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    Tu BiShevat Seder Three Ways

    By Adira Rosen

    Jewish Life Specialist

    Overview

    Traditionally, Tu BiShevat was not a Jewish festival. Rather, it marked an important date for Jewish farmers in ancient times–essentially a “birthday” for all trees so that farmers could mark the age of their trees. Celebrate the birthday of the trees also known as Jewish Earth Day in three different ways. Participants will learn about the traditions associated with Tu BiShevat while engaging with thematically appropriate activities highlighting this Jewish celebration’s unique elements. 

    NOTE: This is a great opportunity to apply for the Jewish education grants. If you use any of these options apply for the Jewish Culture and Holiday Grant. If you use option #1 or #2, also apply for the Jewish Learning Grant. If you host any of these programs on Shabbat, also apply for the Shabbat Enhancement Grant. Be in touch with your JLS if you plan to host any of these programs for support with grant apps, funding, and program resources. 

    Materials

    Materials are listed for each option on the option’s corresponding page. 

    Program Outline: ~1 hour per option

    • Option #1 – Traditional Tu BiShevat Seder 
    • Option #2 – Exploring Tu BiShevat through art making 
    • Option #3 – Tu BiShevat cocktail/mocktail making 

    Option #1 – Traditional Tu BiShevat Seder

    Materials

    • Click HERE for materials

    Beginning – Welcome/Framing

    • Welcome guests and invite them to sit down together. 
    • Optional: As a welcome activity have guests plant seeds or small herb plants to take home at the end. 

    Middle – Tu BiShevat Seder

    Find the steps for a Tu BiShevat Seder below or click HERE to learn how to lead a Tu BiShevat Seder!

    • The Fourth Fruit – This has a tough skin on the outside but sweet fruit within 
    •  Hand Washing 
    • The First Cup of Wine 
    • The First Fruit – Fruit that is hard on the outside and soft on the inside 
    • The Second Cup of Wine 
    • The Second Fruit – This fruit is soft with a pit in the center 
    • The Third Cup of Wine 
    • The Third Fruit – This fruit is soft throughout and is completely edible 
    • Serve a Vegetarian Dinner 
    • The Fourth Cup of Wine 

    Use the steps above or download a premade Tu BiShevat Haggadah linked HERE. Or take the steps and make your own Haggadah! Want help making your own Tu BiShevat Haggadah or print out? Reach out to your JLS for support! 

    End – Closing and Reflection

    • Optional Reflection Questions: (some of the Haggadot provide reflection questions so feel free to use those instead) 
      • Why do you think this holiday happens in the winter? 
      • What meaning do you make of the different types of fruit we are told to eat on Tu BiShevat? 
      • How should individual Jews and the Jewish community respond to current environmental threats? 

    Option #2 – Exploring Tu BiShevat through art making

    Materials

    •  Printed source sheet(s) linked below 
    • Printed doc with Jewish Studio Process Instructions 
    • Paper 
    • Pencils/Pens 
    • Art supplies of many varieties
      • Colored Pencils 
      • Paints 
      • Pens 
      • Markers 
      • Oil Pastels 
      • Crayons 
      • Paper 
      • Etc… 

    Beginning – Welcome/Framing

    • Welcome guests and invite them to gather together. 
    • Optional: As guests arrive have them contribute to a shared art piece or have snacks themed to the holiday (consider choosing snacks from the fruits listed HERE or snacked themed from the seven species mentioned in the Torah: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates.) . 

    Middle – Text Learning and Art Making

    • Introduce the Jewish Studio Project (JSP) and the Jewish Studio Process. 
    • SAY: The Jewish Studio Project cultivates creativity as a Jewish practice for spiritual connection and social transformation. Today we will use the Jewish Studio Process from the Jewish Studio Project to celebrate Tu BiShevat, the birthday of the tree also known as the Jewish Earth Day. The Jewish Studio Process is a unique methodology that combines practices from the field of art therapy along with ancient Jewish wisdom. We will begin by learning some texts connected to Tu BiShevat and then we will use those texts to inspire/guide our art-making. 

    NOTE: Print out and pass around this printout of the instructions for The Jewish Studio Process for the group to follow as they learn together. 

    End – Closing and Reflection

    •  Close out with Step 4 (REFLECTION) 
    • Offer people the opportunity to share out a line or two from their reflection or anything else that may have come up during the process that they would like to share with the group. 

    Option #3 – Tu BiShevat cocktail/mocktail making

    Materials

    • Printed and folded Seven Species Info Cards 
    • Ingredients for seven of the drinks (linked below) 
    • Shakers/Stirrers 
    • Glasses 
    • Ice 

    Beginning – Welcome/Framing

    • Welcome guests and offer framing for the event 
    • SAY: Traditionally, Tu BiShevat was not a Jewish festival. Rather, it marked an important date for Jewish farmers in ancient times–essentially a “birthday” for all trees so that farmers could mark the age of their trees. On Tu BiShevat it is customary to eat the seven species mentioned in the Torah: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. Today we will celebrate this holiday by making drinks inspired by each of the seven species. 

    Middle – Cocktail/Mocktail Making

    • Pick one drink for each of the seven species. 
    • Set up drink-making stations for each of the seven beverages and invite people to move from station to station to make the beverages and learn a little about each of the seven species and their significance to Tu Bi Shevat. 
    • Print/cut out these cards to place with each drink station for participants to learn about each of the seven species as they make the drink inspired by that species. 

    End – Closing and Shmoozing

    • Have people share their favorite drink! Shmooze and sip!