By Orit Aviran, Director of Communications, Marketing and Admissions, Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor
As Shavuot approaches with its celebration of harvest and renewal, Hebrew Day School reflects on our decade as a Michigan Green School. This recognition highlights our dedication to weaving environmental awareness into our students’ education ence “eco-anxiety” — a legitimate worry we adults might be too eager to forget. At Hebrew Day School, we address this not by minimizing concerns, but by channeling them into action: When students compost food scraps, plant seedlings, or participate in campus cleanups, they transform abstract in ways that honor both scientific understanding and Jewish tradition.
At Hebrew Day School, “For a person is like a tree of the field” (Deuteronomy 20:19) isn’t just poetic — it’s a practiced value. What sets our approach apart is how we integrate Jewish values — particularly tikkun olam (repairing the world) and bal tashchit (avoiding needless waste) — creating a meaningful framework that connects environmental action to cultural identity.
Shavuot reminds us of our connection to the land and the cycles that sustain us, a connection easily forgotten nowadays, when we receive our products in nice packages, far away from where and how they were produced.
To emphasize and strengthen this connection, our students learn to protect the earth’s bounty through hands-on projects such as planting a pollinator garden while learning about native species and discussing the Jewish value of preserving biodiversity.
Today’s children increasingly experi-worry into concrete contribution. One thirdgrader recently shared how much better she felt about climate change after helping with our composting system — a powerful testament to action as an antidote to anxiety.
“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy” (Psalm 126) is a wisdom applied to both environmental work and education itself. The seeds we plant in children’s minds now may not bear immediate fruit, but will eventually blossom in their adult choices.
Our Green School status represents our pledge to foster environmental ethics grounded in Jewish tradition. This is tikkun olam in its most literal sense — the preservation of our shared world. From reducing waste in our lunchroom to advocating for sustainable practices in our community, at Hebrew Day School we’re raising young people who understand that individual actions matter. The challenges are real, but the rewards — environmentally mindful young leaders poised to make a difference — make every effort worthwhile.