggestions.
Happy Hannukah, and Happy Holidays!
Hi NT! Darlin', you are in luck - next to Alicia (the EMPRESS Of All Things Vegan), the Mistress Of All Things Vegan for many of us, Isa Moskowitz (of Veganomicon fame) has apparently tackled the matzoh ball soup thing for us, wooohooo! Here 'tis:
http://www.theppk.com/recipes/dbrecipes/index.php?RecipeID=147
Oh! And there are apparently amazing chicken boullion replacements out there - my Mom swears by them, and other Kind Lifers have mentioned them really positively - I'm afraid I don't have brand names. I love veggie stock so, I haven't done the "chicken" stock thing yet.
And for the challah, I think we're all leaning on Kim to let us now how that goes - LOL!
So I have been trying to figure out what religon best suits me and after doing a little quiz online (im a dork i know) I think the reform jewish religon is pretty close to my beliefs. So hey you may have a newbie jewish vegan here!
So it was tofu for the egg replacement. I must be dumb. Thanks for the save Karen. BUT over-ripe bananas for the bread? That is causing a little head scratching.........Good luck Kim! Please let the world know how it goes.Just run down the street screaming ................................................................................black bananas???
LOL!! Tiger, that is too funny, you. I also hope the VegNews version turns out great for Kim. And as far as Isa's, I know - when I first saw the banana it seemed strange...but then I read the comments, and the only one(s) that mentioned the banana said they were surprised how subtle it was. It's gotta be joining the tofu as a binder - for the rest of the recipe, it's all water-based. Anyway, I must be part monkey 'cuz I loves me some bananas - LOL OH! Also, challah's known for being a little sweet, right? ;)
Yes <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<challah is sweet!! AND NO for crying out loud! yur not part monkey, get a grip..............;)
BAAAHAHA...I am 2 part monkey and soooo R U!! ;) Well...according to Darwin, right, and really it's apes...ok, maybe I'm not... ;-D
if homo sapiens evolved from primates then primates should've ceased to exist..right. If they had evoleved into something else...........Dawkins for .....what? OK. then. If you have ADD or ADHD which is perfectly acceptable you have those monkey traits! I got um 2..........
