Shana Tova! How sweet and hopeful to have arrived into this new year with you. We hope that you are nourished and inspired from these last weeks of reflection, joy, togetherness, and intention-setting. We look forward to showing up for one another and for the earth in this new year.
This year, we’re building on the impactful foundation of our longstanding Hazon Seal of Sustainability program, and working with over 50 Jewish organizational partners to provide enriching Jewish Earth-based experiences and environmental education, stewardship, and action in 5783. In the weeks and months to come, we hope you’ll join us – as individuals and organizational partners – in showing up for one another and the Earth by participating in an upcoming event (see below).
Start the New Year off with opportunities to connect with community and steward our earth:
Tree Planting with The Greening of Detroit
One approach we’re taking to offset some of the environmental impact of our recent Food Festival, is partnering with The Greening of Detroit to plant trees! We hope you can join us. This is a great opportunity to connect with our new Hazon Detroit team and contribute to increased tree equity in our region.
Save the Date: October 20th at 9am – 12pm, Click here to add to your calendar
Reverse Tashlich with Tikkun HaYam
Hazon Detroit is partnering with Tikkun HaYam (Repair the Sea) and Detroit Seal of Sustainability sites to host Reverse Tashlich: Guided Nature Walk + Park Stewardship in Detroit’s Palmer Park.
During the days of awe is a time to do Tashlich, casting away our “sins” from the past year by throwing a rock or breadcrumbs into a moving body of water.
To start this year with connection and care for each other and the earth, join us for tasty fall treats (cider and doughnuts), a family-friendly guided nature walk, and a spirited park clean up!
Please wear clothing that will be comfortable in the variable fall weather.
If your congregation or organization would like to partner and bring a cohort to this event, please email ari.cohen@hazon.org.
Save the Date: October 23rd, 2-4:00pm, Click here to add to your calendar
Location: Palmer Park (1121 Merrill Plaisance St. Detroit, MI, 48203)
Michigan Climate Education and Action Retreat
Hazon Detroit, in partnership with Hazon’s Jewish Youth Climate Movement (JYCM), is thrilled to be planning the first ever Michigan JYCM Climate Education and Action Shabbaton from November 11-13, 2022. This will be an immersive weekend experience for Jewish high schoolers in Michigan who are eager to come together in community to get involved with climate justice through a Jewish lens. Participants will have a song-filled and spiritually uplifting Shabbat, with opportunities to connect with nature and each other, while learning about issues of climate justice and how to take action in their communities. Please join us for a weekend of climate activism, community building, and collective action.
Who: This event is open to all Jewish teens in Michigan, 9th-12th grade
When: Friday, November 11th to Sunday, November 13th
Where: Butzel Retreat Center (3599 Perryville Road, Ortonville, MI, USA)
Why: To give Michigan Jewish teens the opportunity to connect and have fun, learn about climate action, and take action to engage the community! Part of JYCM’s big goals and theory of change.
Local Lulavim at Tamarack Fall Fest
We joined Tamarack Camps for their annual Fall Fest celebration on October 2nd. We helped attendees make their own local lulavim at the festival. In preparation for creating our local lulavim, our team chose four species that grow right here in Michigan and were harvested in the Metro-Detroit area. We cut sumac branches on Telegraph Road next to the Jewish Federation building, honeysuckle on Belle Isle Park, willow branches from a friend’s backyard in Detroit, and purchased apples from Franklin Cider Mill. Participants from Fall Fest were able to bundle their own lulavim using locally sourced plants in the Sukkah and save them for their own Sukkot celebrations. Traditional lulavim are shipped from the Middle East to the US each Sukkot, creating approximately 160 metric tons of carbon pollution. Shaking local lulavim is just one example of what it might look like to reimagine a Judaism that is responsive to the natural world around us, and that is responsible to the global environment that we all share!
Teen Edition ~ Shomrei Adamah-Guardians of the Earth:
Facing the Climate Crisis through Dialogue and Action Together
We are so excited to have rolled out the second installment of our new “Shomrei Adamah” Program with Beth Ahm last week for their teen group! This dynamic conversation can be a meaningful way for teens to connect with their Jewish identity. This program encourages folks to start practicing talking about the climate crisis in a different way and invites them to talk about it with others. It fosters a space in which individuals can tap into connectedness and values that can sustain them in this work, while recognizing some psychological barriers to climate action. This program was created in partnership with Michigan Interfaith Power and Light. If you are interested in bringing this program to your congregation please email julia.cunnien@hazon.org for more information.
Seal of Sustainability Spotlight: Farber Farm at Tamarack Camps
The Farber Farm of Tamarack Camps was grateful and excited to develop a raspberry patch this past year! The Seal of Sustainability enabled them to purchase all materials for the patch including rootstock, trellis supplies, and compost. The rootstock arrived in late spring, a drip irrigation system was put in place and they were planted. They have done extraordinarily well this past season. The farm staff now have an additional opportunity to learn about small fruit management and campers are able to pick fresh, ripe fruits all summer long.
Join us at Limmud Michigan!
Hazon Detroit will be leading a session at Limmud Michigan on October 30th. The session will focus on how to face the climate crisis as a Jewish community by mobilizing Jewish institutions to take action. Register for the conference here!
Limmud is looking for volunteers to support the event. Please indicate your interest by visiting: https://limmudmichigan.org/volunteer/ or sending a brief note to volunteers@limmudmichigan.org
Advocacy + Partners Corner
Get Out the Vote (GOTV):
JYCM is co-hosting phone banks this fall, as a part of Dayenu’s Chutzpah 2022 campaign to contact Jewish climate-concerned voters and encourage them to vote in the upcoming November midterm elections. The next one is Tuesday November 1st from 6:30 to 8:30pm ET, click here to register (open to all ages).
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