Dear Friends,
I like to say that as Jews we have Earth Day not once a year, but once a week: we call it Shabbat. This weekly gift is an opportunity to let ourselves rest, let the land rest, and turn from the frenetic pace of doing to the restorative practice of being. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel teaches us that Shabbat is a day of harmony and peace, of peace between people, peace within ourselves, and peace with all things. Just imagine what the world would be like if Earth Day were every Saturday. How would that infuse ecological consciousness into every day, the same way Shabbat influences our entire week?
This Earth Day, Adamah is bringing people together to learn, celebrate, serve, and take action—through farm volunteering, environmental restoration, multifaith convenings, and experiential Jewish outdoor education. Our movement is strong and our tent is wide, spanning youth and families, educators and activists, Jewish leaders and partners across the Jewish world and beyond.
Find our complete list of Earth Day events here, including an awesome new Adamah presence at Climate Week LA and Climate Week SF.
This Earth Day comes amid a profound polycrisis—escalating climate disasters, rising authoritarianism, and the devastation of war, fueled in part by our dependence on fossil fuels. Our tradition calls us to honor sacred grief and righteous indignation, and to respond with purpose: strengthening community and belonging, holding fast to joy and hope, grounding ourselves in Jewish wisdom and the healing power of the natural world, and recommitting to youth empowerment and collective action. We do this with the conviction that we are part of something greater than ourselves—we call it Peoplehood and Planethood.
Because today is not only Earth Day but also Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, Israeli Independence Day, we reaffirm our commitment to building bridges across Israel and the Diaspora to create a more sustainable future together. Learn more about Peoplehood & Planethood on our website, and discover some of our Israeli allies working to create a more just, sustainable, and peaceful Israel, middle east, and world. And join us tomorrow, April 23, for a powerful webinar on Peacebuilding through Environmental Cooperation with our friends at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies.
To honor Earth Day and Yom Ha’Atzma’ut this year, please donate to support Adamah’s Peoplehood & Planethood work and partnership building efforts with Israeli allies.
We cannot deny the tragedies and travesties unfolding all around us. We cannot become numb. And we cannot give up. Given the state of the world, this is no easy task. But it is the work we are called upon to do in this generation. So may we draw strength from our ancestors and inspiration from our descendants to stay in this holy work—not just on Earth Day, but every day. And may this work help bring peace, justice, and sustainability to our people, to all people, and to all living things.
Shalom
Jakir Manela
CEO
