CRAFTS AND GAMES

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Celebrate Tu B’shevat: The New Year for the Trees.

Written By Rochelle Eisenberg
Photographed By Justin Tsucalas

When
The holiday, which marks the start of spring in Israel, begins this year at sundown on Feb. 7 and goes until sundown on Feb. 8, 2012.

Traditions
Eat from one of the seven species of fruits described in the Bible as indigenous to Israel. These include: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.

Plan a Tu B’Shevat Seder. Modeled after a Passover Seder, a Tu B’shevat Seder includes four cups of wine (in varying compositions of red and white) and reading about fruits from Jewish literature. In addition, one would eat 15 kinds of fruits and nuts — five from each of the following categories: those with an inedible outer shell such as banana, pomegranate and pineapple; those with edible flesh and inedible cores such as cherries, peaches, and olives; and those edible throughout such as strawberries and grapes.

Children’s Activities

(courtesy of the Pauline Mash School for Early Childhood Education at Beth El Congregation)

Cooking
Bake olive bread

Science
Like Passover, says Ilene Vogelstein, interim preschool director for Beth El, the Tu B’shevat Seder is framed by four cups of wine. But, for Tu B’Shevat the four cups represent the different seasons.

For the holiday, take four cups of grape juice. Using a dropper or straw, add purple grape juice to a cup of white grape juice making four shades of purple. Although traditionally, white represents winter, ask your child to explain why one color reflects a certain season.

Sorting fruits
To teach children about fruits, have them sort them in any way they like. Then have them enjoy eating and trying new flavors.

Art
Make a forest of trees using paper towel holders for trunks. Paint them then stick in tree twigs for branches.

Fruit Decorating
Make a fruit flower centerpiece. Using flower- and leaf-shaped cookie cutters, cut out melons and pineapples. Using a small round cookie cutter, cut out the center of the fruit and place a melon ball in the middle. Use skewers to poke through the flower and then attach to a cut melon. (Adapted from “Crafting Jewish” by Rivky Koenig, Artscroll)