Tu b’Shevat Environmental Fair will feature ‘green’ fun

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PROVIDENCE – In celebration of Tu b’Shevat, the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community center will host an environmental fair on Feb. 13 featuring a variety of activities for both children and adults.

 

Known as the new year of trees, Tu b’Shevat is when we connect to our roots. The Hebrew word adama, which means “ground,” comes from the word Adam, which means “a person.”  At our core, we are all made of ground – the same atoms and chemicals that form people also form soil and trees. Tu b’Shevat is a time to take a break from commercialism and consumerism to connect to our deepest selves, to renew ourselves and the future of our children.

In Israel, Tu b’Shevat is celebrated with a massive planting of trees. Everyone, from big to small, in schools, army units and workplaces, pulls up their sleeves, digs and plants. As a result, Israel is one of only a few nations that entered the 21st century with more trees than it had 100 years ago.

The Tu b’Shevat Environmental Fair is presented as part of the Israeli Culture Series. It will feature eight Rhode Island and three Israeli environmental organizations.

Here is a partial list of presentations and activities at the fair:

Learn how to convert empty plastic bottles into planters and then make your own.

Learn environmental meditation from Ruchel Playe.

Enjoy a musical and delicious Tu b’Shevat seder.

Learn practical and easy ways to recycle and sort trash from the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation.

Watch a special video about the connection between plants and Judaism, presented by Neot Kedumim.

Get information on hiking, biking, climbing, paddling and volunteer opportunities from the Narragansett Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Learn how Ariel Sharon Park, an ambitious environmental project in Israel, turned a mountain of trash into an education center.

Learn all about trees and planting trees in the Holy Land from the Jewish National Fund.

Get information on reducing energy use, especially in Jewish institutions, from the Jewish Climate Action Network.

Get information from the Citizens Climate Lobby Rhode Island and Climate Action RI about how lobbying is a key ingredient in the struggle to protect the environment.

In addition, Energy Consumers will provide green energy for the event from its New England wind turbines, and Radia Herbs Farm will offer free scent bags and sell organic tea.

The free fair will be held Wednesday, Feb. 13, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence.

NIR CAFRI (ncafri@jewishallianceri.org) is the community shaliach (Israeli emissary) at the Jewish Alliance. Contact him for more information about this event.