The climate crisis to be reviewd from a Jewish perspective by Hirschland during Oct. 25 lecture

SARATOGA SPRINGS–“Creation Care And The Climate Crisis: What Can We Do? A Jewish Perspective” will be Madeline Hirschland’s themes at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25, in the Gannet Auditorium, Palamountain Hall at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs It is a free Jacob Perlow Series lecture open to the community.

Madeline Hirschland

Hirschland, executive director of Creation Care Partners, will review how the climate crisis can feel huge and politicized. She will discuss what people of faith can do to fight feeling overwhelmed or paralyzed by the magnitude of the crisis.

According to organizers, the presenter’s frame of reference is her Judaism and  she will include an introductory story from the Talmud, translated Hebrew expressions, reflections on Jewish holy days and a conclude with a  Jewish folk tale. She will discuss her efforts as a Jew to engage Jews and people of other faiths to take effective climate action. Her conclusions, however, will intentionally be inclusive of other faith traditions.

Until 2008, Hirschland worked in microfinance, a strategy to alleviate poverty, in Africa, Asia and the Middle East (Gates Foundation, Save the Children, USAID, World Bank). But alarmed by the impact of the changing climate on the most vulnerable, she shifted to motivating individuals and congregations to act. She co-founded Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light; founded Solarize Indiana, which increased residential solar in Indiana by 20% in six months; and founded The Seventh Day Initiative, which assisted congregations and their members to become models of deep energy conservation by reducing their energy use by 33%.

The program is co-sponsored by the Office of Special Programs, Environmental Studies and Sciences program, Religious Studies department, Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, Skidmore Hillel, Skidmore Environmental Action Club, Temple Sinai, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs, and Presbyterian United Church. Funding is provided by endowments established by Jacob Perlow and by Beatrice Troupin.