26 | DECEMBER 19 • 2024
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n addition to being about food and fun,
Chanukah for the Rosenbaum family of Novi is
about sustainability. Julie Rosenbaum, her hus-
band, Eric, and kids Simon, 9, Pearl, 7 and Adele,
2, try to be mindful during the holiday season, like
they are year-round, about how they’re impacting
the environment.
For Chanukah, which begins Dec. 25 at sun-
down, they will pull out the bag of decorations
they’ve made over the years at Chanukah parties,
synagogue or school, which is a meaningful way

to buy, consume and use less, while also reminisc-
ing, says Julie Rosenbaum. “We’re decorating with
things we’ve already created. We’re not adding to
all the stuff that lasts only one season, and it’s nice
because it brings up those memories.”
Chanukah is about having quality family time
together, says Rosenbaum, and more about the
experiences than purchases. Also, when buying
food, toys or other presents, it’s possible to take a
moment to be mindful of how those items came to
be, she explains.

“Talking about our food, where our food comes
from is a good way for kids to think about the
bigger picture of buying things and where all their
toys and clothes come from,” she says, adding that
throughout the year, she works on raising her kids’
awareness of the food system.
For the Rosenbaum family, that means looking
for farmers markets and locally grown produce,
which in this season can certainly include latke
staples like carrots, potatoes and onions, she says.
“There are lots of people involved in creating those
things and we want them to have an equal and fair
opportunity to make a living and also take care of
the environment a little bit better.”
And when it comes to wrapping paper, she
says, she likes to use whatever she’s got on hand,
whether it’s reusable bags, Amazon boxes or
coloring paper. Another alternative for crafty
holiday wrap is to take rolls of butcher or craft
paper and let the kids decorate it. “We like to use
coloring sheets and anything the kids have created
— I’m always a fan of homemade cards as well
because it’s more of a meaningful, special gift from
a child,” she explains.

THEMES TO EXPLORE
Conserving energy is a key
theme to explore this time
of year, says Adamah
Detroit Director
Amit Weitzer,
adding that
thinking criti-
cally and inten-
tionally about
Chanukah is one way of
lifting up care for the Earth
throughout Jewish holiday
celebrations year-round.
The idea is built into the
Chanukah story, she explains,
where Jews celebrate the miracle of
a bit of oil lasting longer than expect-
ed. It lends itself to concepts around
making things go further and only using what we
need, she says.
“Resources are not limitless; the Chanukah story
helps us think about faith, but also how our actions
can play an important role: Sharing hand-made
gifts, gifting pre-loved items, gifting experiences.”

Adamah Detroit’s Climate Action Coordinator
Ari Cohen says making Chanukah “greener” could
mean anything from composting food scraps and
recycling plastic and paper to only throwing away
things that have no other use. Making plant-for-
ward meals can also make a difference, he says, as

Celebrate the season with the
Celebrate the season with the
environment in mind.
environment in mind.

A Sustainable
Chanukah

KAREN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

OUR COMMUNITY

Amit
Weitzer

The Rosenbaum family: Julie,

Eric, and kids Simon, 9, Pearl, 7
and Adele, 2,