Green Mitzvathon Talking Points

Chevrei Tzedek Congregation is hosting a Greek Mitzvathon Shabbaton on Friday, May 2nd, through Sunday, May 4th, 2025.
The goal of this Shabbaton is to teach people about the Jewish tradition to Care of the Earth (shmirat ha-adamah), raise awareness of our responsibilities as Jewish people to be good stewards of the environment, and engaging participants in learning about actions they can take, both small and large, to commit to changing behaviors.
We plan to reach 200 to 300 people across the events of the weekend.
Friday evening will consist of pre-service activities of a guided nature walk with meditation, services, and a plant-based Shabbat dinner filled with teachable and practical examples of environmentally friendly meal practices, with a panel discussion.
Saturday morning services will examine the connection between Shabbat and creation and will be followed by a Kiddush luncheon and limud to further examine the topic, reinforce participants' understanding, and increase commitment to Jewish learning and action regarding environmental stewardship.
After Havdalah services, we will have a Shabbat meal that continues to model sustainability and environmental responsibility. Following dinner, we will have a workshop to help participants create personal rituals for environmentally related activities, such as composting, planting a garden, and the like.
The final event of the Shabbaton is the Green Mitzvathon Fair on Sunday. This is an outdoor (indoor if it's raining) event with fun activities for all - children and adults. Booths with different vendors will promote environmental services (e.g. social energy, recycling, etc.), hold demonstrations (such as composting), and give away prizes. The fair will include food and several speakers. This fair will underscore the consistent message of the Shabbaton and give participants practical ways to implement what they have learned in an affordable way, with access to resources.