What a joy and privilege for the Dayenu staff to gather for our annual retreat in April. At a moment when it feels like every day brings more devastating news, it was a welcome respite: time to connect, resource ourselves spiritually and socially, strategize, and laugh together.

One of the shared readings was a poem by Karen Salmansohn which captured it perfectly: “The world is both burning & blooming… You are allowed to scream, & still notice how good the soup is. You don’t have to choose. Let it all in.”

At such a precarious moment we are so grateful to be in this work with you.

BOLD CLIMATE ACTION

GETTING OUT THE CLIMATE VOTE WITH CHUTZPAH

Dayenu’s signature Chutzpah GOTV campaign is revving its (electric) engines for the 2026 midterm elections. This year, it’s more important than ever to ensure that voters turn out in record numbers.

We’ve just completed phonebank shifts calling into New Jersey and Georgia where we had hundreds of conversations with infrequent climate voters (aka folks who care about climate, but don’t usually vote). On June 1, we gathered in Brooklyn to write over 300 postcards to New York voters ahead of the primary.

Join us at our Pride phonebank shift on Monday, June 8 (everyone welcome!) and get ready for a busy fall season.

PRO-DEMOCRACY WORK: NO KINGS. HAPPY MAY DAY.

March 28 was a great day for democracy, as 8 million of us across the country turned out to say: America has No Kings! Dayenu activists showed up with ruach (spirit) as we raised our voices to oppose the Trump administration’s relentless attacks on the climate and fundamental rights.

On May Day, we hit the streets again to push back on the rise of authoritarianism. Rooted in the legacy of Jewish organizing, we joined activists of all ages and backgrounds to demand justice for working people and call for climate progress.

CALIFORNIA

Across the state over these past months Dayenu Circles took action in their communities, held spirited climate Seders, and showed up at No Kings. We are currently rallying support for policies to expand solar energy and heat pump use in the state; both have made it out of committee and need your support!

• The Plug and Play Solar Act (SB 868). Take action.
• The Community Solar and Storage Act (AB 1813). Take action.

We are excited for in-person gatherings this month in California.

We are hosting three sessions of our workshop: From Anxiety to Action: Jewish Wisdom & Storytelling for a Climate-Changing World. We’ll draw on the wisdom of Jewish tradition to renew our sense of purpose and strengthen the bonds that can sustain us over the long haul. Then we’ll roll up our sleeves to learn hands-on skills that we can bring back to our communities.

These gatherings are for people just stepping into climate justice work and for longtime organizers alike. Anyone wondering how Jewish values can guide us in this moment or looking to build their organizing skills is welcome.

Los Gatos (workshop): Wednesday, June 10, 6:30pm PT

Berkeley (workshop & training): Thursday, June 11, 6pm PT

Los Angeles (workshop & training): Sunday, June 14, 2pm PT

NEW YORK: DEFENDING OUR CLIMATE LAW

Throughout the winter and spring, Dayenu organized Jewish New Yorkers and worked with a robust coalition to demand that Governor Hochul honor and implement New York’s landmark climate law, passed in 2019. We organized letters from nearly 100 clergy and from thousands of Jewish New Yorkers, held rallies and marches, and sent over 300 emails directly to state legislators. On March 25, we joined hundreds of climate activists to march into the Capitol in Albany and insist the legislature not weaken the law during budget negotiations.

Unfortunately, in the end, Governor Hochul put the interests of the fossil fuel industry over everyday people and decided to weaken and delay the climate law.

In brighter news, the SUNNY Act is on its way to being signed into law, having passed through the legislature. Over 300 of us sent messages in support of this legislation, which will allow people to use small portable solar generation devices in their homes. We are grateful to everyone who took action this spring, and we are building the people power needed to hold New York accountable for climate action in the future.

Watch a short video of the rally in Albany.

MASSACHUSETTS

This spring Lenny Somervell joined Dayenu as our first Massachusetts organizer, and she has hit the ground running! We are working in coalition with other climate groups to push state leaders to pass an energy package that advances renewables without scaling back energy efficiency, leaving behind low-income communities, or boosting the fossil fuel industry. Check out our Massachusetts web page for more information and to take action!

