10th December 2024 Bulletin Eco-Corner

After our successful Eco-Shabbat service, we are now approaching Chanukah – a time of candle-lighting and for some of us, a time of present-giving. Chanukah celebrates the miracle of a small amount of oil lasting for 8 days, reminding us that there are times when we need to make things last as much as we can. This is a good principle for the giving of presents. Look for presents that are sustainable and avoid buying those things (especially for young children or grandchildren) which are designed only for the short term. There are lots of choices now for more eco- and sustainable present giving. A couple of examples are:
https://shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/gifts-books-and-toys and https://www.protecttheplanet.co.uk/eco-friendly-gifts.

That’s not to say this can’t be a time to indulge yourself a little, but if you can buy gifts that are ethical and support others, that’s a double bonus.  And wrapping......there are lots of alternatives to buying expensive shiny wrapping paper – recycle last year’s wrappings, use newspaper, or make your own design – and it is easy to make your own gift tags from a piece of card, using a hole punch and a piece of string. Finally, for an all round sustainable Chanukah see https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/8-ways-to-make-your-hanukkah-more-eco-friendly/.

Happy present giving and a Happy Chanukah!