metro >> earth day Planting The Future A bat mitzvah celebration filled with shovels, dirt and hope. Family Involvement Shelli Liebman Dorfman Contributing Writer TT -79 welve-year-old Arleigh Sheldon Parr of Bloomfield Hills is not only looking to take care of and protect the world, she wants to share the message and bring others into the experi- ence. So, in lieu of a party to celebrate her upcoming bat mitzvah, Arleigh invited everyone she knows — and their families — to come out and plant a tree. "Arleigh is passionate about the envi- ronment and wanted to celebrate in a more meaningful way that is eco-friendly and gives back to Detroit': said her mom, Allison Woll Parr. "She chose to forego a dance party, and instead we have invited over 350 people — electronically, of course — to join us in planting 400 trees. "Arleigh goes to parties and gets con- cerned about the Styrofoam and other non-recyclable decorations. She thought about having a skating party, but worried that the cups were not biodegradable. "Then when Ellie Moskowitz, our rabbi's daughter, asked us to work at a carnival she threw [with a Detroit friend] for underprivileged kids in Detroit instead of having a bat mitzvah party, we were so inspired. We left there feeling good about the gift they gave us in being able to help. That's when Arleigh decided she could do something to make a difference, too." Rabbi Michael Moskowitz of Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfied said, "Ellie asked that instead of gifts, if guests would bring a new children's book or a bag of candy [because the carnival happened the night before Halloween] to her bat mitzvah service. Then we were able to give these out at the carnival." On Friday, May 18, Arleigh will become a bat mitzvah at Shir Shalom with a service that follows a Shabbat dinner where potted plants will decorate the tables instead of foam-core centerpieces. Recyclable napkins and hand towels with ink-free embossed names will be used all weekend. "Arleigh's Torah portion speaks about honoring God and what He will do for us if we follow his commandments:' she said. "During the service, she plans to incorpo- rate taking care of the environment as part of our obligation to following God." Allison said Arleigh has been inspired by the synagogue's religious school pro- gram that really focused on tikkun olam. "When Arleigh was younger, she would 20 April 19 2012 quote Rabbi Moskowitz, who would remind the kids that they can help the Earth by turning off the water while they are brushing their teeth." Tree Planting The morning after Arleigh's service, she will don an outfit outlined on her invitation. "It says to 'dress to get dirty, so she'll be there in gym shoes, jeans and a T-shirt:' Parr said. Guests will meet in a Bloomfield Hills parking lot and, after coffee and a quick breakfast, will board six motor coaches to take them to the park, watching a photo- montage of Arleigh on the way. With the plan to plant "rain or shine every guest will receive not only a pair of garden gloves, but also a poncho — just in case. The planting will take place at Farwell Park in northeast Detroit, a site chosen through Greening of Detroit's Storm Water Mitigation Initiative, whose staff worked with the family and the city to secure a permit. "They chose areas in dire need of trees "I've grown up with teachers and parents who taught me about the environment:' Arleigh said. "Now, when I have ques- tions I like to know the answers." Her parents, Allison and Harry Parr, are more than proud of their daughter's passion and commitment to the environ- ment. "As a family, we all support and nur- ture this caring:' her mom said. "For example, we pack school lunches that create no garbage and try our best to avoid disposable products. "We've grown together in this:' her mom said. "She's teaching us a lot." Arleigh and her sisters Meredith, 11, and Naomi, 7, are vegetarians. "So at home, we all are her mom said. In addition to the tree planting, Arleigh's bat mitzvah projects included winning the Michigan Humane Society Pet Photo Contest (after raising more than $3,000), a win that also named her family's shelter dog, Gideon, "Michigan Humane Society Pet of the Year." Arleigh won't be dancing in a pretty dress at her bat mitzvah celebration, but, she said, "What we have planned will be so much fun, and everybody will be involved. I'm really excited and happy to share this and grateful to be sup- ported by my family. To start out with an empty park and, by the end of the day, look back and see it full of trees is really exciting. It really makes a difference if and plants, where residents have a desire people come and experience it them- to have them and will maintain them:' selves and see how they're helping." Parr said. The sentiment upholds her invitations The ground will be pre-marked by the words: "Where trees are planted, there is Greening of Detroit and the city. hope." The group, including some neighbor- Moskowitz hopes this inspiration will hood residents, will assemble for instruc- influence others to make a difference. tions, a welcome and then commence "I am very proud of her, the choice planting — for 31/2-4 hours, aided by that she made, the support her parents citizen foresters. have given her and the awesome project "They are younger trees that will be she has now made happen:' Moskowitz put into the ground;' said Arleigh, a said. "This is a beautiful example of seventh-grader at Bloomfield Hills Middle what our kids are able to do around b'nai School. "The containers will be reused by mitzvah and celebrates the values we Greening of Detroit, so there is no garbage. want our children to bring to our world. "We've planted with the Greening of "She is already an activist, an environ- Detroit before, and we got to see the mentalist, a self-proclaimed tree hugger:' people who lived near where we planted; he said. "But now she will be bringing some of the kids joined us. It may be hard many to Detroit to help make our city work, but the end point is worth it." more green. How many would never have Following the planting will be lunch in had this opportunity if not for Arleigh's the park. work? How many will pick up where they "It will be a picnic on palm leaf plates leave off after her bat mitzvah? Ripples that are biodegradable': Arleigh said. in the water. Inspirations in our com- "They go in the garbage, but they disinte- munity. We can learn so much from our grate. It's scary to me to think about gar- children." ❑ bage dumped in the middle of the ocean."