Join us on Monday, June 15 in Boston for the opening celebration of Climate Conversations: Visual Notes on a Changing Planet – a photomontage art exhibition and community gathering at the West Roxbury Public Library, 5:30-7:30pm. Dayenu is featured in a piece by artist Lisa Link! Stop by to enjoy the art, community, and refreshments, and say hi to Lenny.

FEDERAL ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE TODAY

While President Trump and Congressional leaders continue to attempt to roll back hard-earned federal climate progress, we – together with our allies – are focused on stopping as much harm as we can and holding our public officials accountable.

Congress is currently considering two more giveaways to the fossil fuel industry and corporate polluters. Add your voice to the growing chorus that is demanding Congress have the courage and integrity to say No to Big Oil.

• Tell Congress: Big Oil Is Not Above The Law
• Tell Congress: No SPEED Act

SPIRITUAL ADAPTATION, CLIMATE ARTS & JEWISH WISDOM

   

In need of some inspiration? Check out the recordings and resources from these recent Spiritual Adaptation Gatherings and Trainings:

• Our first Art & Activism Training with incredible cultural organizer Rachel Schragis was a hit! Rachel shared how to design compelling and powerful campaign visuals, organize a successful art build, and bring people together to make it happen in our communities. Check out the recording here.
• Our spring Gathering for Song & Solidarity featured Sarina Partridge and Joshua Blaine – two incredible musicians who have each spent years writing and sharing songs for climate justice and collective liberation.
• If you missed the most recent Gathering for Jewish Creatives, fill out the Artist, Musician, and Creatives Survey to let us know how you’d like to be involved! We are developing more opportunities to connect, strategize, and create together, and would love to hear from you.
• We held two new holiday Midrash & Imagination creative writing workshops for Passover and Shavuot. Check out some of the source sheets and writing prompts on Sefaria!

Climate Connections for Jewish Holidays: We continue to share holiday resources and Climate Torah to bring to your community and ground our collective work in Jewish wisdom. Check out our holiday hubs for Passover and Shavuot.

Marking the Omer and Shabbat: Between Passover and Shavuot, we marked the seven weeks of the Omer with posts sharing music and writing. Each week, we welcome Shabbat with a reflection drawing on the collective wisdom, tradition, and inspiration of our Jewish sages, new and old. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and BlueSky to enjoy.

BUILDING A JEWISH CLIMATE MOVEMENT

Training for Dayenu activists: We launched a new series of workshops to equip Dayenu activists with the skills and resources needed to build power across the country. Coming out of a media skills training, our leaders wrote and published a number of op eds and letters to the editor.

Young People organizing: Dayenu continues to offer special events for young people and college students. This past semester through our inaugural Campus Fellowship Program, seven students across the country organized activities for their campus communities, including Climate Shabbatot and Passover Climate Seders.

Jews of Color Caucus: Our JOC Caucus meets monthly, creating a special community for Jews of Color in our movement. Interested in learning more? Feel free to reach out to JOCC organizer, Gabriella Cooper.

Organizing at the state level: Dayenu leaders have regular state-wide meetings in California, Massachusetts, and New York. Join us!

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

A Few Highlights…

Op-Ed from Dayenu’s Director of Campaigns & Organizing Raquel Fernandez Makarov on how the holiday of Purim gives us an imperative to resist authoritarianism.

Op-Ed from New York Dayenu activist Susane Wine Bender urging Governor Hochul to honor and implement the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

Dayenu Rabbinic Fellow Maetal Gerson shared her remarks at a UN panel about the intersection of Jewish life, interfaith collaboration, and climate justice.

Rabbi Jennie Rosenn in the National Catholic Reporter after the repeal of the Endangerment Finding.

Interview with Black, Jewish climate activist and leader Sharona Shnayder by Dayenu’s Jews of Color Organizer Gabriella Cooper.

In March, Rabbi Laura Bellows led From Anxiety to Action: Telling the Story of the World We Want as the culmination of Seasons of Responsibility series at the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Rabbi Rosenn spoke on a panel “Energy Security for a Sustainable Future” at Georgetown University’s Faith for Impact: An IF20 Policy Forum.