The Schechter Day School Network announces with pride the publication of a new source book on water and Judaism, Mekor Hayyim, (the Source of Life) developed and compiled by Rabbi Lawrence Troster. A product of a pilot project on Judaism and the Environment that involved five schools in the Schechter Network, the book contains biblical, rabbinic and modern texts and citations that can be used in diverse ways for teaching and learning, and applied in a wide variety of settings, such as day school classrooms, student environmental initiatives, Shabbatonim, youth groups and summer camps. The project was funded by a grant from The Covenant Foundation.

Schechter schools’ inquiry-based approach stimulates critical thinking and strives to integrate the curriculum across disciplines. The educator teams who took part in this project included both Judaic Studies and science teachers. They selected water as the over-arching theme for a middle school curricular initiative that would serve as the primary focus to generate environmental awareness and commitment. The goal of connecting the schools to one another and with their respective Israel programs was furthered through two retreats and a dedicated website.

We have sent complimentary copies to all Schechter schools and many friends in Jewish environmental organizations, Camps Ramah, the day school networks, and the USCJ. Copies of Mekor Hayyim, (the Source of Life) are available for sale through the USCJ book service and can be purchased online at uscj.org/bookservice. We are eager to learn how the source book will be used in the field and encourage you to post comments to the website mekorhayim.org.