Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue (BHPS), Nottingham Liberal Synagogue (NLS) and Oxford Jewish Congregation (OJC) were among 14 Jewish communities honoured at the first ever EcoSynagogue Audit Awards.

The Awards celebrate the synagogues who are doing the most in their communities to help combat the climate emergency. To qualify, a community had to score 80% (Gold), 60% (Silver) or 40% (Bronze) in EcoSynagogue’s Environmental Audit.

EcoSynagogue, a project in partnership with the Board of Deputies, spans the whole Jewish community with rabbinic leadership from four denominations of Judaism. The Audit is a free online resource that assesses a community’s environmental awareness and implementation – covering management commitment, prayer and teaching, lifestyle, land, buildings, consumables and local and global engagement.

The Awards were given out – via video link from the EcoSynagogue stand in the Green Zone at COP26 – by Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl and the EcoSynagogue Rabbinic Team of Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich (pictured above), Rabbi Mark Goldsmith, Rabbi David Mason and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, along with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.

BHPS became the first ever Liberal Judaism community to earn a Silver Award.

Presenting it to them, Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich said: “I’m delighted to present this Silver Award all the way from the COP26 Conference. Thank you so much for all your efforts in becoming an eco and sustainable community. Well done!”

Nottingham and Oxford both received Bronze Awards.

Nottingham President Peter Gordon said: “Our biggest challenge has been to continue the work started by the inspirational Rabbi Tanya, who left Nottingham in July.

“Fortunately, our congregation has shown itself up to the challenge and we have just had a very successful EcoShabbat event. There is a desire in Nottingham to look at our building– our heating, insulation, ensuring green tariffs etc – and see what our members and cheder can do too. For example, our cheder children will be making bird boxes and bat boxes for use in our shul grounds.”

Others earning awards were West London Synagogue, Ruislip United Synagogue, St Albans Masorti Synagogue, New North London Masorti Synagogue, Belsize Square Synagogue, Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation, Garnethill Synagogue, Hadley Wood Jewish Community, Hull Reform Synagogue, Woodford Forest United Synagogue and Central Birmingham United Synagogue.

The EcoSynagogue Rabbinic Team said: “We are delighted and inspired by the number of communities who are now on the EcoSynagogue pathway, particularly our first 14 awardees who show what can be achieved by putting a focus on combatting the climate emergency at the heart of everything we do.”

EcoSynagogue has nearly 50 communities now registered, a number which is set to grow after the success of last week’s EcoShabbat. All those who are join are eligible to earn an award, which will now be presented every 6-12 months.

To find out more, and sign up, please visit www.ecosynagogue.org.