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    February 2026/Sh’vat 5786 Program Inspiration Ideas

    By Mem Global Jewish Educators

    Legend For Types of Event Ideas:
    đŸ«‚ = Idea for Diversified program
    🧿 = Idea for Jewish Culture and Holidays program
    📖 = Idea for Jewish Learning program
    đŸŒ± = Idea for Tikkun Olam program
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    Featured Programs:

    PRO TIP: The Mem Global Resources page is your one-stop shop for Jewish education content and program resources.
    Use the search bar to find exactly what you need or narrow results with filters by topic, holiday, and language.
    Moving forward, all of our source sheets, and program ideas will live here!

    In this section

    Things to explore

    Jewish Holidays and Commemorations

    Tu BiShvat (Sundown on Sun Feb 1 to Sundown on Mon Feb 2)  

    Tu BiShvat is the Jewish new year for trees, one of the four new years of the Jewish calendar. In Judaism, fruit trees must be three years old before their fruit can be harvested. So Jewish farmers use Tu BiShvat as the cut-off date in the Hebrew calendar for calculating the age of a fruit-bearing tree. In modern times Tu BiShvat has become Jewish Earth Day to remind us of our obligation to care for the land on which we live.

    • 🧿 Host a Tu BiShvat Seder using our Tu BiShevat Seder Three Ways program guide! Choose which option works best for your community!   
      • Option #1 – Host a traditional Tu BiShvat Seder 
      • Option #2 – Explore Tu BiShvat through art making 
      • Option #3 – Tu BiShvat cocktail/mocktail making 
    • 🧿 Start a garden at your Moishe House or paint pots and plant herbs for your community to take home.  
    • đŸŒ± Participate in a community service project for Tu BiShvat.  
    • đŸŒ±Â Host a trash cleanup in your neighborhood or local park. 
    • 📖 Learn about Shmitah and other Jewish farming practices from our very own Elyssa Hurwitz on their blog The Tales Torah Tells  
    • 📖 Use resources from Dayenu – A Jewish Call to Climate Action to inspire programming that explores the climate crisis as a Jewish issue.  

    Rosh Chodesh Adar (Sundown on Mon. Feb 16 to Sundown Wed. Feb 18)

    Adar (Hebrew: ŚÖČŚ“ÖžŚšâ€Ž) is the sixth month of the civil year and the twelfth month of the religious year on the Hebrew calendar, roughly corresponding to February or March in the Gregorian calendar. It is a month of 29 days. Rosh Chodesh is a minor Jewish holiday that marks the start of each month in the Hebrew calendar and the birth of a new moon.

    Torah Portions

    Saturday, February 7th: Parashat Yitro – “Jethro” 

    In this Torah portion, Moses tells his father-in-law, Jethro, about the miracle of the exodus. Jethro proclaims that the Israelite God is greater than all other Gods, and he makes a sacrifice. Jethro then advises Moses to delegate leadership roles in order not to tire himself out. The Israelites camp at the bottom of Mount Sinai. After three days, the mountain fills with smoke, and God delivers the Ten Commandments to His people.

    Saturday, February 14th: Parashat Mishpatim – “Laws”/ Shabbat Shekalim 

    In this Torah portion, Moses details many of God’s laws to the Israelites. These include laws about worshiping other Gods, kashrut, business ethics and treatment of animals. God outlines the details of three holidays: Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot. God provides an angel to protect the Israelites from their enemies and warns the Israelites not to worship other Gods. Moses ascends Mount Sinai to meet with God for 40 days and 40 nights, leaving Aaron and Hur in charge. Shabbat Shekalim read in preparation for Purim, requests each adult male Jew contribute half of a Biblical shekel for the upkeep of the Tent of Meeting. The Torah portion Exodus 30:11-16 is read. This Shabbat takes place on the Shabbat before the 1st of the Hebrew calendar month of Adar, or on the 1st of Adar itself if it falls on Shabbat. 

