Holidays Archives | Adamah https://adamah.org/resource-tag/holidays/ People. Planet. Purpose. Fri, 28 Mar 2025 03:14:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://adamah.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/favicon.png Holidays Archives | Adamah https://adamah.org/resource-tag/holidays/ 32 32 Tu B’Shvat on Campus https://adamah.org/resource/tu-bshvat-adamah-on-campus/ Sun, 12 Jan 2025 17:33:56 +0000 https://adamah.org/?post_type=resource&p=13863 Compiled by Adamah on Campus student leaders Consider the time your group has and pick an activity from any or all these categories to build out a customized program that...

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Compiled by Adamah on Campus student leaders

Consider the time your group has and pick an activity from any or all these categories to build out a customized program that will meet the moment on your campus and the interests of your peers.


Tu B’Shvat Program Guide

Seder/text-based activities
Outdoor/nature-based activities
  • Organize a group of Jewish students to spend a day at the farm/garden to learn and tend to the space and/or plant tree and join together in this blessing
  • Find a nature spot for a walk, hike, etc. alongside members of your community. Take in your surroundings and create space for gratitude of the trees and natural world around you
  • Planting Day! Invite students to plant succulents and other plants to keep in their dorm room (keep in mind your college region and what plants will survive)
  • Spend the day volunteering with the National Park Service, doing a cleanup at your local park, or working with a local nature conservancy to do restoration or beautification projects
Creative/arts and food activities
  • Iron Chef – Cooking class and food tasting using the Seven Species
  • Lead a pickling program and discussing food systems and the relation to Tu B’Shvat
  • DIY granola or granola bars making using the 4 fruits of the Tu B’Shvat seder
  • Sip and Study – (for 21+ students or grape juice if not), host a night of drinking the 4 glasses of wine and eating the 4 fruits and 7 species and learn about the meaning of Tu B’Shvat
  • Climate art build and/or coloring pages to hang in the building
  • Climate art wall or installation, everybody gets a square on a big wall and gets to draw/paint. Could be a place in nature that means a lot to them and that they wouldn’t want to lose, imagery of their climate story, Jewish environmental associations
  • Build your own biosphere, creating a connection to the earth and one’s own environment
  • Write a poem, letter, or song to the earth/a tree and let your creative juices flow!
Other activities
  • Host a Tu B’Shvat Shabbat. This can include vegan food, zero waste, compostable tableware, etc.
  • Bring in a speaker from the Office of Sustainability, a professor in the Environmental Studies department, or some other expert in the area to speak to the local forestry in the area or other nature-based programs happening locally
  • Host a movie night and discussion. Reference our movie list for ideas
  • Partner with other student orgs to share in the ways Tu B’Shvat is observed around the world, such as these LatinX traditions or Indian traditions
  • Raise money for planting a tree in Israel through the Jewish National Fund (JNF)

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Tu B’Shvat programs from Adamah on Campus chapters

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Sustainable Passover Resources https://adamah.org/resource/sustainable-passover-resources/ Wed, 13 Mar 2024 01:06:04 +0000 https://adamah.local/resource/sustainable-passover-resources/ New for 2025: Adamah Passover Resources to Download Passover has more food-based rituals and symbols than any other Jewish holiday. Adamah’s new 4-page resource guide uses these food items as...

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New for 2025: Adamah Passover Resources to Download

Passover has more food-based rituals and symbols than any other Jewish holiday. Adamah’s new 4-page resource guide uses these food items as a starting point for conversations related to environmental and climate challenges of our time.


Passover (Pesach) celebrates the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

For 8 days starting on the 15th of Nissan, we celebrate our liberation from slavery and our journey to freedom.

Passover connects us to history, land, and the natural world. On the first night of Passover we remember the Pascal lamb sacrifice and on the second night we start counting the omer, in memory of the barley sacrifice. These both remind us of Temple celebrations that connect us to the land of Israel. Passover is also a time to notice and celebrate the coming of spring. The seder plate abounds with seasonal symbols: the roasted lamb bone celebrates lambs born in spring; karpas (dipped green vegetables) symbolizes the first green sprouts peeking out of the thawed ground, and a roasted egg recalls fertility and rebirth. The use of matzah itself may also have agricultural and historical food roots – Egyptians were known for their beer and fermented grains, so abstaining from leaven is a way of symbolizing the freedom from Egypt through our agricultural history.

Make your Passover more sustainable using the resources, tips & recipes below.

A Sustainable Seder Plate

  • Higher Welfare beytza (egg). Buy eggs that are labeled “Certified Humane” or, even better “Certified Humane + Pasture Raised” or “Animal Welfare Approved.” Eggs with these 3rd certifications support healthy hens and farmers. Discuss your decision to buy a higher welfare egg at your Seder using Hazon’s higher welfare egg Haggadah supplement.
  • Sprout your own Karpas. Although many sprouts come from corn, soybeans, and other chametz or kitnyot, in just 2-3 days, you can have fresh, delicious quinoa sprouts that you “grew” yourself! If you started a home-grown garden during Tu B’Shvat, now is the time to dig into that garden and make use of your home grown parsley.
  • Horseradish doesn’t grow in a bottle. Buy and grate fresh horseradish root for maror on your seder plate. When it comes time for the Hillel sandwich, hold up an ungrated root so your guests know where that bitter stuff comes from. You can also incorporate horseradish into your seder in other ways, or use leftover horseradish for meals throughout Passover.
  • Roast a beet. If you’re going vegetarian for your seder (see below), substitute a roasted beet for the roasted lamb shank. Or follow Sarah Fenner’s suggestion: “In place of the shankbone in my home, we have often roasted a “pascal yam” instead!”
  • Every Charoset tells a story. Charoset’s mixture of apples and nuts is already healthy and delicious and, when made with local apples, sustainable. Charoset also offers you the chance to explore other cultures within the Jewish Diaspora. Or ask your guests to bring their own favorite charoset recipe and have a taste-test.

A Sustainable Seder Meal

  • Host a vegetarian or vegan seder. Even if you regularly eat meat, Passover is a great time to eat lower on the food chain. Think of it as getting rid of your “gastronomical chametz.”
  • The Shamayim blog has an incredible bank of resources and recipes for a vegan seder.
  • Jewish Veg has a Vegan Haggadah and loads of Passover recipes on their website.
  • Host a potluck seder. Or at least accept offers of help with the preparation. A sustainable seder also means not wearing out the host!
  • Bring on the hors d’oeuvres. After you bless and eat the karpas, vegetables and dip, fruits, and cheese are all permitted. Save your table from starvation and distraction with a few snacks.
  • Buy vegetables at your farmer’s market. Go a few weeks early and chat with the sellers to see what they’ll have available at seder time. In many parts of the country, options will be slim, but you may find salad greens, cabbage, fiddleheads, spinach, as well as root vegetables in cold storage (carrots, potatoes, onions, squash, beets) and apples and pears.
  • Serve local or organic wine. Find out ahead of time what your local wine store has in stock—especially if you plan to buy a lot. If they don’t have anything, ask if they can order your behalf. There aren’t many kosher organic wines available, but one or two are Kosher for Pesach. Consider paying a little more at a locally-owned store; sustainable means supporting local businesses, too.
  • Serve local/ethically-sourced meat. Meat dishes like chicken soup with matzah balls and brisket are traditional favorites for Passover. Try buying meat from the person who raised it, or as close to that as possible. Consider: farmer’s markets, meat co-ops, local butcher shops (ask them where the meat comes from).

