Tu Bish'vat Seder
Join us as we celebrate Tu Bish’vat—the Jewish new year for the trees! While it may still be cold and grey in New York, growth is happening, the sap is beginning to flow in the trees, and new life will soon be sprouting beneath our feet. In a time when the effects of climate change are increasingly destructive, our tradition gives us an opportunity to bless the beauty of the natural world and to deepen our spiritual connection to the trees and plants that we depend on for so much.
CBST Tu Bish’vat Seder
Sunday, February 1st | 6:00pm ET | Zoom
Guided by Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Interns Alana Krivo-Kaufman and David Elitzer, we will partake in the communal Tu Bish’vat Seder. Through song, kavanot (intentions), and blessings we will bring holiness to our ceremonial foods and drink. Our Seder will take place online only, via zoom.
To participate in the Seder, we invite you to bring:
- White and Red grape juice or wine—enough for four cups!
- Food(s) with an inedible outer covering and edible inside: pistachios, peanuts, pomegranate, bananas or citrus.
- Food(s) with an edible outside but inedible pit inside: dates, olives, apples, nectarines.
- Food(s) that are entirely edible: berries, figs, or grapes.
- Fragrant spices, for smelling.
Whether you have these items or not, we encourage you to join this beautiful ritual.
Tu Bi’Shvat Teaching
by Rabbi Marisa James
The Tree, for which the land is toiled, which we plant every year on Tu B’Shevat and whose fruits we harvest has come to symbolize a connection to the land and to the divine. These same trees are routinely torched by settlers seeking to demonstrate that they are the masters of the land and that they are in control. On the other hand when Palestinians and Israelis come together to plant trees a message of belonging, solidarity and hope for a common future is voiced. This is the message of the olive branch and it is our message with every tree planted.
When you donate a tree or trees they will be planted by Israelis and Palestinians working together for human rights, justice and peace in Palestinian villages in the West Bank and among the unrecognized Bedouin villages of the Negev. In order to mark your partnership in this project you will receive a warmly designed certificate which you can dedicate as you wish and to whom you wish.
Interested In Doing More?
Interested in doing more? Our partners at T’ruah will plant two trees for justice when you donate for Tu BiSh’vat, one in a sustainable urban agriculture project in West Jerusalem and one in a Palestinian village in the West Bank, giving us the opportunity to partner in deepening the roots of justice for Israelis and Palestinians.