Touro’s Climate Action Krewe
We are Touro congregants acting to slow climate change and protect the environment of New Orleans, Louisiana and our planet. We look for ways to make a difference at our Synagogue, in our home and in our community.
We are part of Touro’s commitment to Tikkun Olam – repairing the world. Led by Touro members Dan Weiner and Monique de la Cour, we meet regularly to implement our Climate Action Plan, reduce Touro’s environmental footprint and work towards our goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Join Our Krewe!
We welcome enthusiastic people to join our team! Sign up for our mailing list below and be informed of our meeting schedule and community actions.
Climate Action Plan
Touro Synagogue adopted a new Climate Action Plan in January 2026 and submitted it to the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition. Read our Climate Action Plan below.
We Have Already Made a Difference!
Actions we have taken in the last two years include:
- Planted Trees around the Synagogue Grounds
- Worked with Touro’s operations staff to reduce plastic, disposables and food waste
- Collaborated with community groups to plant trees and bag oyster shells
Climate Action Resources
A Jewish Response to Climate Change
Genesis 2:15
וַיִּקַּ֛ח יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֑ם וַיַּנִּחֵ֣הוּ בְגַן־עֵ֔דֶן לְעׇבְדָ֖הּ וּלְשׇׁמְרָֽהּ׃
The ETERNAL God settled the Human in the garden of Eden, to till it and tend it.
Midrash Tanhuma, Kedoshim Siman 8
כִּי תָּבֹאוּ אֶל הָאָרֶץ וּנְטַעְתֶּם. אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁתִּמְצְאוּ אוֹתָהּ מְלֵאָה כָּל טוּב, לֹא תֹּאמְרוּ נֵשֵׁב וְלֹא נִטַּע, אֶלָּא הֱווּ זְהִירִין בִּנְטִיעוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וּנְטַעְתֶּם כָּל עֵץ מַאֲכָל. כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנִּכְנַסְתֶּם וּמְצָאתֶם נְטִיעוֹת שֶׁנָּטְעוּ אֲחֵרִים, אַף אַתֶּם הֱיוּ נוֹטְעִים לִבְנֵיכֶם. שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמַר אָדָם, אֲנִי זָקֵן, כַּמָּה שָׁנִים אֲנִי חַי, מָה אֲנִי עוֹמֵד מִתְיַגֵּעַ לַאֲחֵרִים, לְמָחָר אֲנִי מֵת.
(Lev. 19:23:) “When you come into the land and plant.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, Even though you find it (i.e., the land) full of all bounty, you shall not say, ‘Let us settle down and not plant.’ Rather, be careful in planting, as stated (ibid., cont.), ‘and plant any tree for food.’ Just as you came in and found plantings which others had planted, so you shall plant for your children, lest someone say, ‘Since I am old and tomorrow I shall die, why should I toil for others.’”
BT Taanit 23a
יוֹמָא חַד הֲוָה אָזֵל בְּאוֹרְחָא, חַזְיֵיהּ לְהָהוּא גַּבְרָא דַּהֲוָה נָטַע חָרוּבָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַאי, עַד כַּמָּה שְׁנִין טָעֵין? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: עַד שִׁבְעִין שְׁנִין. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: פְּשִׁיטָא לָךְ דְּחָיֵית שִׁבְעִין שְׁנִין? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנָא חָרוּבָא בְּעָלְמָא אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ. כִּי הֵיכִי דִּשְׁתַלוּ לִי אֲבָהָתִי — שְׁתַלִי נָמֵי לִבְרָאִי.
One day, he was walking along the road when he saw a certain man planting a carob tree. Ḥoni said to him: This tree, after how many years will it bear fruit? The man said to him: It will not produce fruit until seventy years have passed. Ḥoni said to him: Is it obvious to you that you will live seventy years, that you expect to benefit from this tree? He said to him: That man himself found a world full of carob trees. Just as my ancestors planted for me, I too am planting for my descendants.