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Program: Tu Bishvat Seder Tu B'shvat offers the perfect Jewish student celebration: wine, food and an opportunity for creative learning and discussion! Tu B'shvat, a minor post-biblical festival, has been newly revived and should hold much meaning for today's Jewish students. It allows for creative expressions of Judaism. The seder meets the challenge of making the festival relevant to all. The approach is to highlight the development of the festival and draw meaning from it and relevance to our lives. The seder itself is flexible and open enough to allow all student bodies to channel their thoughts in the direction most relevant to them. The seder is organized around the idea of a Hagadah (like at Pesach , the Tu Bishvat Hagadah was first introduced by the Kabbalists.) The seder should also be accompanied by a 'question bowl' from which students can choose topics to learn and consider. With little effort, what can be created is an original and wonderful Jewish celebration. "Although wine can be a source of trouble in this world, in the future I shall make it only a source of joy, as it says: 'And it shall come to pass on that day that the mountains will drip with sweet wine' (Yoel 3:18)." (Midrash - Vayikra Raba 12:5) Aims:
To learn the historical development of this festival.
To draw out main themes associated with the festival.
To challenge students to find personal meaning.
To celebrate! Layout of the Seder:
The seder is divided into four sections each starting with the tasting of a particular wine and fruit. A number of different readings relating to each of the four themes is included. Within the 'question bowl', there are both general Tu B'shvat readings and discussion questions which specifically relate to the different sections. The seder to should aim for maximum participation and choice. What you will need:
White wine.
Red wine
A variety of fruits. There is a tradition to eat fifteen different fruits and particularly the 7 species of the land of Israel - figs, dates, pomegranates, olives, grapes (or raisins), wheat, and barley. Fruits for the first bowl - hard inedible outer shells but soft cores, like pomegranates, walnuts or coconuts or even citrus fruits.
Fruits for the second bowl - edible soft outer covering and inedible hard center, like dates, olives or apricots.
Fruits for the third bowl, fully edible, such as grapes, figs and berries For the fourth bowl - seeds, wheat and barley products, eg bread. Decorate the table with flowers etc.
Charity box
The 'question bowl' should be filled with excerpts of the different questions and readings. It is perhaps worthwhile dividing it into 5 sections (general and for the 4 cups). Method: Read through the Hagaddah (Appendix 7), follow its instructions and discuss the texts and related questions. Also on the WUJS site:
More Tu Bishvat Activities.
More Jewish Activities on various topics.
The very basics on the New Year for Trees.
This year's dates for Tu Bishvat can be found in our Jewish Calendar.
Elsewhere on the web:
Resources and Activities on Tu Bishvat from the Jewish Agency - Pedagogic Center
Background on Tu Bishvat from the Jewish Agency - Pedagogic Center
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