More Sustainability Tips

  • Pre-Passover Green Cleaning: You don’t have to douse your house in poisonous chemicals—noxious to both you and the people who work in the factories that produce them—to get rid of your chametz (bread products and crumbs which are literally, and ritually, cleared before Pesach). Try using natural, non-toxic cleaning products instead of your traditional harsh chemicals.
  • Plan ahead: In the time leading up to Pesach, be mindful of what you buy. Try to finish those “almost empty” containers in your fridge, and half empty bags of bread, rather than automatically resorting to buying new. You can get rid of chametz in the most sustainable and cost effective way by planning ahead in order to use up as much as you can of what you have before the start of Pesach.
  • Invest in Pesach Dishware: Pesach is a time when many families break out the fancy dishes and heirloom silverware. Investing in a set of Pesach dishware, is a sustainable commitment to avoid buying disposables every year.  If you’re using disposable plates this year, use post-consumer waste paper or plant-based ones.
  • Get rid of ALL your chametz: Chametz isn’t just leavened bread – it is a symbol for all the unnecessary waste that fills up our lives.  While you’re getting rid of breadcrumbs, read the ingredients on your food. All those sauces that are different versions of sugar – do you really need them? If you’re feeling brave: cut out caffeine and all processed foods, and maybe give up booze for good measure. Your body will thank you. You’ll go into Pesach feeling strong and clean.
  • What’s your existential chametz? Start journaling. What’s the fluff, the stuff, the superfluity, that clogs up your brain, that stops you being free?
  • Enjoy your flowers on Pesach—and all spring: Fresh bouquets make beautiful centerpieces, but only last a few days, and are often grown with pesticides. Try a sustainable alternative like potted tulips. Potted herbs also make a beautiful, inexpensive centerpiece, and make your table smell great! You can buy potted thyme, rosemary, lavender, and other fragrant herbs at a garden nursery or farmer’s market. At the end of the seder, give your centerpieces as gifts to your guests. If you definitely want cut-flower centerpieces, go organic!

Activities & Rituals

  • Host a chocolate seder | Use this Haggadah supplement for a discussion around sustainability, worker justice, and related food issues.
  • Matzah Making for Students | Learn how to make flour from wheat and make matzah from the flour.
  • Bread of Affliction: Matzah, Hunger, and Race | Use this Haggadah supplement as a conversation guide to explore the relationship between vulnerable communities and lack of access to nutritious food.
  • Passover in the Desert: 2nd Night Seder Youth Skit | An off-the-page co-created celebration around the bonfire!
  • Food and Justice | The Uri L’Tzedek Food and Justice Haggadah Supplement features essays, insights and action to unite food, social justice, and ethical consumption.
  • Food Blessings | Recount the many food blessings in Jewish tradition. Invite each guest to offer a food blessing – either traditional and original. This is a good way to consider all of the food that we will eat together during the Pesach seder, and what the significance may be to each  individual at the table.
  • Place an ice block on your seder table | Open up a conversation about the climate crisis, while linking it to the fundamental themes of Pesach and Jewish community life. As the ice block melts throughout the seder, it becomes a physical prompt to ask questions, much like many of the other items on the seder table.
  • What Would Moses Do? | Moses brought the enslaved Jews out of Egypt towards freedom. Sadly, a different form of slavery exists today, both in Israel and the rest of the world. Refer to Fair Trade Judaica’s Seder Resources to educate your guests about the slavery that exists in the world today.
Passover offers a perfect opportunity to combine the wisdom of a traditional Jewish holiday with our contemporary desire to live with health & sustainability in mind.
As you prepare for the Passover seder, these four questions can help inform your own conscious food choices, and enhance your discussions with family and friends during the holiday.
A tool for making conscious food choices and examining animal welfare at your seder. We discuss many items on the seder plate – but the egg is often overlooked.

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Shabbat Sustainable Resources https://adamah.org/resource/shabbat/ Sat, 13 Jan 2024 02:56:46 +0000 https://adamah.local/resource/shabbat/ Hosting a Shabbat meal is a wonderful way to spend quality time with family and friends without the distractions of the everyday (email, ringing cell phones, distracting smartphone messages…). It...

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Hosting a Shabbat meal is a wonderful way to spend quality time with family and friends without the distractions of the everyday (email, ringing cell phones, distracting smartphone messages…). It also offers an amazing template over which to create rituals and traditions that add new meaning and sustainable flair to the experience. Hazon offers the following resources to help you Green Your Shabbat and discover, “What makes this Shabbat meal different from other Shabbat meals?”

Activities & Rituals

Involve your friends.

Don’t take on the local kavannah alone – get your friends involved! If no farmer’s market is readily available at which you/your guests can buy local produce, what other criteria can you use for buying locally or sustainably? Perhaps everyone will pledge to use no plastic bags in their shopping (including those little bags for vegetables and fruit!) or to bike to their supermarkets instead of hopping in a cab with an armload of groceries. ChicoBag is a great resource to find reusable bags, especially made for produce.

Potluck

Involve your friends in more than the “no plastic bag” pledge, encourage them to create their own dishes and bring them over!

Utilize peoples’ skills

Maybe someone is a great baker—ask him to make challah. Someone else might have a knack for roasting her own peppers or making fruit preserves—find a way to use that as well! Don’t feel afraid of using people’s skills to lead the blessings either! If friends and family at the table feel more comfortable with certain blessings, empower those at the table to share the blessings and take leadership of the ones most familiar and meaningful to them.

Take a Food Tour

Invite friends and family into the conversation about where ingredients for your shared meal will come from.  Take a few minutes before, during, or after your meal to go around and have each person explain what is on their plate, where it came from, and who helped to get it to your plate!

Family Partnership

If multiple family trees are present at your Shabbat Table, it is nice to involve each other in trading family traditions, culture, ways that Shabbat has been celebrated in the past, and ways you might like to celebrate it in the future. Learning from each others families is exciting, interesting, and an easy way to bring meaningful,  new traditions  of which you have witnessed the origins, at future Shabbat tables.

Bless your meal together

Other than the traditional brachot (blessings), birkat hamazon (grace after meals), invite your guests to discuss whom they want to thank before, during, and following this unique meal and encourage them to create their own blessings or songs if they so choose.

Eat together

With intention. In silence. Try spending the first 10 minutes of your meal just enjoying the food and company without speaking. It might feel a little strange at first, but see if you can relax into the idea. And of course you can share your experiences afterwards!

Learn together

Identify a learning coordinator for your meal who will come up with questions to lead the discussion around the table, and identify short texts that can be learned together.

Discussion Starter Examples:

  • “What does sustainable mean to you?”
  • “How is your relationship to this meal different from other meals knowing how it was prepared and where the ingredients were purchased?”
  • “What is the connection between Shabbat and having a sustainable meal?”

Texts are another great way to create an order and guide your meal. Here are some examples:

  • Hazon’s book “Food for Thought” curriculum book is an incredible resource for relevant texts!
  • Highlights from Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma
  • Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

An Activity for Your Classroom

In today’s world, we are often ignorant of the many steps and people involved in bringing food to our table. In the consciousness of many children (and adults too), flour is something that comes from the grocery store in a bag with a knight on it, and challah magically appears on the Shabbat table each week. This short activity helps to bridge that gap in our mind and illustrate the process to make challah, from the soil to your mouth.

Download this set of 16 cards, and ask your students to put them in order, whether by taping them on the wall, or standing in a line and moving around (it is even more fun if you challenge them to do it silently!).

After successfully completing the exercise, ask questions such as:

  • Were there any parts of the process that surprised you?
  • Were there any parts of the process that you had never heard of before?
  • What are some ways that we can be mindful about the process that it takes to get all of our food from the farm to our forks?

Share Your Stories

Have you used the Soil to Challah activity in your community? Did you have a great conversation or did it inspire you to take action? Send an email to foodeducation@hazon.org with your story and you could be featured in an upcoming blog post.

Brachot Cards Answer Key

Here is the correct order for the cards:

  1. Soil
  2. Plow
  3. Sow – plant your seeds
  4. Water, weed, and tend your seeds so they grow into wheat sheaves
  5. Reap – cut down and gather wheat sheaves
  6. Thresh – cleaning process to remove stalks and leave just the wheat kernels
  7. Winnow – separate the wheat grains from the husks
  8. Grind – break the wheat kernels into tiny pieces for flour
  9. Yeast & Water- making the dough
  10. Knead
  11. Rise
  12. Bless- separating, burning and blessing a piece of dough before baking
  13. Bake dough
  14. Challah
  15. Bless- blessing before eating
  16. Eat

Foods & Recipes

Part of greening your Shabbat table involves paying attention to eating seasonally. Here are recipes for each season that will help you to keep the food at your Shabbat table sustainable, healthy, and delicious too!

Summer

Summer Quinoa Salad
Fried Zucchini Flowers
Pareve Rhubarb Muffins

Fall

Apple-Honey Challah
Wilted Arugula Salad with Sauteed Leeks and Apples
Zucchini Pancakes
Apple and Pear Crisp

Winter

Creamy Root Vegetable Soup with Honey Crisped Walnuts
Baked Beet and Carrot Burger with Brown Rice, Sunflower Seeds, and Cheddar Cheese
Baklava

Spring

Israeli Caprese Salad
Vegan Cholent
Creamy Lemony Cheesecake

Sustainability Tips

Go Local

Set a kavvanah (special intention) to “go local.” Whether you decide to make all your dishes from scratch, or purchase some things ready-made, make a pledge to feature ingredients and dishes that are locally grown. Remember that the definition of “local” is loosely defined – so decide in advance where you want to draw the boundary. Even if you don’t manage to eat all local, all the time in you

r day-to-day life (and really, who does?), Shabbat is the perfect time to strive for that ideal. See just how local you can go!

