Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 11:04:04 AM EST
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(Originally published in Ten Minutes of Torah)
Each year, even as many of us struggle against the cold winter days of February, we engage in a celebration of nature's renewal with the ritual of Tu BiSh'vat. Just as Israeli farmers begin to see signs of spring, Jews worldwide celebrate an ancient tradition marking the age of trees. With the rise of the environmental movement, Tu BiSh'vat has been branded the "Jewish Earth Day" and transformed from a minor observance into a mainstay of the Jewish calendar. Tu BiSh'vat has taken on many meanings to many people: a celebration of natural wonders, a chance to recommit ourselves to environmental stewardship, and a day to reflect on our role in the complex ecosystem that is planet Earth. But by now, we have heard all this before. Climate change is everywhere, green is the buzzword of the new century, and we are aware of our religious obligation to "till and tend" God's earth (Genesis 2:15). This year, however, we can move beyond a one-day celebration to more long-lasting and persistent efforts throughout the entire year that truly honor our environment. |
| racrj :: Tu BiSh'vat in the Age of Green |
In the 16th Century, Kabbalists in Safed created the ritual of a Tu Bish'vat seder, modeled after the Passover seder and celebrating the natural resources of the land of Israel. More recently, Jewish environmentalists have adopted the Ten Plagues, a central Passover seder ritual, as a modern environmental tale by offering the litany of the "Ten Modern Plagues" waged by humankind upon our environment; these afflictions include air and water pollution, toxic waste, and deforestation.
Although the Ten Modern Plagues may be a useful tool for raising ecological awareness, we do no justice to our environmental obligations when we present Tu BiSh'vat as little more than a contemporary, greenwashed version of Passover. Experts agree that we are nearing an environmental tipping point, and that if we do not act now, we will not be able to avoid the worst impacts of climate change in the future. This year, hosting an environmental Seder on Tu BiSh'vat is simply not enough. Rather, this ritual meal is only the beginning, and the true celebration is in carrying its lessons forward throughout the year.
So what are these lessons, and how do we act on them? Tu BiSh'vat commemorates the incredible biodiversity of our natural world. During the modern seder ritual, we drink wine and say prayers over the plant species we encounter each day, from fruit-bearing trees to the cedar and olive trees that dot the Israeli landscape, and give thanks for all plant and animal life. There is no greater threat to the diversity of life on earth than climate change, which affects the habitats of millions of species. Since trees play a vital role in mitigating the greenhouse effect and keeping our ecosystem in balance, one simple way to celebrate Tu Bish'vat is to promote forestation by planting trees in our own communities or sponsoring forestation projects where they are needed throughout the world, including Israel.
Tu BiSh'vat begins Sunday, Feb. 8th at sundown. The celebration does not end, however, by planting a tree on February 9th. This April, we commemorate Birkat HaHammah, a unique blessing that is said when the sun returns to its 'original' place in the heavens at the precise time and day of its creation, once every 28 years. In honor of Birkat HaHammah, several congregations plan to install a solar-powered Ner Tamid. Other ideas for the observance of Birkat HaHammah include installing compact fluorescent light bulbs, purchasing carbon offsets, or engaging in other actions that promote energy efficiency and conservation. When we couple tree planting and other environmentally-friendly actions on Tu BiSh'vat with smart energy decisions on Birkat HaHammah, we commit ourselves to a deeper rethinking of the way we interact with our environment.
Looking beyond the Jewish calendar, we are also in the critical early days of a Congress and Presidential Administration with the greatest opportunity, and the greatest publicly-stated political will, to make the tough choices necessary to confront our energy and climate crises. At such a time, "Jewish Earth Day" can be a call to action on climate change, and the threat it poses to so many species on our earth.
It is easy to let ritual events slip away with only a passing reference. We spend an evening around a communal table, plant a tree, and pack up our Tu BiSh'vat resources for next year. Yet, we know that this is not enough, especially as we expand our knowledge about our planet and its changing climate. We cannot let this holiday, and our opportunities to take action this year, pass us by.
My favorite Talmudic commentary on environmental stewardship comes from Midrash Ecclesiastes Rabbah: "When God created the first human beings, God led them around the Garden of Eden and said: Look at my works! See how beautiful they are, how excellent! For your sake I created them all. Take care not to spoil or destroy My world, for if you do, there will be no one to repair it after you." As we celebrate Tu BiSh'vat, let us not forget our responsibility, this year more than ever, to care for God's world.
The Union for Reform Jewish has just launched its "Greening Reform Judaism" web portal. This addition to the Union website is a one-stop resource for congregations and their members seeking to live more sustainably and engage more deeply with environmental issues. |
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