Tu Bishvat Celebrated in São Paulo with Tree Planting and Interfaith Dialogue

São Paulo, Brazil – A collaborative event marking Tu Bishvat, the Jewish “New Year of the Trees,” took place on Sunday, February 22nd, at Praça Hélio Schmidt in the Chácara Monte Alegre neighborhood. The celebration, organized in partnership with the São Paulo City Hall, saw the planting of seven tree species and highlighted the intersection of tradition, environmental responsibility, and interfaith cooperation.

A Symbol of Renewal and Environmental Stewardship

Tu Bishvat is a symbolic moment of renewal and a call to environmental care, strengthening the commitment to future generations. The tradition centers around planting trees and enjoying the Seven Species – wheat, barley, grape, fig, pomegranate, olive, and date – which represent the agricultural bounty of the Land of Israel and the historical connection of the Jewish people to the land.

Collaboration and Community Engagement

The event was supported by CONIB (Confederação Israelita do Brasil), Wizo, Beth-El Synagogue, and KKL Brazil (Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael). Attendees included José Renato Nalini, São Paulo’s Secretary for Climate Change; Silvio Rocha de Oliveira Jr., Santo Amaro Sub-Mayor; City Councilor Cris Monteiro; Rabbi Uri Lam of Beth-El Synagogue; Sérgio Napchan, Executive Director of CONIB; Sandra Kropp, a representative of WIZO; and Simone Benzinsky of KKL Brazil, alongside various civil, religious, and community leaders.

Connecting Tradition to Civic Action

Simone Benzinsky, Director of Education at KKL Brazil, emphasized the significance of the event, stating, “Celebrating Tu Bishvat at Praça Hélio Schmidt means transforming tradition into a living experience. It is about leaving the walls behind and filling the city with meaning. Tu Bishvat is KKL’s holiday. It invites us to a simple yet profound gesture: to put our hands in the soil and plant. Planting is about taking responsibility. It is about thinking of the future. It is about building a legacy, from generation to generation.”

Environmental Ethics and Interfaith Initiatives

Sérgio Napchan, Executive Director of CONIB, highlighted the broader ethical and civilizational dimensions of environmental issues. He noted that environmental concerns reveal a deeper crisis, calling for a reevaluation of values, rebuilding of bonds, and a rediscovery of collective responsibility. Napchan as well pointed to Judaism’s longstanding principles of caring for creation, respecting the land, and adhering to the concept of bal tashchit – the prohibition of waste and destruction – as expressions of an ethic that recognizes the sacredness of life. He further mentioned CONIB’s participation in the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative Council, demonstrating a commitment to global environmental efforts.

Expanding the Meaning of the Celebration

By hosting the event in a public space, organizers aimed to broaden the celebration’s meaning, reinforcing the Jewish community’s historical and emotional ties to Israel while promoting universal values such as sustainability, collective responsibility, and planetary care.