New Archive:
January 2001 Issue
A Tu B'Shevat Seder: Celebrating Jewish Earth Day
Who you date is not as important as when you date.
Like this February 8th in particular, make sure you get a chance to sit down, eat a few dates and contemplate the mystical impact of your actions. Or, if your in the Boston area you can come to Jewish InterAction's Tu B'Shevat Seder and celebrate the Jewish New Year for the trees, with us!
We will be discussing and partaking in a mystical Tu B'Shevat Seder, a tradition attributed to the Kabbalists, or Jewish mystics of Tzfat, dating back to the late 16th century.
Modeled after the Passover Seder, the Tu B'Shevat Seder weaves together imagery and symbolism concerning the earth and the heavens. The four glasses of wine that we drink on Passover, which symbolize the Israelite path to freedom, are adopted on Tu B'Shevat to represent the four seasons. A dark red wine is poured to symbolize the winter and a light white wine represents the summer.
The Tu B'Shevat Seder places emphasis on discussing traditional and contemporary thoughts concerning trees and the eating of their fruits. In fact, because the numerical value of "Tu" is 15, corresponding to the 15th day of the month of Shevat, it is recommended that you eat 15 fruits on this holiday.
It was on Tu B'Shevat that the new cycle or New Year for tithing fruit trees began. Jews brought their portion of fruit trees to the Temple where they were set aside to support the priestly class and the poor. Once the Temple was destroyed, tithing was no longer enforced, but the principles behind tithing continued to be of ultimate relevance to the Jewish community--preserving the sanctity of the relationship that Jews have with God, with other Jews, and with the land of Israel.
In recent years, Jewish communities around the world have been celebrating Tu B'Shevat as a "Jewish Earth Day." Keeping with this theme, our Seder will also focus on themes concerning the environment, which will include a seed planting ceremony. Our Seder will also include a kosher vegetarian dinner. We understand that not everyone will be able to make it to a Seder. If you find yourself unable to attend, eat an exotic fruit, hug a tree, or meditate on the act of creation itself, its metaphysical significance, and the symbiotic relationship that is created with the earth and human life. Hag Sameach! Happy Tree Day!
The
Seder will take place at Hebrew College in Brookline from 6-9pm. For more
information please contact Aaron Schwamberg at Jewish InterAction (617)
457-8674. The cost of the event, which includes dinner, is $10. To RSVP,
call (617) 457-8666 or email info@jinteraction.org.
*Jewish InterAction provides an avenue for people in their 20's and early 30's to get involved in the Jewish community. We offer diverse programming in social justice, Jewish learning, and personal enrichment. Jewish InterAction is co-sponsored by the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, and Hebrew College. We are funded by a grant from Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
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