Tu B’Shevat Seder on Jan. 27, 2024 @ 12:30pm PST

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You are invited...please join us for this special in-person occasion as we celebrate the Jewish new year for trees.

Join us for a delightful, sensory and spiritual walk at our Tu B'Shevat Seder. Give your senses and your neshama/soul a chance to awaken.

Suggested donation: $8/adults, $6/students & seniors, $4/children. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Donations can be made in advance here.

Celebration for the New Year for Trees

Tu B'shevat was originally the beginning of the "legal year" for counting the fruit crop for tithes. The Talmud gives the reason that most of the early rains have fallen by this date. It may be thought of as corresponding to one of the earliest times at which sap would rise in the trees in ancient Israel.

Redemption

Tu B'shevat anticipates the ultimate redemption, the return to the Garden of Eden. It anticipates the redemption of the whole world, when we will repair the mistake of Adam and eve, and eat, this time, fruit from the Tree of Life. In that day, the revelation of Godliness in all of Nature will be palpable. 

How to Prepare

Here’s a general guide if you want to put together your own seder, or know what to expect at our in-person event. Please see the guide below for gathering items for the World Plate, Seder plate, and beverages. This will help you to flesh out your shopping list.

It is best to prepare the plates the night before the seder. Trader Joes, Safeway, and many Asian markets carry the more exotic fruits which help to make the seder a truly awakening experience.

World Plate

Create one plate to symbolize the different types of fruit traits. Place all the worlds of fruit on a single plate. The fruits suggested are options. You do not need to put all the listed fruits on the plate unless you are zealous!

1st World–Inedible Shell/Skin

  • blood oranges, cherimoya, walnuts, dragonfruit, papaya, pomegranate seeds, coconut, peanuts, pistachios

2nd World–Edible Skin/Shell w/Pit

  • olives, peaches, mangoes, dates, apricots, cherries

3rd World–Completely Edible

  • blueberries, kumquats, kiwi, figs, grapes

4th World –Spices, fragrances, decadence

  • Cardamom (ground spice or pods placed in small bowl for smelling), fragrant cut lilies, chocolates

Seder Plate

This plate contains small portions of the 7 species on it: wheat (usually a small piece of bread), barley, olives and dates (preferably with the pit inside), pomegranate seeds, figs, and grapes (red or green).

Beverages

Wine or grape juice is used for the seder. Have both white and red wine/grape juice available. You can use any wine/grape juice you desire. Note: Make sure that you have a least 3.5 oz. of kosher wine/grape juice of any type available for making Kiddush at the beginning of the seder. This is the only kosher wine/grape juice required.

The Meal

Many will serve a vegetarian meal, some with a tree-shaped challah. Choose wholesome, sustainable ingredients and continue to enjoy the fruits prepared throughout the meal!

Ideas

Below are pictures from previous Tu B’Shevat Seders at our synagogue.