OFFICE OF THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT THE HONORABLE AL GORE August 19, 2009 Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life 116 East 27th Street, 10th Floor New York City, 10016 Dear Friends: I’m writing to tell you how excited I am by Coalition on Environment and Jewish Life’s plans for the Jewish Energy Covenant Campaign-how ready I am to help-and how much I encourage all of you who have been a part of COEJL’s mission to do all you can for the success of the most important project you’ve undertaken. It couldn’t come at a more critical moment. As someone who works to follow developments all over the world, I believe that decisions on global warming and energy that will be made in coming months by the Congress, the White House, and the world’s governments will shape conditions of life on planet Earth for centuries to come. The stakes are truly that consequential. Our Congress is moving to do it what it can. It won’t be enough. You must continue to press them to act boldly. However, the boldness, diversity and creativity of citizen action is the key to overcoming the special interests, inertia and cynicism. Because you are moved to act from spiritual and moral conviction, your efforts are crucial for the future of our children and grandchildren. That’s why I’m so very excited by COEJL’s Covenant Campaign and some of its particular projects. I am so happy to see that this initiative will draw upon the new leadership of younger men and women who see in the legacy of Judaism’s teachings on stewardship a source of renewal of their Jewish faith as well as, through their environmentalism, a service to civilization universally. The Campaign is very creative in encouraging diverse communities to enact their own distinctive initiatives.
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Policy won’t do the job alone. We’ve got to discover all over again how to work together in our nation. The Jewish community has an absolutely unique capacity for communal action that can resonate throughout American society. If you can bring together all four branches of Jewish life, national organizations and community relations councils, established organizations and fresh initiatives, elders and children, all kinds of synagogues and Jews across the spectrum that’s what will have a real impact. You have always told me that the core of your advocacy comes from the heart of what it means to be Jewish. I’ve never appreciated this more than in this moment, on this issue, when the world needs the witness of moral passion, depth, and authenticity ofyour work. This is what I understand to be the significance of a campaign undertaken “in covenant,” which then radiates outwards for the common good of God’s climate that embraces us all. I hope that you have been in touch with my colleagues at the Alliance for Climate Protection. As with your partners in the Catholic community and the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, the Alliance is eager to provide whatever support you may find helpful. Sincerely,