Heshvan’s simplicity reminds us that we can do better.  

There is No Waste in Nature 

One of the most basic rules essential for the earth’s flourishing is this: nature knows no waste. All of nature’s creations: plants, animals, seeds, insects, food, rain, air and soil, all get reused, recycled and revived, in the literal sense of being brought to life again.  

Modernity has lost sight of this fundamental law. Instead, we create things that cannot be reused, reclaimed, dismantled and used again. Rather, we create things that persist for millennia, long after our century-bound lifetimes, long after they are useful, so they end up polluting our air, water, soil and even our bodies.  

Heshvan, a month without holidays, offers us the space and time to  begin the hard work of making this year better.   

Reducing Our Use of Plastic 

We can begin by reducing our use of plastic. 

Fifty percent of all plastic is used only once, often just for minutes, and then thrown “away”. As plastic breaks down, it forms smaller and smaller particles that not only enter our oceans, waterways and land but our bodies as well. It can be found in our lungs, bloodstreams, babies and even our brains. 

Heshvan is a great time to begin to reduce our plastic consumption.   

Choose products in cardboard packaging, seek out foods with minimal-to-no plastic packaging and buy unpackaged produce when available (use reusable mesh bags for your fruits and vegetables). Replace your plastic containers at home with glass or metal, slowly transitioning your kitchen away from plastic.  

Get involved in waste reduction legislation this upcoming Maryland General Assembly session.  

Support the Bottle Bill when it comes up again, incentivizing the return and reuse of bottles. Support enforceable Extended Producer Responsibility legislation that shifts the responsibility and cost of recycling back onto manufacturers and product designers, rather than leaving it solely to consumers and government. Stay Connected and Take Action 

Sign up for The Associated’s Social Justice newsletter here to stay up to date on environmental communications and volunteer opportunities. 

The Baltimore Environmental Sustainability Network is an initiative of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, in partnership with Adamah.