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Jewish holiday celebrates trees
Photo
Shlomo Jacobs-Velde, 4, concentrates on putting foam and paper pieces together to make a floral centerpiece during a program related to Tu B’Shevat, the “new year” for trees in the Jewish tradition. Shlomo and his father, Rabbi Josh Jacobs-Velde of Congregation Ohev Tzedek in Boardman, attended the program this week at Temple El Emeth in Liberty.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
Liberty
Parents and their children were “winterized” with heavy coats and boots as they ventured out this week to participate in a library program at Temple El Emeth. But now they’re thinking spring.
They were preparing for Tu B’Shevat, a Jewish holiday that celebrates a “new year” for trees.
Elyse Silverman, program education director at the temple, described it as “the Jewish Arbor Day.” The event recognizes that trees in Israel are beginning a new fruit- bearing cycle.
The program, a cooperative venture between the Jewish Community Center and Temple El Emeth, highlighted the P.J. Library, a national program for Jewish children age 6 months through 8 years. Sarah Wilschek, JCC youth program coordinator, said the library program mails free books to enrolled children.
“The books focus on Jewish values, holidays and more,” she said. “It’s a way to encourage reading in the family.”
She encouraged Jewish families with children to sign up at www.pjlibrary.org or www.- jewishyoungstown.org or call her at the JCC at 330-746-3251.
To relate to the holiday, parents and 16 children made floral-themed centerpieces with foam. They also painted and decorated clay pots and then planted flower seeds.
Lisa Long of Columbiana, who recently moved to the Valley from Vermont, was accompanied by her daughter, Madeline, 31/2. “It’s time for us together,” she said, noting her husband, Grady, was home with 16-month-old Henry. “I want to make sure she learns about my religion and culture, and this is a way to do that.”
Long said as newcomers to the Valley and Jewish community, it also is a way to meet people and make friends.
Melissa Bateman of New Middletown, who is converting to Judaism, said such a family-oriented program can help her husband, Aaron Hively, and children, Blythe, 2, and Tres, 3, Hively, learn about a holiday. She said she appreciated the “great programs” at JCC.
Rabbi Joseph Schonberger read “The Giving Tree,” a story about the long-term relationship of a boy and a tree. He said the book takes a unique approach in that it shows “nature giving back.” “It is about the relationship between people and the natural world and what we can learn from one another,” he said.
Rabbi Schonberger said tithing on produce applies in Israel. The tithing, the rabbi said, goes back to biblical times. “The first produce of spring was tithed to the temple,” he said.
The rabbi said Tu B’Shevat conveys the message to “nurture nature so that all benefit.” “We have to partner with God to be stewards,” he said.
Today, the temple will have a Tu B’Shevat service and seder featuring an array of fruits. There will be fruits with coverings such as oranges and grapefruits and others with pits including dates, plums, olives and peaches. The last group contains raisins and figs, which the whole fruit can be eaten.
Rabbi Schonberger said the fruits symbolize different traits of people. “The ones with coverings are those with tough exteriors but soft on the inside,” he said. “And others have a hard core and are tough inside.”
Some people, the rabbi said with a smile, “are just sweet.”