VSDC @ Plant-Based Lunch & Learn: Tu B’Shvat - Jewish New Year for Trees

Veg Society of DC (VSDC) is pleased to join with The Ark of Compassion (AOC) to co-host a Plant-Based Lunch & Learn on Sunday, Feb. 1 at Siena's Vegetarian Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant.

Talk Title: Tu B’Shvat - Jewish New Year for Trees
Speaker: John Netzel, founder of Peaceful Fields Sanctuary

Event Description
Our guest speaker is John Netzel, founder of Peaceful Fields Sanctuary and longtime vegan advocate. John’s work is grounded in Jewish values such as tikkun olam (repairing the world), compassion for all living beings, and mindful stewardship of creation. His story bridges faith, ethics, and action, offering a powerful reflection on how plant-based living connects with Tu B’Shvat’s deeper spiritual themes.

In this uplifting conversation, John will share:
• How Jewish teachings inspired him to build a sanctuary for rescued farmed animals

• The connection between compassion, environmental care, and Tu B’Shvat’s call to honor the earth

• What we can learn from animals about responsibility, community, and kindness

• How plant-forward choices can deepen our practice of tikkun olam

No prior knowledge of Judaism or veganism is required. This event is open to everyone who enjoys good food, meaningful conversation, and learning from diverse perspectives.

Why This Event Matters
Tu B’Shvat invites us to reflect on:
• Our relationship with the earth

• Our responsibility to protect creation

• Our gratitude for the abundance of the natural world

By pairing this holiday with a plant-based meal and a conversation led by a sanctuary founder living out Jewish compassion in action, we hope to create a meaningful bridge between tradition, ethics, and modern food choices.

About the Venue
We’ll gather at Siena’s, a beloved kosher vegetarian Italian-Mediterranean restaurant and community gem. Attendees may order directly from Siena’s extensive vegan menu.
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Questions? Contact [info@theaoc.org](mailto:info@theaoc.org) or Aashish Bhimani at 703-231-0291 (text preferred).

• Cost/Food: Order at the counter (no set ticket price)

Update Your RSVP
Out of respect for others interested in attending this limited-space event, please update your RSVP promptly as your schedule changes.

The Ark of Compassion (AOC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting animal welfare through education, outreach, and partnerships that inspire beneficial change for all life. Founded on the belief that compassion should extend to every living being, The Ark of Compassion bridges faith-based and secular communities to explore how our choices, traditions, and systems impact animals, people, and the planet.

It creates inclusive spaces for conversation and action, helping launch events and ideas that bring people together. By turning meaningful moments into sustainable movements, AOC amplifies compassion into lasting change.

Its mission is inspired by faith, shaped by empathy and reason, and powered by a vision of a future in which animals, people, and the planet flourish together.

VSDC: More Than A Meetup
We are delighted to have you as part of The Veg Society of DC Vegan Meetup group, and we look forward to seeing you at our events. Did you know that VSDC is a nonprofit organization with membership benefits?

With VSDC membership, you will save money at area restaurants and businesses, attend VSDC member-only events, and, most importantly, support us as a clear and consistent voice for improving the lives of all beings through community building and education centered on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle.

The membership fee is minimal, but the impact is significant! Join today!

Ways to Stay In Touch with Us
Thank you for being part of our Meetup presence and bringing like-minded people together. We invite you to:

• Become a VSDC member to save money at area restaurants and support us in being a clear and consistent voice for improving the lives of all beings through community building and education centered on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle.
• Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter to hear more about our activities.
• Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to engage with us.

Interested in Volunteering with VSDC?
VSDC offers many events each month, thanks to the dedication of our event planning team. Would you consider volunteering? To learn more and get started, please visit our website.

Only Vegan Food, Please
While VSDC welcomes people wherever they are on the path to an all-plant, vegan diet and lifestyle, it is our policy that only vegan food be served and consumed at our events. If you would like to explore a vegan diet or get support in making lifestyle changes, consider these resources.

Liability Waiver and Code of Conduct
When you sign up to attend, you automatically acknowledge VSDC's Liability Waiver and commit to follow the code of conduct found at Policies - VSDC - Veg Society of DC.

VSDC. Creating communities. For your health, the animals, and the planet.