Among many laudatory quotes that the White House cited in a statement about U.S. President Joe Biden’s “action to protect the entire U.S. East coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific off the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California” and parts of the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska “from future oil and natural gas leasing,” is one from Jennie Rosenn, a Reform rabbi and founder and CEO of Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action.
“Americans know that the things we value most—our families, communities, homes and sacred places—are at risk because of the extraction and burning of fossil fuels,” Rosenn stated. “This decision to prevent more and egregiously unnecessary offshore drilling is a crucial step toward realizing a clean energy future.”
“We must work to build a sukkat shalom, a shelter of peace and safety, a world that is no longer threatened by climate catastrophe and that is livable and sustainable for all people, for generations to come,” she added. “Our future lies in readily available, abundant and affordable clean energy that delivers clean air to breathe and water to drink.”
Dayenu was the subject of a New York Times article in October that reported that the group hopes to find common ground on climate change among Jews who are divided on Israel.
“During an organizing call late last year, one volunteer wore a yellow ribbon, having just rallied for the release of Israeli hostages, while another sported a button that read ‘Ceasefire now,’ Rabbi Rosenn said,” per the Times.
A member of the group told the paper about Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza that “what I say to a lot of people is, ‘What is happening there will end, because every war in human history has come to an end, but climate change will continue.’”