Local Produce

Getting your produce from a local farmers market, food co-op, or CSA, are all great ways to bring local produce directly to your Shabbat table. This gives you the opportunity to celebrate Shabbat with a healthy festive feeling, and a means for bonding with the community surrounding you over the plentiful benefits of sustainable local food!

Kosher Sustainable Food Options

Wine…

If you are comfortable drinking non-kosher wine, try to find a bottle (or box) of wine grown and produced close to home. If you prefer kosher, check out this kosher organic wine list. The Jew and the Carrot has a great article on what wines to pair with your Shabbat meal!

Meat…

Recent scandals in the kosher meat world have led many to reconsider what kosher meat really means. While we might have at one time assumed that kosher meat was healthier and more sustainable, in fact most kosher meat is raised the same as conventional non-kosher meat. However, a small number of crusaders have launched companies to make sustainably raised kosher meat available.

Cheese…

Until recently, the world of kosher cheese was pretty bleak. On the one hand you had shrink wrapped, industrial produced (but kosher certified) brands like Miller’s. On the other, you had artisanal, raw-milk and hand-crafted (but not kosher certified) cheeses. These days the tide is turning, now there are options to have your kosher cheese and eat ethically too!

Chocolate…

If you think it is impossible to indulge in chocolate treats without steering clear of the Hershey’s and Nestle products, you are luckily incorrect! There are many chocolate snacks that are organic, fair trade, cane-sugar sweetened, vegan, and kosher certified!

Hazon Produce Guide

See the Hazon Produce Guide for some suggestions which expand on the above sustainable, kosher food products.

Clean Up Green

After your sustainable meal, clean up with green cleaning supplies like Seventh Generation, or Ecover. Invite your friends to help you wash dishes and put leftover food away. Whether or not you made all the food yourself, or invited friends to help, clean up should be a communal effort (which is more sustainable for you)!

Make Your Own Cleaning Products!
  • Baking soda – cleans and deodorizes
  • White vinegar – cuts grease and cleans windows
  • Coarse table salt – removes rust
  • Washing soda – cuts grease and removes stains
  • Vegetable-based liquid soap (castile soap) – is a general all purpose cleaner
  • Hydrogen peroxide – removes stains
  • Toothpaste – polishes silver
  • Hot water – added to baking soda makes an effective scrubbing paste
  • Microfiber cleaning cloth – reusable rather than paper towel

Learn more about Green Cleaning Products at Grassroots Environmental Education.

Resources

The Green Kiddush Guide has specific suggestions on how to schedule and promote a vegetarian Green Kiddush, a list of concrete ways to make it “green,” tips associated with each suggestion, and templates of educational signage.

Food for Thought was designed with the Shabbat table in mind. It helps to frame the conversation with friends and family, and provides insightful discussion questions for all to ponder.

Email foodeducation@hazon.org for further information or questions.

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Purim Sustainable Resources https://adamah.org/resource/purim/ Fri, 13 Jan 2023 02:53:43 +0000 https://adamah.local/resource/purim/ What is Purim? Purim is the celebration of Esther and Mordechai’s triumph over wicked Haman. The holiday is filled with amazing traditions. On Purim night, we rejoice through recounting Esther’s...

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What is Purim?

Purim is the celebration of Esther and Mordechai’s triumph over wicked Haman. The holiday is filled with amazing traditions.

On Purim night, we rejoice through recounting Esther’s story and through drinking, wearing masks, and partying. We also give back to our community – by giving mishloach manot (gifts of food) to friends and donating to charity. Here are a number of suggestions as to how you can celebrate Purim in a sustainable, fun, and festive way!

Sustainability Tips

Sustainable Snacks & Spirits
Sustainable Mishloach Manot
Give More

Food & Recipes

Shirin Polo (Persian Sweet Rice)
Hamentashen
Candied Ginger
Persian Halva
Chicken with Eggplants
Sambusak B’tawah (Iraqi Chicken (or Tofu) Turnovers)
Poppy Seed Rolls

Activities & Rituals

The Whole Megillah
Start your Pesach parsley
Throw a Purim Banquet
Green Your Costume

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Tu B’Shvat Sustainable Resources https://adamah.org/resource/tu-bshvat/ Fri, 13 Jan 2023 02:50:30 +0000 https://adamah.local/resource/tu-bshvat/ The resources below offer thoughts and ideas to help you celebrate Tu B’Shvat in your home or community. Tu B’Shvat is an ancient celebration of the new year for trees....

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The resources below offer thoughts and ideas to help you celebrate Tu B’Shvat in your home or community.

Tu B’Shvat is an ancient celebration of the new year for trees.

It has changed and evolved over twenty centuries, and has never been more vital or significant than it is today.

Kabbalists in the16th century re-imagined this holiday with a multi-sensory and engaging Seder, incorporating three types of fruits and journeying through the four worlds of creation.

We live in an era in which sustainable forestry is more widely practiced than ever before, yet deforestation is a powerful driver of climate change and loss of biodiversity. Trees play important roles in some of the most challenging environmental issues of our time, and the way we use them is important, even in ways you might not expect. For a simple example: saving paper does not just “save trees,” but also prevents burning fossil fuels in transportation and processing.


Tu B’Shvat (the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shvat) in 2025 begins on the evening of February 12th and continues through February 13th.

Adamah’s Haggadot help you celebrate Tu B’Shvat in your home or community. We have new Adamah Haggadah as well as legacy Hazon versions.

Looking for activities and other ideas to help celebrate the holiday as a young adult? Check out this Tu B’Shvat Program Guide compiled by Adamah on Campus student leaders.

Sustainability Tips

Eat Local
Think about Fair Trade
Reuse and Recycle
Compost
Go out and plant!

Sample Seders & Activities

Tu B’Shevat Seder: Jewish Ritual/Food Justice/Community Education
Tu B’Shvat Family Nature Hike
Young Adult Tu B’shevat Seder
Tu B’Shvat for Youth “in the Redwoods”
Tu B’Shevat “Lunch & Learn” Seder for Staff

Additional Resources

Dig in
Beyond the Four Worlds
Music

Recipes

Baked Apples – Kid friendly
Stuffed Dates
The Ultimate Babka for Tu B’shvat

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Chanukah Sustainable Resources https://adamah.org/resource/chanukah/ Fri, 13 Jan 2023 02:41:15 +0000 https://adamah.local/resource/chanukah/ What is Chanukah? Chanukah celebrates the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple following its defilement by Syrian Greeks in 164 BCE. Since then, Chanukah has become known as the Festival of...

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What is Chanukah?

Chanukah celebrates the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple following its defilement by Syrian Greeks in 164 BCE. Since then, Chanukah has become known as the Festival of Lights, due to the one day supply of oil lasting a miraculous eight days, and is known for the traditional lighting of the hanukkiah. In addition, it is customary to feast upon fried foods and foods made with oil. Since Chanukah celebrates the idea of preserving resources, Hazon offers some Healthy, Sustainable Chanukah Resources as suggestions for your Chanukah celebrations!

Greening Chanukah

As you plan for your holiday festivities be sure to check out the Hazon Chanukah Greening Guide as well as 10 Ways to Make your Chanukah More Sustainable – both incredible resources from our Hazon programs team!


Make your own gifts or Chanukah crafts

This Chanukah we would like to to encourage you to get creative with your gifts and decorations. We have provided a list of fun, eco-friendly craft ideas for the whole family. When it comes to gifting, we like to gift from the heart rather than from the wallet. This year why not try making your gifts and decorations? Our staff members love to knit, paint and bake for our family and friends. Maybe cross-stitch your favorite fun Chanukah phrase onto a set of dish towels or try your hand at up-cycled tie-dye pillow cases. Please keep in mind, some of the most meaningful gifts are those that are not tangible-  consider organizing a dinner with friends over zoom, writing a fun song to sing with your friends, or gifting acts of service like shoveling snow or taking on the dishes for the week.

