It may not feel like it with subzero windchill weather on and off this past week, but spring is on its way. And in a short while, the new month of Nisan will begin, with Passover taking place on the 15th of that month (the first Seder is less than a month away on March 27).
Called Chag HaAviv in the Torah, this Festival of Springtime offers us an opportunity to renew our agricultural season, renew our relationship to nature, and thus, to renew our lives.
This spring, we mark a new initiative at JCOGS: the creation of a modest, educational garden on our JCOGS property. Set between the parking lot and the building, this garden will:
Demonstrate the benefits of Regenerative Agriculture as a way of significantly reducing carbon emissions
Provide food for people that need access to nutrient-dense fresh vegetables
Gift a smile to those going through a challenging moment (envision a surprise bouquet of marigolds left on your doorstep!)
This is a community project: for young and old(er), experienced gardeners and those wishing to learn. As part of Hazon’s Seal of Sustainability, our Green Team is spearheading this project. You can (cue bad pun) “get in on the ground” as the team picks what to grow and plans ahead. Learn more here about the project, join next week’s garden planning meeting, Friday, March 12 at 10am, and/or get in touch with Green Team
Finally, in so many of our Jewish teachings, we are taught how interconnected we are with the natural world. The Torah likens us to trees. There is a particular custom to let a child’s hair grow until they are three, just as fruit trees are not meant to be pruned or its fruit eaten until the tree is three. You are all invited this Sunday at 6pm to join our family in celebrating Hersh’s Upshirin, his first hair cut and entry into Torah learning.
Tihiyu bri’im, stay safe, be well. Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David
p.s. Stay tuned next week for our exciting JCOGS Passover plans.
