Tu b' Shvat

The 15th of the month of "Shevat" is celebrated in Israel as the "New Year of the Trees."  This special holiday reminds us of our connection to the earth and to our role as caretakers of the environment.  

Today in class we learned about this holiday and the mitzvah of "tzedakah".  The students brought toonies as donations to JNF.  We will be planting a tree in Israel in honour of this holiday of the trees.  All our students also had an opportunity to plant seeds.  They will be growing parsley that they will be able to use on their Seder plates for Pesach.

We also enjoyed learning about the natural environment in Israel from our "Shinshinim."  Ronnie and Noam engaged our classes in a fun activity in which they learned about the "Israel National Trail." This hiking trail crosses Israel between the southern and northern borders, traversing a wide range of landscapes, a rich variety of flora and fauna, and a diversity of cultures.  You can learn more about the Israel National Trail at this link.

Next week we will commemorate Tu b'Shevat by participating in a Tu b'Shevat Seder.  Students will learn about the seasons in Israel and the fruit that each one brings.