Apr 22 2013
By Molly Tolsky at 1:01 pm
Happy Earth Day, everyone! If you’re looking for ways to instill a love and respect for the environment in your kids, Jewish tradition is a pretty good place to start. After all, one of the main tenets of Judaism is tikkun olam, repairing the world.
First, let’s talk about food (obviously). We have a great article on the site called “The New Jewish Food Commandments” and it’s all about ensuring that fresh, local, and environmentally friendly food lands on your kids’ plate. It’s chock full of great ideas like picking your own fruit in the summer, eating seasonally, and buying directly from local farms. For another perspective, check out Mayim Bialik’s thoughts on being a vegan, and how it correlates with the Torah and her own Judaism. Read the rest of this entry →
Mar 5 2012
By Amy Deutsch at 12:21 pm
Kveller talked to Lisa Borden, creator of Orb Candles and holistic marketing guru from Toronto. Orb candles are made of organic Manuka beeswax rather than paraffin. Lisa designed the candles to use on Shabbat, and considers them an actionable way to do tikkun olam–repairing the world. Here’s her thoughts on parenthood, $36 candles, and the environment.
1. What inspired you to start Orb?
My kids – I think that’s my inspiration for everything! I am not only a Jewish mother of 3, but I am also the owner of Borden Communications + Design Inc., where I commit myself daily to improving the quality of our health and the environment through business development and consulting. When I would gather around my family Shabbat table on Friday nights (a time I adore, marking the end of a usually hectic week), I couldn’t understand how in order to honor Shabbat, we were supposed to damage our world and our health by lighting toxic candles. It seemed very natural for me to want to raise awareness about the dangers of conventional candles, and how dangerous it can be to overlook them. But, I quickly realized there wasn’t an option on the market that was easily available and truly safe–so, being focused on solutions, and in marketing and design, I set into action to create a safe, healthy and beautiful Shabbat candle. Simple! Read the rest of this entry →
