Happy Tu B'Shevat

[Guest guest]

Shalom! Tomorrow we celebrate .

 

Tu B'Shevat is the Jewish Earth Day, the Birthday of Trees. Jews give

thanks for trees and eat fruit native to Israel in appreciation for

the harvest.

People may choose to have a Tu B'Shevat seder to commemorate the day

or may decide to plant a tree. Being conscious of the environment's

role in our lives and the necessity of preserving biodiversity is a

good way to start. A person may renew his/her commitment to

recycling, stop driving an SUV on the day, stop using environmentally

harmful products for a month, or participate in ecological

restoration projects. Many Jews send money to the Jewish National

Fund in order to plant trees in Israel. Others spend the day

outdoors, enjoying the beauty nature has to offer us. Whatever act

gets you into an ecologically sensitive mind-set is recommended. Be

innovative.

 

 

The Jewish National Fund — Since 1901, the Jewish National Fund has

planted over 210 million trees, built over 120 dams and reservoirs,

developed over 250,000 acres of land, created more than 400 parks

throughout Israel and educated students around the world about Israel

and the environment. If you want to plant a tree in Israel, go to

this site.

http://www.jnf.org/

 

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel — SPNI is a non-

profit environmental advocacy group whose goal is to protect Israel's

biodiversity, save its endangered species, support responsible

development, and conserve nature.

http://www.spni.org/e/

 

 

For your Tu B'Shevat seder you will need to purchase both red and

white wine and 15 different types of fruits and nuts; five from each

of the following three categories:

 

1) Fruits or nuts with an inedible outer shell and an edible inner

core: pineapple, coconut, orange, pomello, banana, walnut, pecan,

grapefruit, star fruit, pine nut, pomegranate, papaya, brazil nut,

pistachio, or almond. (Note: purchase the whole fruit or nut so you

can remove the outer shell during the seder).

 

2) Fruits with edible outer flesh and pithy, inedible cores: olive,

date, cherry, loquat, peach, apricot, jujub, persimmon, avocado.

plum, or hackberry. (Note: purchase the whole fruit so you can remove

the pit or core during the seder).

 

3) Fruits, which are edible throughout. Here no protective shells,

neither internal nor external are needed. The symbolic fruits may be

eaten entirely and include: strawberry, grape, raisin, fig,

raspberry, blueberry, cranberry, carob, apple, pear, kiwi or quince.

 

Happy Tu B'Shevat!

 

Gabriella