Protect Our National Forests!
Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria, a Talmudic sage of the first century CE, said: "Anytime our wisdom exceeds our good deeds, to what are we likened? To a tree whose branches are numerous but whose roots are few; then the wind comes and uproots it and turns it upside down. ...But when our good deeds exceed our wisdom, to what are we likened? To a tree whose branches are few but whose roots are numerous; even if all the winds of the world were to come and blow against it, they could not budge it from its place..."

New regulations issued by the Bush Administration would weaken forest protections. As we prepare to celebrate Tu B'Shvat, let your deeds be as great as your wisdom. Tell the U.S. Forest Service that you want our National Forests managed responsibly and in keeping with religious values to care for creation.

To send an email or fax automatically, click here.

The Tree of Life
This month in the Jewish calendar includes a minor festival which has become one of the central Jewish environmental observances: Tu B'Shvat the New Year of the Trees. The earliest source for Tu B'Shvat is the Mishnah (c. 200 CE), the Rabbinic law code which is the core of the Talmud. The tractate devoted to Rosh Hashanah (1:1) says: There are four New Years: On the first of Nisan is the New Year for Kings and Festivals; on the first of Elul is the New Year for the tithe of animals-Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Shimon say; on the first of Tishrei is the New Year for the years, for Sabbatical years, for Jubilee years, for planting and for vegetables; and on the first of Shvat is the New Year for trees, according to the view of the school of Shammai, but the school of Hillel says on the fifteenth [of Shvat]. Click here for more about the Tree of Life.

Four Questions for the Tu B'Shvat Seder
During the past 20 years, many Jews have celebrated Tu B'Shvat with a seder based on a kabbalistic tradition that has been reinterpreted in a modern environmental context. The Tu B'Shvat seder consists of a series of blessings over various fruits and combinations of white and red wine, symbolizing the progression of the seasons and God's presence in the natural world.

Every seder tells a story in response to four questions. Mitchell Thomashow, professor of environmental studies at Antioch New England Graduate School and author of Ecological Identity, encourages us to ask the following questions at a Tu B'Shvat seder: What do I know about the place where I live? Where do things come from? How do I connect to the earth? What is my purpose as a human being? For the answers, click here.

Tell Me More About Trees
On Tu B'Shvat, a Jewish environmentalist's thoughts naturally turn to trees. Here are some links to great web sites to help you help trees:

For information on how to care for your own trees: International Society of Arboriculture tree care

Uses for trees and "a year in the life" of a tree: Wonderful World of Trees

Greening urban communities: Tree People

Preserving America's forests: American Forests

Planting trees in Israel: Jewish National Fund

Listing and information about every type of tree!: Tree Index

Urban and community forestry information: Tree Link

Smart Growth is Growing Smarter
In December, twelve American environmental professionals - all Jewish - traveled to Israel to meet with their Israeli counterparts and to discuss environmentally sound land use development practices, often referred to as "smart growth." The trip was conducted under the auspices of the Jewish Global Environmental Network (JGEN), a joint project of COEJL, the Heschel Center for Environmental Leadership and Learning, and the Jewish Agency for Israel. The participants represented government agencies, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, green business owners, and private developers. One result of the trip was the formation of a joint American-Israeli action committee to:

• Support smart growth development in Israel;
• Strengthen the Israeli and American Jewish communication on sustainable planning in Israel;
• Promote equity in the physical, social and environmental structures of Israel.

Think Globally, Act Jewishly
COEJL's Mark & Sharon Bloome Jewish Environmental Leadership Institute in Washington D.C., February 27-March 1, is less than six weeks away. Our presence in Washington will allow us to lobby on Capitol Hill for strong environmental laws along with participants from Hillel's Spitzer Forum and the JCPA Plenum. We will also tour innovative "green synagogues" in the Washington, DC area (Congregation Adat Shalom and Temple Emanuel) and learn about their efforts to conserve energy, use non-toxic materials, and promote recycling. Institute workshops and presentations will cover topics such as advocacy, Jewish scholarship on the environment, Israel's environmental challenges, climate change, educational projects, and interfaith programs. To spiritually and physically connect us to nature, we will gather for a hike to Great Falls in Maryland (weather permitting) led by top environmental educators from the Jewish Scouts and the Teva Learning Center.

Click here to register or contact Debbie Shapiro Katz at (212) 532-7801 or institute@coejl.org. Note: Early Bird registration ends January 20. If you have already signed up, please help spread the word at your congregations, schools, organizations, and through list-servs. Scholarships are still available!