World Jewish News

Petropavlovsk Family Club celebrated the Holiday of Nature.

Tu-bi-Shvat - the Holiday of Nature is celebrated in all parts of Israel, and not only in Israel. This is the day people normally go on hiking or field trips. So did we, the Jewsih Community of Petroparvlovsk, or rather members of the Family club: January 18, we visited the city's greenhouse.
The tour participants visited the "Tropical Park". The things that will be hard to forget are fan and date palms, exotic trees with lemon, orange and tangerine fruit, and even etroga!!!
The trip ended with a visit to an arts craft exhibition on display at the greenhouse museum. The children reflected their impressions in the pictures they draw during classes at the drawing school.
However, Tu-bi-Shvat is not only outing in the nature. This is the day to plant trees. That is why the 15 of the month of Shvat is called the New Year of Trees.
Trees in the Jewish tradition are an important symbol. A human being, just like a tree, is connected to the earth with the roots. If the roots are strong and deep, the tree is able to withstand winds and other calamities. If the roots of a person are in the land- the native land, they are strong and can take its force from the history of the nation, the most important source. However, considering our Northern climate, planting tree in Petropavlovsk on Tu-bi-Shvat (January 19) was out of question. The day's temperature was -20C. All we did was planting window plants into previously prepared flowerpots. Before the ceremony of "planting trees", the director of the community center Svetlana Makarovskaya pronounced an opening address, greeting everyone with the holiday and explaining the rules of it.
Later on, the audience learned more about the New Year of Trees rituals, as well as Israel's nature and climate from the report by Igor Zhigarlovskiy the Jewish center librarian. The celebration continued with the performance by the Children Musical School headed by Tatiana Falaleyeva. The children stages dressed songs-sketches in Hebrew, Russian, and English.
Having read the blessing on the fruit Israel is famous for (15 fruit types were served), the community proceeded to the festive Tu-bi-Shvat Seder. After the meal, the best connoisseur of the rituals of the New Year of Trees was selected through a quiz. At the same time, the members of the art school participated in a contest for the best article made of fruit and vegetables. Everyone was awarded symbolical prizes.
The soiree ended with a performance by a recently formed Klezmer ensemble conducted by Jakov Strizhak. The audience encored the ensemble's performance.

Источник: mitsva.kz