You're Invited to A Community Tu B'Shvat Shabbat Celebration with An Israeli Flavor!
Friday, January 26, 6pm - 9pm
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We will gather with our
friends and neighbors for an Israeli style Kabbalat Shabbat and Tu B'Shvat (New Year of the Trees) celebration. Following our spirited service, there will be a potluck dinner. We provide the main courses, you bring a side dish and wine to share. And festive communal singing and dancing. Advance registration necessary: Early Bird Ticket Sale through January 11: Adult $16, Child $8 (child 3-12) from January 12-23 Adult $22, Child $10 PURCHASE TICKETS and SIGN UP TO BRING A SIDE DISH New Year of the Trees In honor of the Tu B’Shvat holiday, plant a tree! Please plan to join us for Services and Dancing
6:00 pm Reception 6:30 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Israeli Style 7:00 pm Shabbat Potluck Dinner and Singing and Dancing For additional information, contact Sharona Durry, 267-250-3835. Sponsors: Israeli-American Council (IAC) Philadelphia, Main Line Reform Temple, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Jewish National Fund |
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Tu B'Shevat or the "New Year of the Trees" is Jewish Arbor Day. The holiday is observed on the 15th (tu) of the Hebrew month of Shevat. Scholars believe that originally Tu B'Shevat was an agricultural festival, marking the emergence of spring. In the 17th century, Kabbalists created a ritual for Tu B'Shevat that is similar to a Passover Seder. Today, many Jews hold a modern version of the Tu B'Shevat Seder each year. The holiday also has become a tree-planting festival in Israel, in which Israelis and Jews around the world plant trees in honor or in memory of loved ones and friends.
Shanah tovah (happy New Year)! We should also be saying “shanah tovah” to the trees. In just a few weeks we will be celebrating Tu B’Shevat, the new year of the trees, meaning every tree is considered to have aged one year as of Tu B’Shevat. While the holiday is not biblical in nature, it is mentioned by the rabbis in the Talmud, and plays an important role in the Jewish calendar. Many different customs have evolved over the centuries to honor this new year of the trees. Some examples include: planting a tree, eating a new fruit on this day, or eating from the Seven Species (shivat haminim) described in the Torah as being abundant in the land of Israel. The Shivat Haminim are: wheat, barley, grapes (vines), figs, pomegranates, olives and dates (honey). |
Check out this Ross M. Levy video, featuring our Religious School Students focusing on Tu B’Shevat!
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CUSTOMS & RITUALS
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PLANT A TREE
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TU B'SHEVAT SEDER
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