“The Weather is A-Changing” – Moshe Kornfeld and His Colorado Jewish Climate Action Group

“Everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it,” said Mark Twain. * 

He would love Moshe Kornfeld who is actively trying to do something about Climate Change – starting right here in Lowry. This uphill battle is being fought on the national, state and local levels and Moshe is dedicated to doing his part by building a Jewish and interfaith climate movement here in Colorado. 

Born in Cooperstown, NY, Moshe moved to Israel when he was one. His parents raised his family of three sisters and Moshe in a traditional Jewish home with a deep commitment to social justice and environmentalism. After seven years in Israel, the family moved back to Rochester.

At an Earth Day celebration in 2001, Moshe learned about the Teva Learning Center, a Jewish environmental group. He started working for Teva in the Fall 2001 and began making connections between Judaism and the environment. 

After starting undergraduate studies at a joint program between the Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University, Moshe transferred to the University of Rochester, where he completed a bachelor’s degree in anthropology. Moshe eventually earned a PhD in Anthropology, so Dr. Kornfeld certainly likes the scientific study of humanity encompassing biology, culture and societies past and present. 

“We need to concentrate on the climate, but we’re running out of time.” Moshe is focused on organizing within the Jewish community with the ultimate goal of building an interfaith climate coalition that can add a new and powerful voice to the climate movement here in Colorado. 

And where is the problem you might ask? Climate change can feel overwhelming because it involves everything from melting glaciers, fracking for oil and gas, the food we eat, how we get around, and the ways we heat, cool, and power our homes. And while we need systemic action, we can also start at home through composting, changing how we get around, and eating a climate friendly diet. One key climate action involves raising awareness – talking to friends, reading books, learning about the city’s Climate office, and possibly attending some of the programs Moshe runs through Colorado Jewish Climate Action. 

But it’s the climate crisis that has his major attention. “I cannot imagine anything that’s more important now.” His group, Colorado Jewish Climate Action (CJCA) focuses on climate advocacy, education, youth empowerment, and greening institutions. After exploring ways to get involved, Moshe realized that he could be most effective working within his own community. He went on to found Colorado Jewish Climate Action as a volunteer group in 2019 and became CJCA’s first staff director in 2022. 

This father of two young kids practices what he preaches at home with rooftop solar, a heat pump water heater, and an induction stovetop. His wife, Rachel Feder, is an English professor at the University of Denver. Feder has written or co-authored seven books in different genres and thinks a lot about how the stories we tell influence how we live our lives. 

Moshe and Rachel enjoy the many parks throughout Lowry and appreciate all the walkable amenities. You’re likely to find Moshe working in Logan’s Coffee Shop or running a quick errand in Boulevard One. They feel lucky to be able to raise their kids in such a wonderful neighborhood. 

Moshe is realistic about his call for action. “One person cannot be responsible for everything.” Moshe’s focus is on the Jewish community. He’s proud of the nearly 1,000 people on his mailing list but is aware there is so much more work that needs to be done. Every community needs a climate organizer, and his goal is to activate the 100,000 Jewish people who call Colorado home. They just need someone to guide them, and here he is … Moshe (Hebrew for Moses). You can check out the Colorado Jewish Climate Action website to learn about the many ways to get involved. 

Other calls for action that we can do inside the home include recycling and composting, eating a climate friendly diet, electrification, and reading books about climate change. Actions we can take outside the home include talking to our friends, learning about programs offered by the city’s climate office, and attending a variety of neighborhood meetings. These actions can bring us together as a neighborhood as we work to tackle the climate challenges that are ahead. One book recommendation, written with Baby Boomers in mind but with relevance for all, is Am I Too Old to Save the Planet by Lawrence McDonald.

Mark Twain would be happy to meet Moshe Kornfeld who walks the talk in trying to talk about the weather. He’s ready to teach us all lessons for sustainable living. This young man is thoughtful, driven, articulate and sure footed in his plan to focus on climate. And he’s ready to prove Twain wrong – he’s trying to do something about it!

To contact Moshe: check out CJCA, www.coloradojewishclimateaction.org 

Author’s Note: *Mark Twain was given credit for this quote which others say that his friend Charles Dudley Warner was the originator of this idea. But this author liked Twain better.

Meet Your Lowry Neighbors is a monthly feature written by our intrepid reporter Sally Kurtzman, who knows everyone in our community. If you have a suggestion for a Meet Your Lowry Neighbors, please send us an email to connect@lowryunitedneighborhoods.org.