Guest Speaker: Eric Leaf
Assistant Dean for Advancement , UWM School of Freshwater Sciences

The UWM School of Freshwater Sciences is the only graduate school in the nation dedicated solely to the study of freshwater. Its mission is to train the next generation of freshwater professionals and advance fundamental and strategic science to inform policy, improve management, and promote the health and sustainability of freshwater systems worldwide.

Earth Day is being celebrated on Thursday, April 22. This marks the 51st anniversary of this holiday, which is the largest secular observance in the world engaging more than 1 billion people and creating opportunities for civic engagement and volunteerism in 193 countries. The theme this year is “Restore Our Earth.”

But why are we dedicating a Shabbat to Earth Day?

Torah teaches us that our obligation as Jews is to be stewards of the Earth, and that can’t be achieved by ourselves, or only by celebrating Tu BiShvat. That can only be achieved by connecting and working with nations and people throughout the world in order to be caretakers of the Earth, along with celebrating the beauty and diversity of nature and our planet.

Eric Leaf will inform us of the research being done at the UWM School of Freshwater Sciences and along with Rabbi Jessica Barolsky explain the “connections” between Earth Day and Tu BiShvat.

We will have a question and answer session with Eric Leaf at the end of the service.

This event has been organized by Temple Brotherhood.