I'd been tidying--OK, cleaning--all morning and was ready for a break. The windows wide open to bring cheer to my otherwise dreary task, it was clear that a beautiful day awaited me. So instead of rewarding myself by curling up on the couch with a glass of iced tea and good book, I laced up my gym shoes and went for a walk. As I stepped outside I was greeted with a cool breeze and, momentarily, wondered if I should head back inside for another layer.

A Jewish woman wondering if she needs a sweater is not at all notable, except that it was midday...in Washington...in August. Earlier the same week, my niece and nephew started school in St. Louis. The temperature reading outside Parkway Central High on the first day of school was 104.

One of the most common words in television weather forecasts over the last number of months has been "unseasonably." We've had a pretty comfortable summer in Washington, punctuated by just a few days where temperatures neared 100, while people in others areas of the country suffered weeks of unprecedented heat.

Though I am no expert on the causes of global climate change, many who are believe that at least some of what we are currently experiencing is a result of human action.

Earlier this summer I spent a few hours in a place affectionately known as Shmungoland, not far from the cabins and sports fields of Camp Harlam. Legend says that this thickly forested area got its name when a staff member approached the director suggesting an activity in "jungle-land." The director is said to have replied, "jungle-land, shmungle-land" and the somewhat corrupted name stuck.

There I was knee deep in a rushing stream, a canopy of trees above and slippery, moss-covered rocks below. This was not simply a nature walk. Peppered with quotes from the Torah, it was a lesson on Judaism and ecology, the topic of study for the session's oldest campers.

During the time I spent at camp, I learned that every three months Americans throw away enough aluminum--the majority of it in the form of soda cans--to completely rebuild all of the commercial airliners in America.

I also learned that, although many of our campers knew that some of their behavior was having a detrimental effect on the environment, they were doing little to change their actions. This makes them no different than the majority of the American public.

By way of comparison, we asked if they knew about the dangers of smoking. They all nodded, citing school health classes and the surgeon general's warning on cigarette packages. We asked how many of them or their parents smoked and very few raised their hands.

But in the American experience, the correlation between learning the dangers of cigarette smoking and kicking the habit was not immediate. The surgeon general issued his report on smoking and health in 1964. A year later all cigarette packages distributed in the United States were required to carry a health warning and, in 1969, television and radio ads for cigarettes were banned. Even so, it would be another 20 years before a significant segment of the population would give up smoking, and 30 to 40 years before smoking would be banned in public buildings.

With your commitment, hopefully it will not take us as long to make significant changes in the way we treat our environment.

In September, we often focus on the High Holy Days, on repentance and return. In this important season, the message of Sukkot, which begins just a few days after Yom Kippur, is often lost. Sukkot celebrates the environment, the bounty of the earth, and reminds us of the fragility of life.

So, what can you do?

I know that some of you purchased compact fluorescent light bulbs for your home at the Temple last December. If not, you'll have another opportunity this year. While the weather's still warm, I encourage you to ride your bicycles to Micah and make use of the new bike rack that sits just south of the parking lot entrance. Both of these efforts were spearheaded by Temple Micah's Green Team. I know it will be bringing you some more exciting opportunities for learning and participation this year.

We're inviting the children of Micah to get involved in our environmental efforts as well. We will be introducing recycling bins into each of the classrooms, making it easier for students to properly dispose of waste paper.

During this season of reflection, please take a moment to reflect on the message of Sukkot, to think about the abundance of the natural world and to think of ways you can do your part to preserve it.