Reform Jews, Interfaith Allies Make Moral Call for Climate Justice Ahead of Pope Francis’ UN Speech

Contact: Max Rosenblum or Rachel Landman
202.387.2800 | news@rac.org

Washington, D.C., September 18, 2015 – On September 24, Rabbi Marla J. Feldman, Executive Director of Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ), will be speaking on behalf of the Reform Jewish Movement at the Prayer Service and Civil Society Gathering during the climate mobilization in New York City.

The Reform Movement will join members of a multitude of faith traditions at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, in solidarity with millions of people around the world, to call for a future free from the detrimental effects of climate change, including its negative impact on economic equality. Leaders from the interfaith community will offer prayers, meditations, and music to echo Pope Francis’ message on the urgency of addressing the interrelated issues of climate change and global poverty. Thursday’s events take place in advance of Pope Francis’ address before the United Nations General Assembly, as UN delegates determine the new Sustainable Development Goals.

“The global mobilization is calling upon us to address the challenge of climate change and should speak to the hearts of people of faith throughout the world,” Rabbi Feldman said. “Our sacred scriptures teach that we are stewards of God's creation, commanded to care for ‘the world and all that dwell therein.’ It is therefore incumbent upon us to raise our voices before the leaders of the world to move them to action so that we might bequeath to future generations a sustainable world in which they thrive. So we join together with other people of faith in the midst of the Jewish High Holy Day season to affirm our commitment to this sacred task.”

Who:         Reform Movement lay leaders and clergy, including WRJ’s Rabbi Marla J. Feldman, plus environmental activists and members from a multitude of faith traditions.

What:      “Climate Mobilization” Interfaith Prayer Service and Civil Society Gathering. The mobilization in New York City is the culminating event of the Light The Way mobilizations worldwide in support of the new Sustainable Development Goals. 

Where:    Dag Hammarskjold Plaza (47th street and First Avenue), New York, NY.

When:     Thursday September 24, 2015. The Interfaith Prayer Service will begin at 4:30 pm, immediately followed by a civil society gathering.

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The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose more than 900 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. Visit www.rac.org for more.