I just heard your story on NRP and while I applaud your efforts to make Bar Mitzot "green" one thing that didn't come out (and maybe you said this and it got edited out) is that the best way to be green is NOT to replace non-green products with green products but to eliminate the use of the product at all. For example while hemp kippot are more green than regular ones there is absolutely no need to have them. I have a drawerful of kippot from weddings and bar-mitzvot that are gathering dust and are never used. Most temples I have attended have buckets of kippot to use for the service and don't need anymore.
Oh and while the centerpiece ideas that are then subsequently donated are also interesting wouldn't it be better to just not spend the money and instead donate that directly?
Unfortunately the green movement has long since lost its focus (or been co-opted my marketing). I heard one commentator officially declare it dead when they saw "green styrofoam packing peanuts" . They were labelled green because instead of decompossing in 11 million years they would decompose in 7 million years.
Thank you for listening.
- Marc Itzkowitz
Kate Answered:
Hi Marc,
Thank you for writing - you make excellent points. I agree with you that substitutions are not the answer, and that decreasing consumption has to be part of the solution. Although our interview was cut down from fifteen minutes to just a few, I did manage to sneak this message in when Gellerman makes a joke that the yarmulkahs he has are all recycled because they come from someone else's bar mitzvah and I say "recycling is another form of being green, and instead of getting any kind of new kippot or tallis you can borrow all that stuff."
Several of the bar mitzvahs I have written about here focus on decreasing waste and avoiding the pressure to buy "new everything" for the event. I think the real message is that before families spend an extra hundred dollars on plastic hats and foam noodles for the dance floor, they should think about whether the kids really need that stuff. The same hold true for items that are unlikely to be used often and can be borrowed (like the yarmulkahs).
I also agree with you that direct donations are a wonderful way to honor a child's bar or bat mitzvah celebration, and giving donations in lieu of favors is very popular. Some families do indeed skip centerpieces, but I think an important message of the green movement is that you don't have to sacrifice style to be green, and many families will want to have centerpieces - which is fine. The key is to find items that can be donated, as discussed in the interview, or that are reusable. For my nephew's bar mitzvah, my mother made beautiful centerpieces with live plants in wicker baskets. For my wedding, my husband and I filled bowls with rocks from the beach near our house (and returned them after the wedding). There are so many creative ways to have festive decor for an event without harming the planet.
Finally, I understand why you feel like the green movement has been co-opted, and greenwashing in certainly a problem. However, I have met many dedicated individuals, and have worked with companies that are genuinely trying to make a difference. I always encourage people to be careful about what they buy, to look for third party certifications (e.g., organic, fair trade, etc.) whenever possible, and to search for companies that are members of eco-minded trade organizations, like Green America. One way to be green is to support those who are working to truly make a difference. Go Green!
Image: NASA and the NSSDC
