Shevat（細罷特月）

It's the Jewish celebration of “the Tu Bishvat” the Birthday of trees! This holiday marks the time when trees emerge from their winters sleep and star another fruit-bearing cycle.

Traditionally it was celebrated by eating lots of fruit and holding large feasts, in ancient times Tu B’Shevat indicated the date by which Jewish farmers needed to calculate the year’s offerings of fruit they should bring to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Not only just a lot of fun it is also a great way to give back to nature. There is even an ancient Midrash (rabbinic teaching) that states:

When God led Adam around the Garden of Eden, God said, ‘Look at My works. See how beautiful they are, how excellent! For your sake I created them all. See to it that you do not spoil or destroy My world–for if you do, there will be no one to repair it after you.” (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13)

Did you know that in Taiwan we celebrate a very similar holiday? On March 12 is Arbor Day, the holiday celebrating trees!

Another thing that the Jewish culture and the Taiwanese culture have in common.

Check out the cute little plants that we made for the "Birthday of the Tree", Tu Bishvat!

Through these DIY activities, the children were also able to learn more about these very meaningful holidays ~ 

We are looking forward to see these cute plants to grow a lot of “green hair” during the spring~~

Want to learn more about Jewish culture?

Pick up the phone and make an appointment to visit the "Jeffrey D. Schwartz Museum of Jewish Art & Judaica"