    • 🧿 Learn about some of the laws of Kashrut with our Wine and Cheese Through a Jewish Lens ready-to-go program. 
    • đŸŒ±đŸ§żđŸ“–Â Host a Repro Shabbat through the National Council for Jewish Women. 
      • National Council of Jewish Women hosts Repro Shabbat annually on the Shabbat when we read Parashat Mishpatim, which contains the verses commonly used as the foundation of Judaism’s approach to reproductive health, rights, and justice. 
    • 📖 Learn about Jewish financial practices re: taxes, tzedakah, and budgeting!  
    • đŸŒ± Learn about tzedakah and gather donations for a specific organization your community feels committed to helping upkeep.  
    • 🧿 Host a Shabbat Shekalim themed Shabbat meal. Check out this great Shabbat Shekalim resource from Kirva! 

    Saturday, February 21st: Parashat Terumah – “Contribution”

    In this Torah portion, Moses receives God’s commandments on stone tablets. God tells Moses to create a dwelling place for God, where the Israelites can bring God gifts. God details what this Mishkan (Tabernacle) will look like and how it should be made. The Tabernacle includes an ark, two cherubs, curtains, and a menorah.

    • 🧿 Use this Torah Inspired Art Making Program to make art inspired by texts about the Mishkan (Tabernacle) listed in the torah portion.  
    • 📖 In honor of Parashat Terumah and belated Valentine’s Day, learn about the original Biblical cherubs – terrifying, multi-animal chimeras! 

    Saturday, February 28th: Parashat Tetzaveh – “You Shall Command” / Shabbat Zachor – “Shabbat of Remembrance”

    In this Torah portion, God appoints Aaron and his sons as priests. God describes the priestly clothing and explains how to properly sanctify the priests. Aaron is commanded to make incense offerings to God every morning on an altar. God explains that once a year Aaron will make an offering on that altar to atone for all of the Israelites’ sins. On the Shabbat before Purim, the portion of the Torah dealing with Amalek is read. This day is called Shabbat Zachor, the Shabbat of Remembrance. It is a special mitzvah of the Torah to hear the reading and thus remember how the Jewish people were saved despite the harmful actions of Amalek.

    • 🧿 Host a Purim Costume/Clothing Swap inspired by the descriptions of clothing in this week’s parashah. 
    • 🧿 Use this Torah Inspired Art Making Program to host a sewing event/fiber arts night!  
    • 📖 Explore how the trope of Amalek has been used throughout Jewish history to make sense of antisemitism. 
    • 🧿 Use the stones mentioned in this portion to inspire some bracelet or necklace bead making.

    Secular Celebrations and Remembrances

    Sharsheret Partnership Month:

    • đŸŒ± During February, we are partnering with Sharsheret to educate our community members about breast cancer, ovarian cancer, related cancers and explain the importance of learning your cancer genetics history, plus discuss strategies to protect your health. Program ideas: pink/teal shabbat, challah bake, care packages, no-sew blankets, galentines day. 
      • Apply for the $50 Sharsheret Grant here– available globally for Residents and Hosts

    Jewish Disability Awareness, Accessibility, and Inclusion Month:

    • đŸŒ±Â Jewish communities across the globe come together to bring awareness, foster inclusion, work towards accessibility, and advocate throughout Feb. Program Ideas and resources HERE

    Black History Month:

    • đŸŒ±đŸ«‚ Celebrate, honor, and learn about the history of Black people. Program Ideas: Attend a local Black History Month program, documentary screening, volunteer with a Black-led nonprofit, use purchase power to support Black-owned business, educational program. Ask your Community Manager/Program Coordinator for assistance in connecting to local partnerships, i.e. non-profits and churches. Please see this link as a good starting resource.  
    • đŸ«‚ Host a program making food using recipes from Michael Twitty, a well-known chef who’s Black and Jewish! Host a book club with Adrian E. Miller’s book “soul food” and discuss the roots of one of America’s oldest cuisines.” 
    • đŸ«‚Â Contact your local Repair the World fellow or field director to partner and plan a program for Black History month.  
    • đŸ«‚Â Have a beauty day and flex your purchasing power! Madam CJ Walker was an entrepreneur and philanthropist who created an entire beauty care line for Black Women. Host a spa day featuring Black owned beauty products. If you ask, and even more so in the month of February stores will tell you which companies are Black owned. Etsy will also let you filter for Black owned brands. Did you know? The higher the Black population the greater the likelihood they carry Black brands? Not every Sephora, CVS, and other stores carry the same inventory as they have different products or larger amount of a product based on the area. 

