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Tu B’Shvat helps us see the wood for the trees
Climate change, natural disasters, and environmental degradation. For many, these terms evoke fear, guilt, sadness, or even grief. This reaction is widespread, and was recently coined “eco-anxiety”.
Many people feel fear and helplessness over the state of our planet and overwhelmed by the huge responsibility of mitigating environmental damage. According to researcher Caroline Hickman, young people are especially affected by eco-anxiety.
Says Avital Devir, a recent law graduate from the University of Cape Town (UCT), “I generally feel anxious about the climate crisis. But as time goes on, there’s more of a sense of resignation or a reluctant acceptance. Because it keeps getting worse, there’s expectation that it will keep getting worse.”
Recent UCT history graduate Sarah Saacks says, “I wouldn’t say I feel optimistic about the climate crisis. It’s kind of like a leaky tap you’re trying to ignore. You know it’s there, but you try not to pay attention to it otherwise you’ll be overwhelmed by it all.”
Hickman says that over time, some young people’s concern turns into frustration with leaders who fail to act, as they feel betrayed by politicians, corporations, and decision-makers who they believe should be protecting their future.
Says Saacks, “With what’s happening in the United States, with it pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, it’s going to have long-term effects that it isn’t thinking through. That’s the problem. Politicians put the future in the future without understanding that the ‘future’ will affect our generation.” This sense of betrayal and frustration leaves many young people disillusioned about their role in a world that seems to ignore their well-being.
As science education and climate change are intertwined and inseparable, adults and institutions can help by validating their concerns and showing accountability through meaningful actions. These include regenerative agriculture, investing in green energy, retrofitting, implementing a green, circular economic model, and supporting organic and sustainable farming practices. Says Rabbi Sam Thurgood, “The direction we should take as a community should be something that’s well considered from a perspective of Torah and Jewish values but also from experts in environmental and political change.
“As Jews, we have a responsibility to protect the planet. This is part of how we were created, and a part of the initial responsibility and charge that was given to us,” he says. “It really goes back to the story of creation, of Adam and Eve, when it says, ‘Hashem placed Adam within the garden to work it and to guard it.’ Our sages have always seen this as symbolic of the way we should relate to the entire world – to work it and to protect it. There are many mitzvot and verses of value that speak to Judaism’s role as caretakers of the world and the need for responsibility.”
This year Tu B’Shvat, also known as the New Year or Birthday of the Trees takes place on 13 February, or the 15th of Sh’vat. “Tu B’Shvat is a day on which the ma’aser [tithes of the trees] are calculated,” Thurgood said. “In other words, one of our obligations as farmers in Israel is to give a tenth of our tree produce to the Levi within a particular year. This has become a symbol of giving 10% of our income to tzedakah [charity].
“It’s a day we have adopted, some people call it Jewish Arbor Day or Jewish Environmentalism Day. I would say that’s not its original focus, intention, or observance, but it has become the way we do it. Certainly, the way in which the Jewish people relate to this day is through our responsibility from the trees and to the trees and towards nature,” Thurgood says.
“Another powerful step we can take to combat climate anxiety, alongside systematic change, is to adopt an optimistic outlook. While eco-anxiety is a natural reaction to the climate crisis, too much distress can lead to inaction. Climate optimism provides balance by focusing on hope and possibility. Effective optimism highlights real progress, such as advances in renewable energy or conservation successes, while acknowledging the challenges.”
Says Devir, “Knowing that policies and corporations have to adopt sustainable and restorative policies makes me feel optimistic. That the people with power to make change are utilising that power.”
The Australian Psychological Society suggests several ways to combat eco-anxiety and be more optimistic about the climate crisis:
- Focus on environmental successes and progress toward sustainability;
- Remember that small actions, like conserving energy or speaking up for change, contribute to larger solutions;
- Break big problems into manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed;
- Learn from reliable sources to understand problems and solutions;
- Prioritise mental and physical health to stay engaged long-term;
- Share your feelings and ideas with friends, family, or community groups to feel less alone; and
- Look for clear, solution-focused advice instead of focusing only on the severity of the crisis.
Eco-anxiety and climate optimism aren’t opposites. Together, they help to create a balanced approach to tackling environmental challenges. As researcher Jessica Fritze suggests, distress alone can be paralysing, but combining emotional engagement with rational action can lead to meaningful change.