Need More Inspiration? Check out the Hazon Holiday Gift Guide!

Looking for a New Year’s Resolution? Commit to a personal change!

Traditionally speaking, this is the time of year when we dedicate ourselves to self improvement and maintaining personal goals. This year we would like to encourage you to make a personal change that benefits not only yourself but the planet. After lighting your menorah each evening, dedicate yourself to being more environmentally sustainable and reducing your impact on the planet. A great, cost-free way to do this would be to look into joining the Brit Hazon. Brit Hazon is a 6-week personal commitment to change that is easy to sign up for at no cost to you. Better yet, tell your friends and join up together so that you can compare notes and share in the journey together.

Food & Recipes

Simple Vegan Latkes
Sweet Potato Kale Latke
Basic Latkes
Aloo Tikki (Indian Potato Cakes with Green Chutney)
Nut-free Vegan Sour Cream
Vegan Brisket
Vegan Matzo Ball Soup
Festive Vegan Challah
Cauliflower Leek Kugel
Vegan Sweet Potato Lasagna
Vegan Sufganiyot
Moroccan Donuts
Zengoula with Lemon Syrup (Iraqi Funnel Cakes)

Sustainability Tips

Buy Fair Trade chocolate. If you still want chocolate gelt, opt for Fair Trade choices. Our partners at T’ruah offer wonderful educational resources to explore guilt-free gelt. We recommend Equal Exchange, Divine Chocolate, or any bar with the Equal Exchange logo at your grocery store. Or try making your own gelt using sustainably sourced ingredients with this great Jew & the Carrot recipe!

Use local potatoes and onions. Potatoes and other root vegetables are in abundance during the winter. Stop by your local farmers market and stock up prior to making your Chanukah latkes.

Buy organic oil. Since Chanukah frequently involves oil in some form for every meal, buying organic oil or using RSPO sustainable palm oil ensures a more sustainable celebration.

Change up your latke. Toppings: Rather than buying a traditional brand of sour cream, stock up on an all-natural or organic sourcream. More of an applesauce fan? Make your own from apples purchased locally or buy an organic brand. Latke: You can use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes, or carrots as an added healthy bonus to give your latkes a different taste!

Eat less meat. Use the festive opportunity to cut down on meat consumption and eat some of the wonderful produce that is available during the winter months.

Use environmentally sustainable candles. Beeswax, soy, and palm oil provide more natural alternatives to the traditional paraffin Chanukah candles. Check out Big Dipper Wax Works or your local candle maker for environmentally sustainable Chanukah candles.

Reuse the Wrap. Reusable gift bags are a great way to be environmentally conscious as well as a great supplementary gift, a beautiful gift bag that the next individual can reuse! Check out Etsy for some awesome Chanukah themed reusable gift bags and wrap!

Green your Chanukah decorations. Try crafting a dreidel out of recyclable materials. Also, as a family or community activity, make your own hanukkiah using recycled materials you find around your house. Remember making an alphabet block hanukkiah as a child? Recreate the experience with your family or community, and see how creative you can make your hanukkiah! Here are some great suggestions from the Huffington Post about how to green your very own hanukkiah!

Make your Menorah more sustainable. Help reduce CO2 emissions and environmental damage through this covenant that attempts to heal the planet of the climate crisis of global scorching. Learn more about the Green Menorah Covenant Coalition. Or Ten Thousand Villages for recycled and sustainable menorah options.

Save paper. Send environmentally-friendly e-cards as opposed to the traditional paper cards. Or, buy cards made from recycled paper. In addition, recycled or recyclable paper when wrapping gifts. (Newspaper is always a cool idea that is especially fun for kids!)

Look for EnergyStar rebates. Find rebates and special offers near you on ENERGY STAR certified products. Products that earn the ENERGY STAR label meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set
by the U.S. EPA helping you save energy and money while protecting the environment. Click here for the rebate finder and here for the database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.

Cut down on waste! If you’re hosting a Chanukah party or large communal meal, use recyclable, reusable, or compostable plates and flatware. Additionally, try to use reusable table cloths and napkins. For tips on cutting back on waste, check out Chapter 3 of the Hazon Food Guide.

Eco-Friendly Crafts

Paper Tube Menorah

Cotton swabs form the flames for this playfully patterned menorah. For the base, cover a 

3- by 12-inch piece of corrugated cardboard with scrapbook paper or let your kids paint their own design on them. Roll and tape 8 (4- by 5-inch) paper rectangles, and one that’s 4 by 7 inches, to form tubes. Dip one end of each tube in tacky glue and place the tubes on the base as shown. For each flame, cut a teardrop shape from orange card stock and a slightly larger teardrop from yellow tissue paper. Cover the orange piece with glue and then place a cotton swab on top. Smooth the tissue paper over the orange paper and swab, and let dry. To make your flames sit taller in their holders, pack crumpled tissue paper inside the tubes.

Chanukah Wreath

This is a great craft that uses common items and greenery found around the house and backyard. We love it’s minimalistic green design. We found this project here.

Here is the list of necessary materials:

  • Greenery and Sticks
  • Wire Cutters
  • Florist Wire
  • Twine

Here are the directions:

  1. Begin by taking one or two stems of your choice and lay them along a section of your star. Wrap a piece of florist wire (about 6cm long) tightly around the branch and stems and squeeze the ends together with the wire cutters. Do this a couple more times along the stem to secure the stems to the branch, laying the stems in different directions.
  2. You may need to tie some twine tightly around those points with heavier foliage to help secure the stems to the branch, as shown below.
  3. Continue along the frame of your star, adding stems and foliage here and there where desired. You can use previously wrapped wire points to stick more foliage into, and then secure with twine. Just layer the foliage as you go until you’re happy with how it looks.

Twig Menorah – we found this fun, family friendly craft here.

This unconventional flameless menorah for kids is a wonderful way to teach, share & pass on a beautiful tradition (and also happens to provide the perfect opportunity for a little counting and color-learning practice). Just like an actual menorah, you can add the “candles” together over the course of Hanukkah for a kid-safe celebration of lights!

Supplies:

  • A piece of cardboard or cereal box
  • Yellow/gold construction paper or cardstock
  • Scissors or a utility knife
  • A hole punch
  • 8 or 9 sticks (about 3-4″ long)
  • Paint and a brush
  • A hot glue gun or craft glue

Optional Supplies:

  • Moss, evergreen sprigs or other natural decoration
  • Garden shears to cut twigs
  1. Collect 9 twigs of the same approximate length and width (you can usually break one larger stick into 2 or 3 smaller ones) You’ll also want 4 longer straight sticks to use along the edges of your menorah (a decorative touch, that also helps it keeps its shape and stand strong and sturdy). I thought it would be especially engaging for kids if it formed a rainbow of colors, so we painted each stick, but they’d look equally beautiful left untouched.
  2. Cut small, simple flame shapes out of a piece of cardstock or construction paper. Use a hot glue gun to affix a flame to the top of each twig candle. Note: It’s easier to push the stick into the cardboard base if the edge is fairly even, so if one side of your stick has a much more jagged edge, you may want to use that side for your paper flame.
  3. Use an X-acto knife or similar to cut an 18-inch x 2.5 inch (or larger) strip of cardboard from the side of a box. We painted our cardboard, but it’s an optional step. Once dry, fold in half and crease at the center.
  4. Make a mark in the middle of your cardboard strip, then use a ruler to mark off 4 more lines (equal distances apart) down each side of your cardboard strip. Using an X-Acto knife or boxcutter, cut small “X”s at each mark, then gently fold inwards (toward the bottom of your base). These create the holders for our twig candles. Remember to take into account the width of your twigs so your X’s don’t create a hole that’s too small/large. Note: If you *do* happen to make a hole that’s a bit too large, just wrap a bit of clay or playdough around your candle before adding it to the menorah!
  5. To stabilize your menorah and keep it standing tall, glue a small cardboard triangle-shaped support under the bend in the center.
  6. We thought we’d cover up a bit of the cardboard and embrace the natural theme by adding some dried mosses on top. We used the glue gun to make a big “S” shape, then started pressing dried grasses and mosses down on top!
  7. To add some support and give our edges a finishing touch, we used a hot glue gun to add stick edging to each side of our menorah. We were able to just break our sticks to the approximate length of each side, but you can use a pair of garden shears if your sticks are harder to break at the right spot.
  8. Gently pop the candles into your menorah each night from right to left, using the Shammash to “light” each one.

