Five U.S. synagogues will receive “incentive and educational support” from The Synagogue Vegan Challenge, created in partnership with VegFund, the Shamayim V’Aretz Institute announced in a press release today.
The five finalists are New York City’s Romemu (Rabbi David Ingber); Denver’s Congregation Rodef Shalom (Rabbi Rachel Kobrin); OHEL (Rabbi David Paskin) in Boca Raton, Florida; Agudath Jacob (Rabbi Ari Hart) in Skokie, Illinois; and Ohef Sholom Temple (Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg) in Norfolk, Virginia. Agudath Jacob is an Orthodox synagogue while the others are conservative, reform, or non-denominational.
“This is about saving lives,” Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, Founder & CEO of The Shamayim V’Aretz Institute, said in a statement.
The yearlong challenge will see the synagogues serve plant-based meals and offer educational platforms to congregants. Each selected synagogue receives $5,000 in funding to help with the programming.