Although spring is still far away in most of the Global North, the Jewish holiday of Tu Bishvat — the New Year of the trees — is an opportunity to connect care for God’s Earth with spiritual practice. Tu Bishvat starts at sundown on Friday, January 25. Here are some ways you might consider honoring Tu Bishvat this year:
Sign up to take part in the 2013 National Preach-In on Global Warming. Although the official Preach-In dates are February 8-10, congregations are free to use the resources and plan Preach-In events at any time. This is Interfaith Power & Light’s biggest event of the year. Join us in calling on President Obama to make bold climate action a centerpiece of his second term. The Preach-In website includes sample sermons and notes for Jewish faith leaders to help you tie the Preach-In to Tu Bishvat.
The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life has many Tu Bishvat resources on its website.
Writing at the The Huffington Post last year, Rabbi Rachel Kobrin explored “The Roots of Torah.”
Honor a loved one with a Gift of Life through Interfaith Power & Light’s Carbon Covenant program. We partner with interfaith organizations in Africa and Asia to plant and protect trees, so this is an ideal way to mark Tu Bishvat.