Hazon Resources

Food for Thought– A 130-page sourcebook that draws on a range of texts from within and beyond Jewish traditions to explore a range of topics relating to Jews and food.

Greening Chanukah Guide–  The Hazon Greening Chanukah Guide is a great way to practically plan your celebration with environmental ethics in mind.

Decomposition & Chanukah – This post discusses the link between Chanukah and the lessons we can learn on longevity for the products we consume.

Share in Hazon family traditions!

While certain traditions are constant like lighting a menorah or spinning a dreidel, others that are more personal may be kept closer to the heart this time of year. We asked our staff to share their own family Chanukah traditions with our readers. Here were their answers:

“Every year for many years I could not eat regular potatoes or eggs so now we make our latkes with sweet potatoes and  kosher “gelatin eggs”. It sounds crazy but it really works. We invite all of our friends and family over (most of whom are not Jewish; imagine 16 people in our tiny house….), light candles, and debate whether  you can really tell the difference between vegan and regular sour cream on top of the latke.”

Hannah Henza Director of National Programs

“I come from a musical family and every year on Chanuka my dad plays the piano and we sing songs. I haven’t lived at home in over a decade, but my parents still call me every Chanuka and we sing over the phone together!”

– Sara Pilavin, Special Events Coordinator

“We have a slightly “heavier” tradition every night after we light the candles we sit for at least half an hour and read the Book of Maccabis, the actual text Hannukah relies on. We discover fascinting facts, and every year there is something new. For instance, did you know that the Maccabis forged alliances with the Spartans and even with Rome? Did you know that the original name of Hannukah is “The Celebration of Sukkot and Fire”, because that year they did not celebrate Sukkot because it was in the middle of the war. When they won they celebrated for eight days, in lieu of Sukkot.”

– Aharon Ariel Lavi, Director of Hakhel

“Years ago, throughout my conversion process, I found that cooking and experiencing new foods was a wonderful way for me to get in touch with Judaism on a more personal level. On my first Chanukah I was given the traditional recommendations of applesauce or sour cream as a topping for my first latke and I was very excited to find out which “team” I would be placed into. My future-husband then told me his family did something strange and always topped their latkes with powdered sugar. Of course, I tried it and it’s now my go-to topping! This tradition makes me feel like I am not only part of the community but a special part of his family as well.”

-Rachel Miller, National Programs Marketing Coordinator 

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Sukkot Sustainable Resources https://adamah.org/resource/sukkot-sustainable-resources/ Fri, 13 Jan 2023 02:30:13 +0000 https://adamah.local/resource/sukkot-sustainable-resources/ What is Sukkot? The Jewish holiday of Sukkot celebrates the Fall Harvest. We are told to sleep, eat, and relax outdoors in our sukkah. Sukkot also celebrates the time when...

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What is Sukkot?

The Jewish holiday of Sukkot celebrates the Fall Harvest. We are told to sleep, eat, and relax outdoors in our sukkah. Sukkot also celebrates the time when farmers have completed their harvest and are able to indulge in some relaxation before the first rains of the season hit. This holiday inherently relates to the environment, where we are gathering our seasonal fall produce from. Sukkot celebrates our seasonal food gatherings and the environment, hence during this holiday we should be more mindful of the impact that our celebrations have on the world around us.

Activities & Rituals

“Branch” Out. Invite your favorite farmer into your sukkah for a meal and ask him/her how the harvest went.  Don’t know a farmer?  Go to a local farmers market for some produce and congratulate one of the farmers there on a job well done.  Even better, find out where a local farm is and go straight to the source for some seasonal goodies.

Meditate. Take the time to recite blessings before and after every meal during Sukkot and think about all of the hard work and resources that went in to bringing the food to your table. Consider reading Thanks a Thousand by A. J. Jacobs, which chronicles an incredible journey to thank every person involved in making a cup of coffee – most of whom we never think about.

Green Sukkah Contest. Team up with other members of your congregation to have a “who can build the greenest sukkah?” competition. How many recycled, creative items, can you and your team incorporate into your sukkah decorations? You and your congregation choose what reward would be most suitable for you to offer the contest winners! You can get ideas from the Sukkah City Contest based in Union Square, New York City which was held in 2010.

Food & Recipes

Sukkot Recipes

Pumpkin Souffle Recipe

Preheat oven to 400

  • 6 baby pumpkins-tops cut off and reserved, hollowed out to create a cavity
  • 3 T. canola oil
  • ½ cup raw sugar for the custard 
  • 2 T. canola oil
  • 2 T. AP flour
  • 2 cups apple cider-heated
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 4 eggs at room temperature-separated
  • 1 vanilla bean scraped
  • ¾ cup pumpkin puree
  • 3 t. ground cinnamon
  • ½ t. grated nutmeg
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar 

Place a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the oil. When it gets hot add the flour and whisk it together. Add the apple cider and whisk together until mixture is very thick. Add a small amount of the apple cider mixture to the egg yolks and constantly whisk the yolks. This helps temper the egg yolks and keeps them from “scrambling”. Add the remaining ingredients except the egg whites and ¼ cup of granulated sugar. Stir over low heat until the mixture is very thick. Cool completely.

Whip the whites at medium high speed until soft peaks begin to form. Increase the speed to high and slowly add the sugar until stiff peaks form.

Fold the whites in 3 additions to the pumpkin custard mixture.

Brush the insides of the pumpkins with the canola oil. Coat the insides of the pumpkins with the sugar (this helps the soufflé climb up the sides and “hold on”). Gently spoon the soufflé mixture into the prepared pumpkins. Place the pumpkins on a baking sheet and bake until the soufflé rises out of the top and has formed a light brown crust. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve immediately.

I like to place a pumpkin on each plate with the lid leaning against it.

Recipe originally taken from The Jew and the Carrot

Vegetable Tangine with Cous Cous Recipe
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 2 small onions, roughly chopped
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper or chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1 sweet potato, cut into chunks
  • 2 carrots, cut into chunks
  • ½ cup chopped dried apricots
  • 4 cups vegetable stock or broth, divided
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 20-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, plus more for garnish
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
  • 3 cups couscous
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 1½ cups hot vegetable broth
  • Pomegranate seeds (optional)

Heat the oil in a large skillet with lid over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until soft, about 10 minutes.

Add the cumin, coriander, crushed red pepper, cinnamon, garlic, and tomato paste; cook for a minute or two until fragrant.

Add the squash, sweet potato, carrots, and dried apricots and toss well to coat. Pour 2½ cups of the stock and the lemon juice over the vegetables and bring to a gentle simmer.

Cook partially covered over a low heat for about 30 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chickpeas, parsley, and cilantro and simmer for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, put the couscous in a large baking dish and spread it into a thin, even layer. Pour over the boiling water and remaining 1½ cups broth and cover with a lid or tin foil. bring Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes, until all the liquid has been absorbed into the couscous. Fluff gently with a fork.

To serve, put the couscous on a large serving platter. Spoon the vegetable tagine on top. Garnish with additional chopped parsley and cilantro, plus pomegranate seeds if you like.

Recipe originally from The Jew and the Carrot

Pear, Date, Pomegranate, and Goat Cheese Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

For the Salad:

  • 9 ounces mixed greens
  • 1 pear, sliced
  • ½ cup pitted and sliced Medjool dates
  • ¼ cups pomegranate seeds
  • ½ cups coarsely chopped walnuts
  • ½ cups dried cranberries
  • 3 ounces goat cheese, crumbled

For the Vinaigrette:

  • ½ cup pomegranate juice
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1-2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon date honey (sub regular honey)
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Make the Salad: Put all the ingredients in a salad bowl. Toss with pomegranate vinaigrette (recipe below) or serve on the side.

For the Vinaigrette: Combine all the ingredients in a food processor, or vigorously whisk together by hand. Taste and adjust as necessary.

Note: To make pareve simple omit the goat cheese.

Recipe originally from The Jew and the Carrot

Stuffed Tomatoes with Zucchini, Mushrooms, Parmesan, and Pine Nuts
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cups pine nuts
  • 6 large, ripe tomatoes
  • Olive oil
  • 1 zucchini, chopped (about 1½ cups)
  • 1½ cups chopped mushrooms
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • Salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 4 ounces fresh mozzarella

Pre-heat the oven to 350F.

