As the Once-ler chops down a truffle tree for her new industry in Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, a fuzzy little man appears on the stump and cries, "I am the Lorax, I speak for the trees!" He pleads for the Once-ler to stop destroying the earth.

This same message of preserving and respecting the earth was formulated thousands of years ago in ancient Israel. The fifteenth day of the Hebrew month of Cheviot (Tu B'Shevat), which usually falls in January, although this year arrives in February, is Jewish Earth Day.

Now, in February in North America, you are still probably watching out for the next winter storm, your child has the flu, and your back aches from shoveling snow. But in Israel the days are beginning to warm and clouds of white and pink are appearing around the near-bare branches of the almond tree, called the sh'kediya. The blooming of the sh'kediya. of nature. heralds the coming of spring in the Holy Land and the rejuvenating miracle of nature.

Since the sixteenth century, Jews have celebrated Tu B'Shevat with a seder, a communal meal with a set order as on Passover. But instead of celebrating redemption from slavery, Tu B'Shevat celebrates, yes, another birthday--the birthday of the trees! Tu B'Shevat is the New Year of trees. A lovely Sephardic folktale relates that at midnight of Tu B'Shevat the trees stretch out their branches and embrace each other, wishing each other a good new year.

Today Tu B'Shevat directs our attention toward the earth, the land of Israel, and the way we treat nature. Trees, after all, are dependent upon the biblically ordained custodians of the world--meaning us. Judaism not only enjoins us to take stock of our human relationships, as it does on the birthday of the world, Rosh Hashanah, it also wants us to examine our relationship with the wider world of God's creation. Instilling these values in our children will help them become moral, sensitive, and thoughtful young adults who care about people and the world around them.

In preparation for Tu B'Shevat, it is fitting to review your recycling habits and look for ways to improve them. Allow your children to take charge and recommend even better ways to handle the recycling in your house.

One way of sensitizing your children to the wonders of God's creation is by making blessings a part of everyday life, not only Shabbat. Each category of food has its specific blessing that teaches us to appreciate the diversity of foodstuff on our planet, and our beautiful, intricate ecosystem.

This article originally appeared in Jewish Family & Life: Traditions, Holidays and Values for Today's Parents and Children (Golden, 1997).