Tu B'Shevat: A Fruitful Celebration

Ninth Grade: Jordan C. ’17
Last Friday, Beth Tfiloh celebrated the birthday of the trees, Tu B’Shevat. The reason we celebrate Tu B’Shevat in the middle of winter is that most of the rain has fallen in Israel by this time of year. The main concept of the holiday measures the time until a fruit should be picked from the tree, and measuring the age of the tree. Tu B’Shevat is considered the Rosh Hashanah, or New Year, of the trees, marking the period of time between when picking the fruit from the tree is and is not allowed. During the holiday, we look at the things around us and think how we may possibly help the environment by not throwing them out, recycling them, or even reusing them.

After a short assembly, each grade in the High School separated and worked on their own projects in honor of the holiday. The ninth grade using recycled materials and assembled them into posters commemorating Tu B’Shevat. Using the recycled materials helped the students realize the importance of the holiday, realizing that not everything must be thrown out, and better things might come out of your work. Also, the students ate from an arrangement of common fruits found at the typical Tu B’Shevat seder including dates, grapes, and apricots. While America celebrates Earth Day, Jews and Israel celebrate their own holiday, Tu B’Shevat.

Tenth Grade: Justin W. ‘16
In the theatre, the sophomores split into three groups and engaged in a “Jeopardy: Brachot Edition” created by Rabbi Moss. Although the students remembered most of the blessings over ordinary food, few people could recite the correct blessing for edibles like vitamins and mushrooms. Justin H ’16 noted that while “not many people knew all the blessings, every team actively competed against each other.” Whether it was because of free bagels, or just Tu B’Shevat spirit, the tenth grade enthusiastically participated in the program while learning about the holiday.

> Test your Brachot skills! Take (part of) the Brachot Bee quiz

Eleventh Grade: Rafi L. ‘15
The eleventh grade did not know what to expect as we sauntered into the far-away Tuvin Library for our enigmatic “Tu B’Shevat Activity.” After a surprisingly extensive assembly and last-minute schedule change, really anything could have happened. The tension shattered upon seeing the set-up, our Tu B’Shevat favorite: tables laden with plates of dried fruit, and other indigenous species to the land of Israel. Within seconds, a few plucky students had already snatched a few of their favorites. But what followed was more than just the customary Tu B’Shevat snack time. Standing courageously on a cushioned chair, Morah Lanner led an insightful and original Tu B’Shevat Seder, a Kabbalistic tradition very similar to the Passover Seder. As we followed the ancient rituals, we paired various fruits with the different Kabbalistic states of being and experienced some flavors for the first time (“Who knew figs looked like THAT?”).

Adding a modern twist, Morah Lanner’s program combined these Kabbalistic rituals with discussions on the current environmental situation. We even spilled ten drops of our grape juice cups to commemorate ten sins of ecological damage (air pollution, soil erosion, etc.). Through this amazing Tu B’Shevat Seder, the eleventh grade gained a better understanding of both the traditional and current significance of this often-overlooked holiday. A huge thank you to Morah Lanner and Mrs. Frank for making it such a wonderful experience!

Twelfth Grade: Hallie M. ‘14
Meanwhile, in the Beit Midrash, the seniors gathered for a brief seminar with Rabbi Jessy Gross, a newcomer to the Beth Tfiloh halls. Rabbi Gross, who delivered a powerful D’var Torah Friday afternoon, heads the JCC’s Charm City Tribe in downtown Baltimore, a relatively new organization that aims to forge bonds between Jewish young adults and their religion.

“My work is to champion the multiplicity of paths one might take on a Jewish journey and provide opportunities for next steps,” she explained in a summer editorial in the Baltimore Jewish Times.

Together, Rabbi Gross and the seniors studied the Tale of Honi HaMa’agal, the Circle Maker, a story found in the Talmud in the Ta’anit Tractate. In this parable, a rabbi scoffs at a young idealist who plants a tree intended for his grandchildren. The rabbi then falls into a deep sleep and reawakens 70 years later only to find Honi’s grandchildren enjoying the fruits of their grandfather’s tree.

Rabbi Gross explained that at this time in our lives, we must begin to sow the seeds of adulthood to reap in the benefits. Then, the twelfth graders shared their personal dreams and their plans for bettering the world with the rabbi.

“She challenged me to think about my future in a really engaging way,” articulated Jen R. ’14 after the program. “I’m so glad Beth Tfiloh found such an inspiring woman to share with us.”