Prepare the tomatoes: Slice the top off each tomato and, using a knife and spoon carefully scoop out the seeds from the inside so the tomatoes form little cups. Lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil. Put the tomatoes in the dish so the open end is up. Set aside.

Heat a little olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the zucchini, mushrooms, onion, and garlic and sauté until softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a large bowl to cool slightly.

Meanwhile, heat a small nonstick pan over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs and pine nuts and toast until golden brown, about 5 minutes (be careful not to burn them).

Gently stir in the Parmesan, toasted breadcrumbs and pine nuts, and parsley to the zucchini and mushroom mixture. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Spoon the filling into each tomato.

Bake 15 minutes, then remove from the oven and top evenly with the mozzarella. Return to the oven and bake, uncovered, another 10 minutes, or until the tomatoes are tender but not blistering and the cheese has melted.

Note: To make pareve/vegan omit the Parmesan and mozzarella. It will still be very tasty.

Recipe originally from The Jew and the Carrot

Apple-Plum-Pear Crisp with Prunes and Walnuts
  • 2 pears, cored and cut into bite-size pieces
  • 2 green apples, cored and cut into bite-size pieces
  • 4 small black plums, cored and cut into bite-size pieces
  • ½ cup prunes (from about 6 prunes)
  • ¼ cup golden raisins
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • ¼ cup corn starch
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
  • 5 tablespoons butter

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Toss together the pears, apples, plums, prunes, raisins, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and corn starch in a large bowl. Transfer to an 11- by 9-inch baking pan and set aside.

Make the topping: mix together the flour, oatmeal, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and walnuts. Stir in the butter until it is fully incorporated and so that coarse crumbs form (I find using my hands works best).

Spread the topping evenly over the filling.

Transfer to the oven and bake, uncovered, 45 minutes to 1 hour, until top is golden brown and filling starts to bubble up. Remove from the oven and allow to rest before serving.

Recipe originally from The Jew and the Carrot

Sustainability Tips

Celebrate the Harvest Season by Eating Local. Think about the food you normally eat during one week and calculate how far that food travels to get to your plate. During the week of Sukkot, try to cut those miles in half. Want to take it a step further?  Commit to eating only foods produced within 250 miles for the entire week of Sukkot.

Drink Organic Wine
Sukkot should be a time of rejoicing.  Say “L’Chaim” over organic wine and/or other locally distilled or brewed beverages.

Go Vegetarian! Celebrate the bounty of the harvest by eating a vegetarian diet during the week of Sukkot.

Host a Sustainable Sukkot Meal
It is a mitzvah to eat in the sukkah on the first night of Sukkot.  Host a sustainable Sukkot meal and invite your guests to bring dishes that include local, sustainable ingredients.

Bake Sustainable Challah!
Bake your own sustainable challah!  Tips: Use organic flour that was harvested within 200 miles; local, organic eggs; and local honey instead of sugar.

Reuse and Recycle
Commit to using only reusable or recyclable plates and cutlery in your Sukkah. In addition, recycle your lulav and etrog!  Here are some creative ideas on ways to reuse your lulav and etrog.

Decorate Sustainably
Raid the recycling bin with kids to create one-of-a-kind recycled Sukkot decorations.

Host a Green Kiddush in the Sukkah
Serve local apples and honey; salads made of seasonal produce; and egg salad made out of local, organic eggs. Our Green Kiddush Guide makes thinking about a green kiddush easy!

Compost!
Use Sukkot as an opportunity to start composting.  Look for places to compost your schach, lulav, and etrog after the holiday. Start your parsley plants on Tu B’Shvat with the soil you produce from your Sukkot scraps!

Dig In For More Resources

Food for Thought – A 130-page sourcebook that draws on a range of texts from within and beyond Jewish traditions to explore a range of topics relating to Jews and food.

Hazon Food Guide – The Hazon Food Guide and Food Audit Toolkit will help you navigate food choices in your synagogue or JCC, and offer practical suggestions for bringing our ancient tradition of keeping kosher – literally, eating food that is “fit”– to bear on the range of food choices we’re making today.

My Jewish Learning – Sukkot 101

Additional articles Relating to Sukkot

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Yom Kippur Sustainable Resources https://adamah.org/resource/yom-kippur/ Fri, 13 Jan 2023 02:26:11 +0000 https://adamah.local/resource/yom-kippur/ What is Yom Kippur? Yom Kippur is one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar. Observance of Yom Kippur traditionally includes fasting; abstaining from leather, lotion, and other physical...

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What is Yom Kippur?

Yom Kippur is one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar. Observance of Yom Kippur traditionally includes fasting; abstaining from leather, lotion, and other physical comforts; and spending the day focused on prayer and atonement. On Yom Kippur, our relationship with the outside world changes. Instead of thinking about what we consume, we focus on self-reflection and prayer. It is an ideal time to learn and reflect on our relationships with food and the environment.

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Activities & Rituals

Consider Hunger.  Climate change is inextricably tied to global hunger. Take time to think about and discuss the hidden impacts of your personal buying decisions. Our Judaism and Food Waste source sheet touches on this topic (look for the term “externalities”) and others.

Talk about “Bike Day.” In Israel, Yom Kippur is also called “Yom Ha’Ofanaim,” or Bicycle Day. Few Israelis drive on Yom Kippur, leaving the roads open to thousands of bicycles. Because of the lack of cars on the road, air quality has been shown to improve in Israel over the 25 hours. Use this piece published by the Times of Israel to start a conversation about the environmental impact of bikes and cars.

Learn about Jonah. On Yom Kippur, we read the book of Jonah, a powerful story with many lessons about how humans relate to the environment. Use these resources from American Jewish World Service to learn more about Jonah.

 

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Food & Recipes

Unlike almost every other Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur is not centered around a meal. We still cook and prepare for Se’udah Mafseket (the meal before fasting) and a post- Yom Kippur break-fast. Check out these tips from Green Prophet on planning healthy before- and break-fast meals.

Before your fast:

  • Drink plenty of water
  • Wean yourself off of caffeine
  • Avoid salty foods
  • Eat complex carbohydrates (such as brown rice, quinoa)
  • Avoid heavy meats (If you would like to eat meat, stick to poultry)

After your fast:

  • Start off by eating fruit in order to get your blood sugar back in action
  • Continue eating with a mixture of protein and complex carbohydrates
  • Prepare your food for break-fast ahead of time.

Read through this article from the Forward for more tips for an easy fast.

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Sustainability Tips

  • Use this time of fasting to re-think your relationship to food. How can you make your diet more sustainable and humane? Use Food for Thought to learn more about the Jewish food movement.
  • Using lotions is also traditionally forbidden on Yom Kippur. Use this opportunity to learn more about the harmful chemicals included in many lotions and beauty products, and consider replacing old products with healthier, all-natural alternatives.
  • Are you hosting or attending a break-fast? Use the tips in Hazon’s Green Kiddush Guide to plan a sustainable break-fast meal.

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Dig In

Yom Kippur Basics

My Jewish Learning – Yom Kippur 101

Articles Relating to Yom Kippur
Tips for an Easy Fast

Marching and Fasting for Genetically Modified Food

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Why Do We Blow Shofar? https://adamah.org/resource/why-do-we-blow-shofar/ Fri, 13 Jan 2023 02:21:32 +0000 https://adamah.local/resource/why-do-we-blow-shofar/ Rosh Hashanah and indeed many moments in Jewish life would not be complete without the sound of the Shofar – as we hear this note we reflect on the meaning...

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Rosh Hashanah and indeed many moments in Jewish life would not be complete without the sound of the Shofar – as we hear this note we reflect on the meaning and origin of the Shofar as well as its significance to Jewish life and the world we wish to create – a healthier, more equitable, more sustainable world for all.

 

Warm thanks go out to Hazon staff, board, and stakeholders for making this work possible.

Thank you to Rabbi Felicia Sol & to B’nai Jeshurun for suggesting that we make this video.

Written by: Nigel Savage
Produced by: Hannah Henza
Narrative Edited by: Rabbi Nate De’Groot, Carly Sugar, Hannah Henza, Nigel Savage
Video Edited by: Jack Henza

Media Credits:
Footage of ram: Video by rjohnson798589 from Pixabay 
Photo of Rabbi Goren at Kotel: Wikimedia
Bernard Picart: The Sounding of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah: Wikimedia
Photo of Yemenite Jew Blowing Shofar: Wikimedia

[myspacer]If you are looking for ways to learn and engage more deeply yourself or with your community check out Adamah At Home – a 3 week at home immersive learning experience for those interested in the relationship between agriculture, Jewish tradition, and the natural world

For even more for more ways to look deeply at the intersection of Jewish tradition and the natural world check out our holiday resources, educational activities, and downloadable publications.

