Rabbi Jacob Siegel: Leading the Jewish Call for Climate Action Through Finance

As the climate crisis intensifies, Rabbi Jacob Siegel is at the forefront of an urgent mission: aligning Jewish values with impactful financial action to combat the climate emergency. Serving as the Climate Finance Advisor for Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action, Rabbi Siegel helps Jewish organizations ensure their investments reflect moral and sustainable practices.

“My work is about empowering Jewish institutions to live our values,” he explains. “The climate crisis is fueled by the extraction and burning of fossil fuels, and overwhelmingly by fossil fuel corporations. Is it really in alignment with our Jewish values to have our investments profiting from this kind of devastation? This is an opportunity to more fully live our moral commitments as Jews.”

A Journey Sparked by Faith and Responsibility

Rabbi Siegel’s journey into climate finance began with a personal decision during his rabbinical studies at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. While opening his first retirement savings account, he reflected: “If I was training to be a community role model on Jewish values, I ought to bring those values into everything I do—including my retirement account.”

Soon after, Superstorm Sandy devastated New York. “I vividly remember the fear I felt as I caught one of the last trains out of the city before the flooding began,” he recalls. That experience, coupled with the realization that many fossil fuel companies were part of his investments, catalyzed his commitment to climate action.

Rooted in Jewish Obligation

As an Orthodox Jew, Rabbi Siegel sees his work as an expression of a sacred framework of obligation. “My teacher and colleague Rabbi Haggai Resnikoff published a teshuva [responsum] on climate change, articulating that investing in and profiting from the continued expansion of fossil fuels ought to be considered prohibited by Jewish law,” he shares.

But his message extends beyond Orthodox circles. “Not all Jewish groups resonate with the frame of ‘obligation,’ but they connect deeply with the values behind it,” he says. “We all want a livable future for generations to come. By aligning our investments with these values, we can help bring that future closer.”

Building Momentum Across the Jewish World

Rabbi Siegel’s work is making waves. In April 2024, the Reform movement urged its 850 synagogues and institutions to divest from fossil fuels—a significant step in the Jewish community’s collective climate action.

“Some people worry their synagogue is too small to make a difference,” Rabbi Siegel notes. “But when we work together, we can change the zeitgeist. Jewish institutions’ fossil-free commitments have earned coverage in the Jewish and national press, from eJewish Philanthropy to the New York Times. That visibility accelerates the arrival of the clean energy era.”

Tackling Misinformation

Rabbi Siegel acknowledges challenges, particularly around misinformation about climate and fossil fuels. “There’s a lot of resistance based on myths,” he says. To combat this, he created an FAQ addressing common concerns, like whether fossil-fuel-free investments underperform (they don’t) or if moving money has an impact (it does, significantly).

“It comes down to values,” he emphasizes. “Do we want our institutions’ dollars to contribute to the crisis that harms the most vulnerable? Or do we want to help create a just, sustainable future?”

Guiding Others Toward Bold Action

For those just beginning their climate journey, Rabbi Siegel offers both practical and spiritual advice. “We all want a sustainable future, but achieving it requires bold, morally grounded action. That’s hard to do without spiritual nourishment,” he says. Dayenu provides opportunities for such resourcing, blending Jewish tradition with a vision for bold action.

Rabbi Siegel’s commitment extends beyond his role at Dayenu. His book, Put Your Money Where Your Soul Is: Jewish Wisdom to Transform Your Investments for Good, provides a roadmap for others. “I wrote it because it’s the resource I wish I’d had when I started asking these questions,” he says.

A Call to Action

Rabbi Siegel’s message is clear: Jewish institutions and individuals have the power—and the responsibility—to drive change. “This is an invitation to more fully live our Jewish values,” he says. “Together, we can be part of the solution, shaping a future that reflects our deepest commitments to justice, sustainability, and life itself.”
For those ready to take action, Rabbi Siegel stands ready to guide the way, leading a movement grounded in faith, justice, and the power of collective impact.