The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life continues the popular Big Words program this semester, beginning Thursday, Jan. 28, with Big Words: SUSTAIN.

Hosted in partnership with Stetson Hillel, the event was timed to coincide with Tu B’Shvat, a Jewish holiday that is also referred to as New Year of the Trees. In contemporary Israel, the holiday is observed by environmental awareness, often with the planting of trees and other homages to nature.

The Big Words series presents an interfaith perspective on issues of universal religious and spiritual significance. Big Words: SUSTAIN will feature a panel discussion on the intersection of faith and environmental stewardship. Cultural Credit will be available.

The panel will include Wendy Anderson, PhD, professor of Environmental Science and Studies and supervisor on the Volusia Soil and Water Conservation District; George Alderman, former Stetson Student Government Association president; Jason Evans, PhD, associate professor of Environmental Science and Studies and interim director of the Stetson Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience; Sharmaine Jackson, PhD, assistant professor of Sociology; and Rabbi Ed Rosenthal, executive director and campus rabbi of the Suncoast Hillels.

The event will be presented on Zoom. To register, RSVP on Engage via Hillel or the Department of Religious and Spiritual Life. For more information, contact Lindsey Carelli, associate director of Interfaith Initiatives, at [email protected] or 386.822.7403.