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Rosh Hashanah Sustainable Resources https://adamah.org/resource/rosh-hashanah/ Fri, 13 Jan 2023 02:18:27 +0000 https://adamah.local/resource/rosh-hashanah/ What is Rosh Hashanah? Rosh Hashanah, which literally means the “head of the year”, is the Jewish New Year. The holiday of Rosh Hashanah is the perfect time to let...

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What is Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah, which literally means the “head of the year”, is the Jewish New Year.

The holiday of Rosh Hashanah is the perfect time to let the blasts of the shofar shake you awake to the world around you. It’s a time to open up to new possibilities and be grateful for everything you have.  And more than anything, Rosh Hashanah offers the opportunity for teshuva (returning/repentance) – to return to our best, most full versions of ourselves. As we turn inward, we have the chance to ask, “what impact do our actions have on our friends and family, our communities, and on the earth?”

Join us at Isabella Freedman for an immersive holiday retreat to celebrate Rosh Hashanah!

When is Rosh Hashanah?

In 2023 it will be celebrated from sundown on Friday, September 15 through sundown on Sunday, September 17.

In 2024 it will be celebrated from sundown on Wednesday, October 2 through sundown on Friday, October 4.

In celebration of this time of turning and returning, we have created a list of resources that will help you welcome Rosh Hashanah with mindfulness, sustainability, and joy.
Activities & Rituals
Sustainability Tips
More to Explore

Food & Recipes

Apple Kugel

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 apples, cored and cut in small (1/4- to 1/2-inch) dice
  • 6 ounces flat egg noodles, preferably whole-grain
  • Salt to taste
  • ¼ cup raisins, plumped for 5 minutes in warm water and drained (optional)
  • 4 eggs
  • ¼ cup raw brown sugar or dark brown sugar
  • 1 cup drained yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons rum
  • ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 2-quart baking dish. Begin heating a large pot of water.

Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium-high heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the apples. Cook, stirring or tossing in the pan, until they begin to color and are slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.

When the water comes to a boil, add salt to taste and the noodles. Cook al dente, a little firmer than you would want them if you were eating them right away. Drain through a colander and add to the pan with the apples (if using long flat noodles, cut them first with a scissors into shorter lengths). Add the remaining tablespoon of butter and toss together until the butter melts. Stir in the optional raisins. Set aside.

Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Add the sugar and beat together until the mixture is thick. Beat in the yogurt, vanilla, rum, nutmeg and about 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste. Add the noodles and apples and fold everything together. Scrape into the prepared baking dish. Push the pasta down into the egg and yogurt mixture (it will not be completely submerged, but try to cover as much as you can). Place in the oven and bake 40 to 45 minutes, until the kugel is set and the sides are browned. There will always be some noodles on top that brown and become quite hard. You can remove these from the baked dish if you wish. Allow to sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

Recipe originally from NY Times Cooking 

Rosh Hashanah Challah

Ingredients

  • 1½ tablespoons (1½ packages) active dry yeast
  • 1 tablespoon plus ½ cup sugar
  • 1¾ cups lukewarm water
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 8 cups all-purpose flour (about)
  • Poppy or sesame seeds for sprinkling

Dissolve the yeast and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in 1¾ cups of lukewarm water in a large bowl

Whisk the oil into the yeast mixture, then beat in two of the eggs, one at a time, along with the remaining sugar and the salt. (You can also use a mixer with a dough hook for both mixing and kneading.) Gradually add 8 cups of flour and stir. When the dough holds together, it is ready for kneading.
Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Clean out the bowl and grease it, then return the dough to the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place for one hour. (You may also put the dough in an oven that has been warmed to 150 degrees, then turned off.) When the dough has almost doubled in volume, punch it down, cover, and let rise again in a warm place for another half-hour.

To make a six-braided challah, take half the dough and form into six balls. With your hands, roll each ball into a strand tapered at the ends about 12 inches long and 1½ inches wide. Pinch the strands together at one end, then gently spread them apart. Next, move the outside right strand over two strands.

Then, take the second strand from the left and move it to the far right. Regroup to three on each side. Take the outside left strand and move it over two to the middle, then move the second strand from the right over to the far left.

Regroup and start over with the outside right strand. Continue until all the strands are braided, tucking the ends underneath the loaf. The key is always to have three strands on each side, so you can keep your braid balanced. Make a second loaf the same way. Place the braided loaves in greased 10- by 4-inch loaf pans or on a greased cookie sheet with at least 2 inches between them.

Beat the remaining egg and brush it on the loaves. Let rise another half hour.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and brush the loaves with egg again, then sprinkle on poppy or sesame seeds.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden. Remove the loaves from the pans and cool on a rack.

Recipe originally from The Jew and the Carrot

Abramson Vegan Bread Maker Challah

This Bread Maker Challah Recipe was graciously submitted By Michelle Harris Abramson.

Makes one large or two small loaves.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons dried yeast (two packages)
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 cups luke warm water
  • 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed, aka flaxseed meal (NOT whole flaxseeds)*
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 4 – 5 cups King Arthur or other good quality bread flour
  • ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum (see note)
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • Raisins (optional)

Place the yeast, sugar, flax seed meal and water at the bottom of a bread maker and let sit for 5 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients in the order given. Set the bread maker for dough.

After about 5 minutes, check to make sure that the dough is forming a ball. If it resembles batter, gradually add a bit more flour. If it resembles crumbs, gradually add a bit more water. After one hour, remove dough separate into three ropes, and braid making sure to tuck the ends under.

Note if using raisins: Raisins will be distributed better if you put them in the individual ropes. Just flatten each rope out, line the raisins up, and fold the strand back into a rope.

Let the bread rise again for one half hour on the kitchen counter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 – 40 minutes.

The bread is done when tapping the bottom produces a hollow sound.

Michelle recommended Bob’s Red Mill flaxseed meal.

Note: Bob’s Red Mill xanthan gum is available at most grocery stores. It is optional, but we found that adding it results in a moister texture similar to what you might get if you used eggs.

Caramel Apples

Ingredients

  • 8-10 apples (red or green)
  • 8-10 Popsicle sticks
  • 2 cups of brown sugar
  • 400 grams (14 oz) of condensed milk
  • 1 large tablespoon of honey
  • 200 grams (7 oz) of unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • Choice of toppings: colored sprinkles, chocolate chips, mini M&M’s, chopped nuts, gummy bears, marshmallows, coconut, chopped biscuits, etc.

Remove stems from apples, then wash and dry the apples.

Insert sticks through the top of the apple, where the stem was. (The stick should go about three-quarters down into the body of the apple).

Combine the sugar, butter, condensed milk, honey and vanilla extract in a 2 1/2 or 3 quart pot, and place it on a small flame.

With a wooden spoon, mix and break down the ingredients so that you end up with a big caramel-brown goo slowly cooking in the pot. Cook until the sugar crystals are dissolved (test by rubbing a little of the caramel between your fingers to feel when it is no longer gritty, but be careful not to burn yourself).

Leave the mixture to cool for 10 minutes.

Once the mixture has cooled, but is still a little warm, hold the stick and immerse the apples into the mixture, fully covering the apple.

Place the coated apples on a plate and put the plate in the fridge for 15 minutes

This last step is especially fun for kids: Place the toppings of choice in small bowls and then insert the apples in the toppings until the toppings reach about a third of the way up the apple.

Return apples to the refrigerator to chill for at least half an hour.

Now all you have to do is place the plate of Rosh Hashanah Caramel Candy Apples on the table and watch people’s reactions. This is a dish that brings out the children in everyone.

Recipe originally from The Jew and the Carrot

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Shavuot Sustainable Resources https://adamah.org/resource/shavuot/ Fri, 13 Jan 2023 02:17:08 +0000 https://adamah.local/resource/shavuot/ What is Shavuot? The Festival of Harvest is more than a celebration of the first harvest of fruits and vegetables, it also commemorates the gift of the Torah at Mount...

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What is Shavuot?
The Festival of Harvest is more than a celebration of the first harvest of fruits and vegetables, it also commemorates the gift of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Shavuot is a time we are encouraged to reflect on the gift of Torah, and the gifts that the earth provides.

