Hazon Educational Library: Jewish Ritual
New Year for the Animals
There are four New Years festivals recorded in the Mishnah. You've probably heard of Tu B'Shvat, the new year of the trees, and Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year. But did you know that Judaism has a New Year for the Animals? It's called Rosh Hashanah La'Behemot, and it falls on Elul 1.
Just as Tu B'Shvat has been revived as a Jewish Earth Day, Rosh Hashanah La'Behemot is a modern-day reminder of human relationships with animals. Animals provide humans with companionship, food, clothing and so much more. Rosh Hashanah La'Behemot is a time for us to honor our relationships with behemot, the animals in our lives.
Category: Animals, Shabbat and Holidays
Tags: Holidays
Sustainable Passover Resources
How can I make my Passover seder more sustainable? Check out the tabs below for tips, recipes, and resources for crafting a greener holiday experience!
Category: Passover
Ice Block on the Seder Table
From the Jewish Climate Network:
We are asking our community to place an ice block beside the Seder plate and open up a conversation about climate change this year, while linking it to the fundamental themes of Pesach.
The ice block represents the rapidly melting ice caps and sheets throughout the world caused by human
activity. As the ice block shvitzes on our Seder table, we are reminded that time isrunning out for action. It
becomes a physical prompt to ask questions, much like the other Seder table objects prompt questions.
To support these questions the JCN has created a printable Ice Block Challenge guide that can be
incorporated into Seder night.
Tu B’Shvat Haggadah
The Hazon Tu B’Shvat Haggadah offer thoughts and ideas to help you celebrate Tu B’Shvat in your home or community. The texts, questions, activities, and suggestions can serve as guides for viewing Tu B’Shvat through fresh eyes and recontextualizing traditions.
Climate Action Shabbat Guide
This Guide is designed to be an interesting educational resource and discussion stimulator as well as a practical set of tips and tools for you to adopt. The goal is for you to more closely align your Shabbat practices with your sustainability and Jewish values.
Local Lulav
A Sukkot resource packet with everything you need to shake sustainable, local lulavim. Filled with relevant educational materials, practical shaking and assembly instructions, and accessible spiritual and environmental insights. Created for the Metro Detroit community.
Betzalel’s Workshop
Betzalel's Workshop involves creating and working with ritual objects from local, organic, ethically sourced, and recycled materials, participants will learn both the centrality of environmental responsibility to Jewish life, as well as a sense of ownership and pride over their participation in Jewish ritual. We feel that, by creating the basic object of a ritual, with all its flaws, character, and uniqueness, children are drawn closer to ritual. By creating an alternative to mass-produced, store-bought Judaica, we create an avenue towards creative, participatory Judaism.
Category: Crafting + DIY, Ritual-Making
