Why do we celebrate the birthday of the trees when everything outside is bare and spring seems so far away?
Here in the central Ohio, the Hebrew month of Sh’vat falls during January and February. And much like Hanukkah, where we celebrate light on the darkest days of the year, Tu B’Shvat in the frozen tundra of the Midwest gives us an opportunity to celebrate trees, fruit and life, even when everything outside seems so lifeless. In modern times, Tu B’Shvat has assumed many roles: a chance to reflect on the land of Israel (which is starting to bloom with new life); a chance to reflect on the state of our planet (the destruction of forests and the warming of the climate); a chance to explore the Kabbalist concepts of the Four Worlds or being and doing; and a chance to celebrate the gifts of life that trees and other plants give. Throughout Torah and our Jewish history, our partnership with the earth has been a recurrent theme and our care for the earth, a prominent mitzvah/commitment.
In the spirit of light, learning, growth, and celebration, please join the Little Minyan for our 6th annual intergenerational Tu B’Shvat seder to celebrate the New Year of the Trees on Saturday, February 4th, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, at the Antrim Park Shelter House, 5800 Olentangy River Road, 43085. We will journey through time and across spiritual landscapes learning our tradition’s wise and prescient teachings about the environment. Come prepared to sing and sample the many edible fruits of trees.
Please RSVP to littleminyan@littleminyan.org TODAY or by Wednesday, February 1st, and let us know how many people in your family are coming to join our celebration. If you have any questions, call Jessica Shimberg at 459.9593.