Shavuot is also an exciting opportunity to think about the impact our dietary choices have on our environment. Jewish tradition encourages dairy meals during Shavuot celebrations and an abstinence from meat consumption. As we think about the impact that meat consumption has on the global climate crisis, we are encouraged to take up the task of tikkun, or repair. This makes Shavuot an excellent opportunity to educate about the benefits of limiting meat consumption and consuming sustainable and ethical fruits and dairy.

Shavuot in 2023 begins on Thursday, May 25 at sundown and ends on Saturday, May 27 at sundown.

Customs and Tradition

Complete the Counting of the Omer

From Passover to Shavuot we count every day to mark both the passage of time between celebrations, and between the barley and wheat harvest and offering at the Temple. This is a time for spiritual preparation as we prepare to receive the Torah, and celebrate the first fruits of the season.

During this moment of introspection and preparation, consider The Omer Workbook from Gold Herring, a powerful guide for engaging in Jewish self-care, connection, and action.

We’re Up All Night to Learn Torah

Tikkun Leil Shavuot, studying and learning Torah until the wee hours of the morning, is a Shavuot tradition stemming from our ancestors’ mistake of sleeping in late the morning we were to receive the Torah.

This year, make sustainability a part of the conversation during your learning session. Find inspiration for sources to use at your Tikkun or Shavuot table in Food for Thought, a sourcebook on Jews, Food, and Contemporary Life. Dive into Jewish Initiative for Animal’s “Dairy on Shavuot” source sheet. One of the better known Jewish holiday customs is eating dairy on Shavuot, though, strangely, many people struggle to produce a reason for this custom!

Reconnect with the Land

As one of four harvest holidays mentioned in the Torah, Shavuot presents a wonderful opportunity to connect with the world around you. Take a look in your neighborhood at what is blooming; notice what fruits and veggies are in the produce aisle or farmers’ market; feel the turning of the seasons, and embrace the colors, textures, and flavors of a bountiful growing season.

Embrace seasonality and the harvest near you – shop local, choose vegetarian, and consider the source of the food you consume. When we think carefully about where our food comes from, we practice another element of Kashrut, and provide points of connection for the blessings and traditions associated with our holidays.

What can Shavuot teach us about the connections between Jewish tradition and agriculture? Read this farmer’s take on seeing Jewish rituals as they connect to the cycles of planting, harvest, and eating.

How do we celebrate Shavuot in modern times?

The entire family will enjoy the interactive Reconnecting to the Land and Produce. , a Shavuot program by Religious Action Center.

Consider Fruit Over Dairy

Shavuot is replete with dairy foods, from cheesecake to blintzes to burekas, but it originated as a celebration of first fruits! This Shavuot can be an opportunity to educate yourself about making food choices that are better for your health, animal welfare, and the environment.

Shavuot Recipes

Expand each recipe by clicking + next to each dish.

Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake
English Pea Risotto
Mango Ginger Tofu
Strawberry Salad with Goat Cheese Croutons
Vegan Peanut Butter Cup Pie
Garlic Herb Vegan Cheese

Sustainability Tips

Buy Fair Trade Judaica – Look around Fair Trade Judaica for ways to make smart purchases this Shavuot.

Go Vegan – Although dairy is traditionally a part of Shavuot meals, there are many reasons to go dairy-free.  Check out these dairy free dessert recipes for inspiration. Environmentalists and animal welfare activists are opting out of both meat and dairy products because of animal cruelty and the contribution to global climate change by the meat and dairy industry. Learn more about Jewish perspectives on animal welfare by checking out the Jewish Initiative for Animals.

Got Ethical Milk? – If you choose to use dairy, use the most ethical and sustainable dairy products possible. Check out Hazon’s list of Kosher Sustainable Cheeses, and read up on the sustainability and the dairy industry

More About Shavuot

Shavuot 101 (My Jewish Learning) – Shavuot, the “Feast of Weeks,” is celebrated seven weeks after Pesach (Passover). Since the counting of this period (sefirat ha-omer) begins on the second evening of Pesach, Shavuot takes place exactly 50 days after the (first) seder. Although its origins are to be found in an ancient grain harvest festival, Shavuot has been identified since biblical times with the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

First Fruit Challah for Shavuot –In ancient times, the challah eaten on Shavuot was the first taste of the new year’s wheat. During the counting of the Omer, first barley, and then wheat, were counted in anticipation of the Shavuot festival. When the other first fruits were offered in Jerusalem, two large challot were made of the first fruits of the wheat plant. Like the first wheat plants, the challot were also big, fluffy and delicious.

Additional Resources

Sleepless for Shavuot from The Forward

Ruth and Lovingkindness from My Jewish Learning

Sustainable Dairy Operations

Immersive Shavuot Retreat

Experience the magic of celebrating in community with Adamah!
Shavuot Retreat at Isabella Freedman
Shavuot Retreat at Pearlstone

Virtual Shavuot Library

When we were unable to hold our Shavuot Retreats in 2020 due to the pandemic, our talented educators and scholars curated a robust offering of engaging virtual programming. Enjoy the complete collection from both retreat centers in the video playlists below.

Shavuot 2020 at Isabella Freedman
Shavuot 2020 at Pearlstone

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New Year for the Animals https://adamah.org/resource/new-year-for-the-animals/ Fri, 13 Jan 2023 02:11:48 +0000 https://adamah.local/resource/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...

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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.

Think of the chicken on your Shabbat dinner table, the milk in your coffee, or the leather in your sneakers. Ask yourself: How do animals impact your life? What are your relationships with animals? If you start paying attention to the products you rely on every day, you will see how much you rely on domesticated animals. There are plenty of reasons to celebrate animals on Rosh Hashanah La’Behemot!

Rosh Hodesh Elul, the new moon festival of the month of Elul, marks the day for ma’aser behema, or the counting of domesticated animals, such as cattle and sheep, for tax purposes. During the time of the Temple, this day was the new year to determine the start date of animal tithes.

When the Temple stood, Rosh Hashanah La’Behemot celebrated one way people honored the domesticated animals that allowed people to survive. Rosh Hashanah La’Behemot parallels the more well-known Rosh Hashanah L’llanot (Tu B’shvat), the New Year’s Festival that marked the day for tithing fruit bearing trees.

Rosh Hashanah La’Behemot points to the connection with domesticated animals. “Domesticated animals” include all those historically bred by humans, whether they are kosher or non-kosher, such as cats, dogs, cattle, chickens, pigs, llamas, and goats. Today, animals are  indirectly affected by humans in ways our ancestors couldn’t imagine. Human activities like factory farming and deforestation lead to habitat loss and decreases in biodiversity. Even animals we don’t directly interact with are being impacted by human activity.

Use this day to consider the deep relationship between humans and animals of all kinds. The holiday can serve as a chance to remind people tza’ar ba’alei hayim, the prohibition against unnecessary cruelty to animals. Rosh Hashanah La’Behemot is a perfect day to start conversations about animal welfare — and start taking action to improve the lives of animals around the world.

Rosh Hashanah La’Behemot has not been celebrated extensively since Temple times. There is room for creativity and interpretation in adapting this ancient holiday to address modern issues. Questions? Ideas about how to celebrate? Contact us at foodeducation@hazon.org.

Rosh Hashanah La’Behemot Programs:

Animal Connection Programs:

  • The Ark Project: This b’nai mitzvah curriculum from the Jewish Initiative for Animals contains a wealth of activities to explore human-animal relationships.
  • Min Ha’Aretz: Making meaning from our food: This curriculum includes texts, Jewish quotes, and questions that allow children to explore their relationship with animals in a Jewish context.
  • Meat Reduction Rap: This fun activity allows for a creative way to explore the environmental effects of eating meat, specifically beef.
  • Fur and Feather Together: A picture book about animals and people across the globe standing together against climate change.

Articles

Jewish Organizations Promoting Animal Welfare

  • Jewish Initiative For Animals (JIFA):  provides new ways for the Jewish community to bring its values of compassion for animals into practice and build Jewish community in the process.
  • Shamayim V’Aretz Institute: Jewish animal welfare organization that educates leaders, trains advocates, and leads campaigns for the ethical treatment of animals
  • Jewish Veg: encourages and helps Jews embrace plant-based diets as an expression of the Jewish values of compassion for animals, concern for health, and care for the environment.

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