By Merle Potchinsky, Chair, Tikkun Olam (Social Justice) Committee, Temple Bnai Israel in Willimantic, Connecticut
It was a beautiful day on October 6 when our Dayenu Circle hosted a lively event that celebrated both Sun Day and Sukkot.
To start, around 20 people of all ages gathered in our synagogue’s sukkah to create signs and chat with a reporter from Connecticut Public Radio about why we are doing this work together and why this event. We talked about our connection to Dayenu and our commitment working towards a just, livable future with boldness and audacity (the Rabbi quoted from the Chutzpah T-shirt he was wearing!). (Stay tuned; the story will air in about a month.)
Then we headed outside our synagogue for our Sun Day rally. We chanted, sang (songs provided by Dayenu’s Rabbi Laura Bellows), and shared our joy about solar and clean energy to passersby. Since our building sits on a main thoroughfare in Willimantic, the event was quite visible! We were energized by a lot of honks and waves from pedestrians and drivers.
Willimantic is a Justice 40 community, and it seemed (and I hope this is true) that our positive energy was somehow lifting our neighbors just a little bit. (In 2022, President Biden made it a goal of the federal government that 40 percent of certain climate, clean energy, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.)
After the rally, we brought our elation and energy back to our community sukkah to begin the Sukkot festival and break bread together!
We had a weeks-old infant with us, which underscored the urgency of our work and provided the opportunity to viscerally share about our commitment to leaving him a world that he will thrive in. It was powerful to hear his grandmother, one of our Dayenu Circle members, share her hopes and concerns.
The reporter also took a tour of our building to see the infrastructure for our energy efficient heating and cooling system. We’ll share the media coverage as soon as it appears. Thanks.
