Temple Emanu-El of Atlanta

Member Supported-Future Driven

  • My EmanuEl
  • Kesher Quick
  • TE Atlanta Calendar
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • About Us
    • We are…
    • Meet Our Clergy
      • Senior Rabbi Spike Anderson
      • Rabbi Rachael Klein Miller
      • Rabbi Max Miller
      • Rabbi Emeritus Scott Colbert
      • Rabbi Emeritus Stanley Davids
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Meet Our Leadership
    • Temple Emanu-El Calendar
    • Temple Emanu-El In the News
    • Contact Us
  • Belong
    • Membership
    • My Emanu-El
    • TEams and Committees
    • Inclusion Awareness
    • Friendship/Chavurah Program
    • Interfaith Families
    • NextDor 20s and 30s
    • Sisterhood
    • Brotherhood
  • Pray
    • Shabbat Services
    • High Holy Days 5783
    • Jewish Holidays
    • Tot Shabbat & Kid-ish
    • Rabbis’ Sermons
  • Learn
    • Diamond Family Religious School
      • About Our School
      • Meet Our Teachers
      • Our Curriculum
      • Diamond Family Religious School Pre-Kindergarten Program
      • Registration and Forms
      • Hebrew Skills
      • School Calendar
      • School Blog
    • Life Long Learning 5783
    • The MJCCA Schiff Preschool
    • Your Jewish Journey
    • Living History
  • Celebrate
    • Bar/Bat Mitzvah
    • Adult B’nei Mitzvah
    • Baby Naming & Brit Milah
    • Weddings
    • Becoming Jewish
    • Confirmation
    • Space Rental
    • L’Dor V’Dor Spring Forward Fundraiser 2022
  • Tikkun Olam
    • Social Justice
      • Antisemitism
      • Hunger
      • Interfaith and Race Relations
      • Women and Children
      • Immigration Issues
      • Education
      • Environment
    • Israel and Peoplehood
  • Empower Youth
    • Youth Groups
      • TEFTY Youth Group
    • College Outreach
    • Jewish Summer Camps and Youth Resources
    • Youth Connectors
    • Schiffer Teen Israel Trip
    • Scholarships
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Endowment Fund
    • Life and Legacy
  • Remember
    • Funerals & Memorials
    • Grief
    • Yizkor Service
    • Talking to Kids About Death
    • Holocaust Remembrance
  • Live Stream

Judaism’s Green Agenda

February 2, 2023 by Rabbi Spike Anderson

This Saturday evening begins the Jewish holiday of Tu Bishvat (the 15th of the month called Shevat), which has been dubbed by some as “Jewish Earth Day.”

Although we do not emphasize it enough, Judaism has deep roots (pun intended) to environmental conservationism.

Some of the most celebrated rabbis throughout our history have made it a point to protect our natural surroundings and have professed that the most profound of spiritual encounters happen in nature when we have this particular mindset.

Tu Bishvat, and its message of natural renewal, very much speak to me.

Caring for the Earth, and protecting it against human short-term gains, is a top priority for my attention and time.

I cannot emphasize this enough.

So it is with pleasure that we celebrate, what the sixteenth century Jewish mystics called, ‘the birthday of the trees,’ over the course of several days here at Temple Emanu-El.

Our Friday night Shabbat services aim to teach, celebrate, and inspire us around this sacred part of our time-tested mission.

Shabbat morning Chevrah Torah torah study will explore the intellectual side of Jewish sacred texts which connect us with nature.

Sunday morning, our Diamond Family Religious School kids will have a variety of ‘green’ activities, and lessons, emphasizing how important it is for Jews to be eco-activists.

Sunday afternoon, Temple Emanu-El will join other Atlanta faith based communities to plant trees in Wade Walker Park.

Our tradition tells us that God gave us the world, but warned us that this is the only one, so we must care for it, before it is too late.

Let’s do this…together.

 

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Spike

SENIOR RABBI SPIKE ANDERSON

Filed Under: kesherquick

Visit Us

Temple Emanu-El
1580 Spalding Drive
Atlanta, GA 30350

Union for Reform Judasim

Union for Reform Judasim

Contact Us

(770) 395-1340

Diamond Family Religious School

Diamond Family Religious School

MJCCA The Schiff School

MJCCA The Schiff School
  • TE Israel Trip Summer 2022
  • My Emanu-El
  • Kesher Quick
  • Calendar
Copyright © 2023 Temple Emanu-El
Scroll Up