    February 1st (Sun): National Dark Chocolate Day

    February 1st (Sun): Freedom Day

    February 1st (Sun): Homemade Soup Day

    • đŸŒ±đŸ§ż Use this community soup kitchen program to learn about the Jewish concept of loving-kindness and offer your community access to soup when they are ill or in need of a pick-me-up!  
    • đŸ“–đŸŒ± Cozy up with Soups and Stews with this program! 

    February 7th (Sat): National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day

    • 🧿 Enjoy some ice cream sandwiches and add an easy Jewish learning element with this source sheet on Judaism and ice cream. 

    February 7th (Sat): National Send a Card to a Friend Day

    • đŸŒ±Â Write letters to folks in your community who could use a note of encouragement or a laugh or write letters of advocacy to elected officials. For the USA – write letters to isolated seniors with Love for our Elders  

    February 9th (Mon): National Pizza Day

    February 9th (Mon): National Bagel and Lox Day

    February 11th (Wed): National Make-a-Friend Day

    • 🧿 Learn about the history of Jews and matchmaking and host a friend speed dating event or a PowerPoint party where friends introduce their friends to each other!  

    February 13/14th (Fri/Sat): Repro Shabbat

    • 🧿 Repro Shabbat provides an opportunity to honor the important Jewish value of reproductive freedom as we read Parashat Mishpatim, the portion of the Torah commonly used as the foundation of Judaism’s approach to reproductive health, rights, and justice. We invite you to join in community, to pause in the collective, and to honor the Jewish value of reproductive freedom. 
      • Sign up by January 23rd and write “Mem Global” in “how did you hear about Repro Shabbat?” box to receive stickers and a helpful booklet for your event! 

    February 14th (Sat): Valentine’s Day

    February 16th (Mon): National No One Eats Alone Day

    • 🧿 Try out this brand-new Jewish Cookbook Party program and use a Jewish cookbook to learn about Jewish communities from across the world!  
    • 🧿 Host a meal with a Jewish learning element or activity! Ex. Make Japanese food and learn about the Jews of Japan! 
    • đŸŒ±đŸ§żÂ Or use this community soup kitchen program to learn about the Jewish concept of loving-kindness and offer your soup for dinner and access to soup when they are ill or in need of a pick-me-up! Or add in some Jewish learning with this sheet on Soups and Stews in Jewish Life. 

    February 17th (Tues): National Random Acts of Kindness Day

    • đŸŒ± Organize a park, clean up in your area 
    • đŸŒ±Â Volunteer at a local elderly home or assisted living community 
    • đŸŒ± Use this community soup kitchen program to learn about the Jewish concept of loving-kindness and deliver soup to a local community fridge 

    February 17th (Tues): Mardi Gras

    • 📖 Learn about the traditions of masks on Purim and on Mardi Gras and host a mask-making party  
    • 📖 What’s so Jewish about Mardi Gras? Read a couple of different takes on the idea while enjoying some delicious king cake 

    February 18th (Wed): National Drink Wine Day

    February 24th (Tues): Ukrainian Culture Day

    • đŸ§żđŸŒ±đŸ“– Check out these event ideas for how to bring some Ukrainian culture to your Moishe House as we head into the 4th year of the war – from putting a boquet of sunflowers at your Shabbat table to learning about Ukrainian superstitions to learning how about Ukrainian foods, and many more!

    February 26th (Tues): National Letter to an Elder Day

    February 28th (Tues): National Floral Design Day

    • 🧿 Learn about the concept of hiddur mitzvah (beautifying the commandments) and host a Shabbat flower arranging event to give your community members beautiful flowers to help bring the beauty of Shabbat into the week!  
    • đŸŒ± Arrange flowers to donate to a nursing home or shelter. Volunteer with a flower recycling organization that repurposes flowers from weddings, events, and stores to create bouquets to donate  

    Compiled by Adira Rosen with contributions made by Adena Walker, Annie Prusky, Jessica Herrmann, and Rabbi Shari Shamah 

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