To Be What?

   Tu B'Shevat. It was actually yesterday, but sorry about that. I not only have to deal with a deadline and a publication date, but in this case, two calendars: Gregorian and Jewish.

   When I asked my fellow substitute teacher at Meadowcreek Elementary, Shirley Rose, about the holiday, she said, "Yes, it's the New Year of the trees. I don't celebrate it, but I can lend you some books about it."

   I learned from Rose's books that Tu B'Shevat, which means "the fifteenth day of the month of Shevat" is like a Jewish Arbor day which celebrates the planting of trees in Israel.

   Moti Shacham, Vice President of Sales for an electronics firm in Norcross, celebrates the holiday and shared memories of his childhood in Israel.

   "Tu B'Shevat is all about trees. It's not mentioned in the Torah, but it's celebrated because trees are so important in Israel. All the forests in Israel are manmade. I don't know why the fifteenth of Shevat is the exact date, but that does happen to be the time when the first flowering trees in Israel bloom. We used to sing 'Schkadia Parachat', which means "The trees bloom now.'"

   Shacham's wife, Nurit, fixes a special Seder with fruits and dates to commemorate the day.

   Karen Lyke, an instructor at the Academy of Somatic and Healing Arts in Norcross, views Tu B'Shevat philosophically.

   "Judaism places strong emphasis on nurturing the next generation to prepare for future wellbeing on earth. Planting trees is symbolically and practically an act that provides for such continuity. It also reflects gratitude for the benefits that we have, have received, from others, whether or not we knew them directly. In Judaism, the highest form of charity is for the donor and the recipient of charity not to know each other."

   Jim Charanis, who with his wife, Stephanie, and children, Maia, age 9, Daniel, age 8 and Sophia, age 4, attend Temple Dor Tamid in Duluth, sees the holiday as a time for fun.

   "Daniel is a Cub-Scout (North Metro JCC Pack 1818) and I'll be working 
on the conservation patch with them in honor of Tu B'Shevat and we will 
be planting a tree. The easy way is to "buy" one in Israel but I think we will get a little dirty here at home."

   Charanis aid, "My favorite memory of Tu B'Shevat is one of the songs the kids used to sing in synagogue. The Cantor brings the kids up and sings with them: 'Tu B'Shevat/ Tu B'Shevat/ Its a holiday/I like a lot/ And the reason/for the season/is we celebrate trees/on Tu B'Shevat/Apple Trees, Cherry Trees/ Banana Trees, Bubblegum Trees?/Spaghetti trees?, Hippopotamus trees?/' Then it gets really goofy."

   Yeah? Then how come Adam Sandler hasn't sung about this?

   Seriously, you don't need a holiday to plant a tree, but isn't any tree planted worth celebrating. Belated Tu B"Shevat tova, y'all!

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