By Greg Altman
The importance of Tu B’Shvat has shifted throughout the centuries, and now at Adamah we have a new ritual through the work of our Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition. Instead of counting the age of trees, today we’re counting our carbon emissions. Every Tu B’Shvat, Jewish nonprofit organizations that are part of Adamah’s Coalition submit climate action plans.
Convened by Adamah in September 2022, the Coalition consists of Jewish community organizations that recognize the existential threat and moral urgency of climate change and commit to taking action. The Coalition’s founding statement—signed by 20 major national and international Jewish umbrella organizations, including Prizmah—begins: “The climate crisis is real, and it is here.” This declaration underscores the urgency of the Coalition’s goal to decarbonize Jewish communal life in North America by 2040.
While emphasizing the imperative of taking bold, meaningful action, the Coalition leads with compassion, supporting each member where they are on their own climate action journey. Ultimately, the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition provides community, gentle accountability, and resources to support an organization’s climate action goals. In day schools, this means members are empowered to demonstrate commitment to a more sustainable future through climate action (a primary concern of today’s youth) and integrate Jewish environmental education into their curricula, alongside their essential educational responsibilities.
